BOULDER, Colo. (August 13, 2026) — The landscape of competitive action sports underwent a seismic shift today as the MoonPay X Games League (XGL) unveiled the four visionary leaders tasked with building the inaugural Winter Club rosters. Following a highly successful summer debut that saw viewership spike by nearly 80 percent, the XGL is poised to bring its team-based, season-long format to the slopes, marking a historic transition from individual pursuit to franchise-driven glory.
The X Games confirmed the final piece of its winter puzzle: X Games Club Whistler (XC Whistler) joins the league, rounding out a quartet of founding clubs that will define the sport’s new era. Leading these organizations are four heavyweights of the action sports industry, each bringing a unique philosophy to the upcoming September 16th draft in Los Angeles.
The Architects of Competition: Meet the General Managers
The XGL has moved beyond the traditional "one-off event" model, demanding that general managers function as team builders, scouts, and cultural ambassadors.
XC Golden State: Jonny Moseley
An icon whose name is synonymous with the progression of freestyle skiing, Jonny Moseley takes the helm at XC Golden State. An Olympic gold medalist and the first skier to medal in both the Olympics and the X Games, Moseley represents the bridge between the sport’s rebellious roots and its professional future. His leadership will be centered in Northern California and Lake Tahoe, regions that have served as the cradle of American skiing innovation.
XC New York: Dave Sypniewski
Tasked with defending the prestige of the New York banner—which recently secured the inaugural Summer XGL championship in New Orleans—is Dave Sypniewski. A veteran in snowboarding marketing and commercial development, Sypniewski is a master of the "big picture." He will be bolstered by the expertise of Special Advisor Barrett Christy Cummins, an 11-time X Games medalist and Hall of Famer, creating a front office that blends corporate strategy with raw competitive intuition.
XC Park City: Sharalee “Haze” Hazen
Sharalee “Haze” Hazen brings a rare combination of operational experience and athlete-centric advocacy to XC Park City. Having served as the GM for XC Los Angeles during the summer season, Hazen is the only leader with direct experience in the XGL’s inaugural format. Her transition to the winter circuit signals a focus on brand identity and fostering an environment where athlete performance is fueled by community and support.
XC Whistler: Ryan Stutt
The final piece of the puzzle is Ryan Stutt, the Canadian media entrepreneur whose work with Forecast Ski and King Snow has documented the evolution of winter culture for over two decades. His appointment at XC Whistler is seen as a move to ground the club in the deep, storied history of the Whistler terrain, ensuring the team remains the gold standard for "cool" and competitive excellence.
Chronology of a New Era
The rapid expansion of the XGL reflects a calculated strategy by MSP Sports Capital to institutionalize action sports.
- 2025: The X Games platform undergoes a major strategic review under MSP Sports Capital, aiming to pivot toward a recurring, league-based model to increase engagement.
- Early 2026: The MoonPay X Games League (XGL) is officially launched, introducing the "Club" concept.
- Summer 2026: The inaugural Summer Season commences, drawing 18.3 million viewers across ABC and ESPN—a staggering 78.5 percent increase over 2025 performance.
- August 13, 2026: Official announcement of the four winter GMs and the confirmation of XC Whistler as the fourth founding club.
- September 16, 2026: The XGL Winter Draft at Cosm, Los Angeles.
- January 2027: The inaugural XGL Winter Season kicks off in Aspen, Colorado.
Supporting Data: Why the Franchise Model Works
The decision to move toward a franchise model is not merely stylistic; it is rooted in data-driven growth. The 78.5 percent year-over-year viewership increase during the Summer Season proved that fans are eager for narrative-driven competition.
In the summer championship, XC New York edged out XC Tokyo by a razor-thin margin of 2,640 to 2,630 points. This high-stakes finish—decided on the final run of the season—demonstrated the efficacy of the team-based point system. By forcing athletes to prioritize the club’s aggregate score over individual accolades, the league has effectively gamified the sport, ensuring that every run, trick, and landing matters for the season-long standings.
The economic implications are equally significant. The league model provides athletes with compensation structures that extend far beyond the traditional "prize money" ecosystem. By tying athletes to clubs, the XGL allows for multi-year contracts, better sponsorship integration, and a stability that has historically been missing from professional skiing and snowboarding.
Official Responses and Strategic Vision
Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games, emphasized that the role of the General Manager is the most significant change to the sport’s landscape in three decades.
"For the first time in X Games history, someone has to build a championship roster, not just produce a championship run," Bloom noted. "Jonny, Dave, Haze, and Ryan each bring deep credibility with athletes, real roots in these sports, and a different point of view on how to build a winning club. They now get to make the first roster decisions in X Games history that will impact an entire winter season."
Each GM has expressed a commitment to the XGL’s "athlete-first" philosophy. For Moseley, it is about honoring the "innovation and creativity" of his home region. For Sypniewski, the goal is to cultivate a "versatile" roster that survives the grind of a full season. Hazen aims to create "authentic stories" that resonate beyond the snow, while Stutt is focused on the "pinnacle of culture" that defines the Whistler experience.
Implications for the Future of Action Sports
The formation of the four winter clubs marks the transition of action sports into a major league professional environment. By anchoring these clubs in specific geographic hubs—Golden State, New York, Park City, and Whistler—the XGL is attempting to build local fanbases in a sport that has traditionally been nomadic.
The Draft: A New Spectacle
The September 16th draft at Cosm in Los Angeles is designed to be the first "appointment viewing" event of the winter season. By allowing fans to attend in person at an immersive venue, the league is testing its ability to monetize non-competition events. The draft will be the litmus test for the GMs’ strategic vision; with only 10 spots per roster, the decisions made in September will determine the competitive landscape for January’s opener in Aspen.
Beyond the Podium
The long-term success of the XGL depends on its ability to sustain interest during the off-season and create rivalry-based narratives. The team-based format allows for these rivalries to develop naturally. If XC New York remains the team to beat, the other three GMs are effectively building "anti-New York" strategies. This level of tactical planning is entirely new to the X Games, which for 30 years relied on the "best of the day" format.
As the industry watches, the XGL is effectively betting that by professionalizing the structure, they will not only retain their existing core of fans but also invite a new generation of viewers who crave the team-based, narrative-rich drama found in traditional sports like the NFL or NBA.
Conclusion: A Winter of Change
As the snow begins to prepare for the 2027 season, the XGL stands at a crossroads. The appointments of Moseley, Sypniewski, Hazen, and Stutt are more than just personnel moves; they are the foundation upon which the future of competitive skiing and snowboarding will be built.
With the XGL Winter Draft approaching, the focus now turns to the athletes. Who will be the first overall pick? Which club will assemble the most versatile squad? As the league prepares to descend upon Aspen in January, one thing is certain: the era of the individualist is fading, and the era of the Club has officially arrived.
For more information on the upcoming draft and to secure tickets for the September 16 event, fans are encouraged to visit xgames.com/draft26.
