LOS ANGELES (September 16, 2026) — In a move that signals a seismic shift for the world of action sports, the inaugural MoonPay X Games League (XGL) Winter Draft transformed the landscape of competitive skiing and snowboarding. Before a capacity crowd of over 500 industry leaders, athletes, and fans at the immersive Cosm Los Angeles, four newly minted X Games Clubs—XC Golden State, XC New York, XC Park City, and XC Whistler—selected their rosters, officially codifying a team-based, season-long structure that promises to rewrite the history of the sport.
The Dawn of a Team-Based Dynasty
For nearly three decades, the X Games have been defined by the “hero’s journey” of the individual athlete. Whether it was a high-stakes halfpipe run or a daring slopestyle maneuver, the focus was singular: the gold medal. The launch of the MoonPay X Games League (XGL) fundamentally alters this paradigm.
By introducing a franchised, team-based structure, the X Games is transitioning from a series of standalone spectacle events into a cohesive, year-round competitive league. Each of the four winter clubs now operates with a roster of 10 athletes—five men and five women—ensuring that success is measured not just by individual brilliance, but by collective performance. This evolution allows for the development of season-long narratives, team rivalries, and a championship race that carries consequences from the first drop-in of the season to the final podium.
The Draft: A Night of Stars and Strategy
The atmosphere at Cosm Los Angeles was electric, amplified by the venue’s state-of-the-art wraparound LED dome, which provided a cinematic, immersive backdrop as the league’s General Managers went to work.
The marquee moment of the evening arrived early when XC Golden State General Manager Jonny Moseley took the podium to make the league’s first-ever selection. With the first overall pick, Moseley secured four-time X Games medalist and freeskiing icon Eileen Gu. The choice solidified the hometown club’s commitment to building a powerhouse franchise.
“I just wanted to say how excited and honored and grateful I am to be the first overall pick of the X Games League,” Gu said following her selection. “Thank you so much to XC Golden State. I’m really excited to make something super magical happen this season. I think this league is going to be so big for our industry, for our sport, and my dream of bringing freeskiing to more people will be realized one step at a time.”
The draft order proceeded with high-stakes decision-making:
- Pick 2 (XC New York): General Manager Dave Sypniewski selected snowboarding icon Mark McMorris, adding immediate veteran leadership to the East Coast-based squad.
- Pick 3 (XC Park City): General Manager Sharalee “Haze” Hazen, leveraging her experience from the summer XGL circuit, opted for the explosive talent of snowboarder Yiming Su.
- Pick 4 (XC Whistler): General Manager Ryan Stutt closed the first round by selecting skier Megan Oldham, marking her as the foundational pillar for the Canadian franchise.
Over the course of five rounds, a total of 40 athletes were drafted, representing 14 countries. The roster diversity was striking, spanning a generation of talent—from the precocious 14-year-old Patti Zhou to seasoned veterans like 32-year-olds McMorris and Scotty James.
The 2027 Winter Calendar: A Global Tour
The newly drafted teams will waste little time integrating their rosters. The 2027 XGL Winter Season is set to be a grueling test of endurance and consistency across three iconic global stops:
- Aspen, Colorado (January 29–31): The league kicks off at the spiritual home of winter action sports, Buttermilk. This event will serve as the litmus test for team chemistry and early-season form.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada (February 19–21): The league moves north, where the cold-weather conditions and high-speed terrain will demand a different set of technical skills, testing the depth of the 10-athlete rosters.
- Ruka, Finland (April 9–11): The season concludes with the XGL Winter Championship. Here, the cumulative points earned throughout the previous two stops will determine the inaugural league champions.
The Strategic Shift: Why Now?
The transition to a league model is driven by a desire to modernize the action sports business. Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games, emphasized that the goal is to provide fans with more than just highlights—he wants to provide them with a season to track.
“For nearly 30 years, Winter X Games has created iconic individual moments,” Bloom said. “Tonight, we added something entirely new: consequences across a season. We’re taking a brand people have loved for decades and giving fans something they’ve never had before—teams to follow and a championship to fight for.”
This structural shift offers several key advantages for the industry:
- Increased Fan Engagement: By rooting for a “Club,” fans are encouraged to stay invested throughout the entire winter, rather than tuning in only for a specific discipline or athlete.
- Financial Sustainability: The team-based model provides athletes with increased stability. Beyond existing prize purses, the league structure introduces new revenue streams and potential sponsorships tied to team affiliation, effectively professionalizing the career trajectory for action sports stars.
- Global Reach: By hosting events in North America and Europe, the league cements its status as a premier global property, catering to both the core enthusiast and the casual sports fan.
A Technological Showcase
The draft itself was a testament to the X Games’ commitment to innovation. By partnering with Cosm, the league utilized advanced LED technology to bridge the gap between physical and digital spectatorship. The event was not merely a boardroom selection process; it was a broadcast-ready entertainment experience.
Fans worldwide were integrated into the process, with the draft streamed live across the ESPN App, The Roku Sports Channel, YouTube, Kick, and the X Games’ proprietary FAST channel on Amazon. This multi-platform approach highlights the league’s focus on accessibility, ensuring that the next generation of fans—who primarily consume sports through streaming and digital platforms—can follow the action in real-time.
The Road Ahead
As the 40 drafted athletes return to training, the focus turns to the intricacies of team dynamics. For the General Managers, the real work has just begun: developing training camps, fostering team culture, and fine-tuning strategies for the differing disciplines that will contribute to the overall point standings.
The XGL Winter Season is supported by a robust lineup of corporate partners. MoonPay serves as the league’s title partner, with Monster Energy, Stake, High Noon, Amazon, 805 Beer, VKTRY Protein, Kraken Rum, No Cap!, Minky Couture, Nixon, Kick, Fever, and Roku providing the financial and logistical backbone required for such an ambitious rollout.
The implications for the broader sports market are significant. With MSP Sports Capital—a firm with deep roots in F1, the NBA, and European football—backing the X Games, the XGL is clearly modeling its growth on the most successful leagues in the world. By fusing the grit and creativity of action sports with the structure of professional franchise leagues, the X Games is betting that the future of the sport lies in tribal loyalty and season-long stakes.
For athletes like Eileen Gu, the vision is clear: "This is one step at a time. I’m really excited and let’s do this thing."
As the winter chill begins to settle in, the industry looks toward Aspen. On January 29, the individual brilliance that built the X Games will meet the collective pressure of the XGL, and the results will, for the first time in history, count for everything.
For more information on the MoonPay X Games League, including future announcements on discipline formats and ticket availability, please visit xgames.com/xgl.
