Launching a new sports league is never easy, but Snow League has a more impressive pedigree than most — its founder is Shaun White, who holds a number of records in snowboarding. (He’s also long had a foothold in the skateboarding world.

At the debut competition in the legend’s Snow League startup, snowboarders envision a future that includes sustainable careers.

Among White's biggest coups as he put together his league was to get Hirano to sign on. The Snow League will add halfpipe skiing at its next event, in China in December, and if White can close a deal to bring Olympic champion Eileen Gu onto that circuit, he'll have arguably the biggest star in action sports.