Shaun White launches first-ever professional halfpipe league.

Shaun White, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and entrepreneur, has announced the launch of The Snow League, the first professional winter sports league for snowboard and freeski halfpipe competitions. The league will begin with its first event in the USA in early 2025 and aims to discover new talent and rivalries in the world of snowboarding and freeskiing. The inaugural season will consist of five halfpipe events, with snowboard competitions for men and women, and the introduction of freeskiing later in the season. The league will offer a total prize money of at least 1.5 million dollars, making it the highest in the sport. The Snow League's schedule is designed to minimize conflicts with the Olympics and maximize global visibility. The league will be led by CEO Omer Atesmen, COO Ian Warda, and Head of Competition Sandy Macdonald. Investors in the league include Will Ventures, Ares Management Funds, David Blitzer, and Ryan Sports Ventures. The athletes for the snowboarding field will be selected based on a modified ranking from the World Snowboard Points List. The league will offer five halfpipe competitions in the first season, with more events and disciplines planned for future seasons. Prize money will be distributed at each event, and additional prize money will be awarded to the best in the league at the end of the season. [Extracted from the article]