Latest news with #ShaunWhite
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nina Dobrev & Shaun White Have Red Hot Date Night At 'The Vampire Diaries' Costar's Wedding
Shaun White made us all swoon when he proposed to Nina Dobrev with white roses (and a fake dinner to throw Nina off the scent). And while this couple is head over heels in L-O-V-E, they're not in a hurry to get down the aisle. The star just spilled on why she's not trying to "rush" this phase of her life — and gave Brit + Co an exclusive peak into what their relaxing Sunday evenings look like. Stars really are just like us! Nina Dobrev told Brit + Co that her favorite way to unwind after a busy weekend is to use Sunday to relax. "I love Sundays because they're just so lazy. I try to do as little as possible," she said. "I try to not put real clothes on and just be in sweatpants/pajamas all day, and I love just being at the house with the dog and my fiancé and curl up and watch — it was White Lotus every Sunday, now it's The Last of Us, so it just depends on the season. I can't even talk about [ episode 2] I'm still heartbroken!" But while they love to unwind, they also love a night out! Nina Dobrev and Shaun White just showed up to Nina's The Vampire Diaries costar Michael Trevino's wedding to Bregje Heinen and it was basically a TVD cast reunion! Nina looked beautiful in a red gown beside Shaun's black tux. "sunlight, sangria, and a little bit of grain," Nina wrote on . In an interview with E! News, Nina Dobrev why she and Shaun White haven't planned too much of their wedding. 'I was in Australia shooting a movie and then Christmas and New Year's,' she says. 'We're just enjoying being engaged at this point and being in that sort of have a boyfriend for half of your life and then you have a husband for half of your life but the fiancé period is very short.' And while being married is so sweet, she's also having fun with their engagement. 'I really want to enjoy it and not rush that process," she adds. 'It's so fun to say fiancé." Nina says she "was never one of those girls who dreamt of what a dream wedding would be,' but it's very important for her to plan a wedding that's as sustainable as it is memorable. "I'd have to do a lot of research and find out the areas of improvement.' 'My number one goal is to find out how to make it as low-impact as possible," she adds. But even though we might have to wait to see what Shaun White and Nina Dobrev's wedding looks like, it's sure to be one for the ages! One source tells People the a "blowout party." 'They are the perfect fit together — fun and adventurous, but also very grounding for each other,' the source says. 'After the proposal, they were calling and texting friends saying, 'It can't get better than this' and were just glowing.' I have loved keeping up with all their snowboarding, travel, and red carpet adventures, and it's better than ever now that they're fiancés. Cheers to the happy couple! Loving all this celeb love? I know I am. Check out for even more celebrity engagement news on Brit + Co! This post has been updated.
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Wy'East Mountain Academy Now Home To North America's Largest Airbag
The new dry slope and training airbag at Wy'East Mountain Academy in Welches, Oregon, is the largest ... More in North America and matched only by the airbag at Banger Park in Austria At the base of Oregon's Mount Hood, on the Wy'East Mountain Academy campus, stood a sight unfamiliar to most U.S. skiers and snowboarders: an 80-foot-wide, 200-foot-long dry slope and airbag system, only the second of its kind in the world. The airbag, which was designed and manufactured by Austria's BangerBags, officially opened on June 17, with three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White performing the ribbon cutting. White, who spent his formative years training at Mount Hood, called the airbag 'a game changer' for U.S. athletes. But the academy expects its new world-class feature will attract athletes from around the globe as well. 'Wy'East Mountain Academy's goal is to foster the next generation of global ski and snowboard talent,' said Wy'East president Kevin English. 'We already have a world-class training facility, but the addition of this new airbag will allow us to become a destination for aspiring riders worldwide.' Wy'East Mountain Academy is one of a handful of year-round action sports boarding schools in the U.S. They operate like traditional U.S. college prep boarding schools but with a twist: when their coursework is completed, students spend the rest of their time skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, mountain biking and more. The academy's 28-acre campus boasts more than 100,000 square feet of skateable concrete, outdoor and indoor skateparks, a private trail system, a mountain bike dirt path and now five airbags (one for skate, two for snow and two for mountain bike). Most schools like Wy'East Mountain Academy are located on the East Coast, such as Vermont's Stratton Mountain School or Burke Mountain Academy, the latter of which produced Mikaela Shiffrin. Thus, the Pacific Northwest location at the base of Mount Hood is a major selling point for Wy'East, as is the fact that nearby Timberline Lodge boasts the longest ski season in the U.S. Now, the airbag will become another major draw for the academy, which can enroll up to 70 full-time students per year and host another 1,500–2,000 at camp each summer. Bringing the new dry slope and airbag to fruition required 25,000 man hours over eight years. The slope is composed of 1.5 million drysnow bristles that are occasionally sprayed with water and give the feeling of real snow, allowing athletes to dig in an edge and get torque on takeoff. The system features three design firsts: a fully adjustable ramp in both distance and pitch; safety airbags flanking either side of the ramp to prevent riders from getting injured if they mistakenly fly off the edge; and a roughly 30-foot-wide take off to give riders flexibility in how they drop in and set up their tricks (as well as the psychological comfort of having more space). Through a partnership with Can-Am, Wy'East has two of the company's ATVs onsite to shuttle riders up to the drop-in platform. A Can-Am transports athletes up to the top of the dry slope and airbag The project costs were close to $4 million, $3.5 million of which came via a donation from Wy'East board member Ed Jaramillo, the father of a Wy'East Mountain Academy alumnus. As the dry slope and airbag came under development at Wy'East, it was Jaramillo who suggested that the team go to Austria and meet with Alex Pankiewicz, the visionary behind Austria's Banger Park. Unless they have a roster of major sponsors, few athletes can afford to travel to Austria every summer to train at Banger Park. This reality had become an obstacle for U.S. skiers and snowboarders; there is no training system that simulates the feel of snow or the size of Olympic features better than the BangerBags setup. The new BangerBags dry slope and airbag at Wy'East Mountain Academy is the largest in North America, ... More measuring 80 feet wide and 200 feet long. As Jaramillo and White cut the ribbon to officially open the Wy'East Mountain Academy airbag on June 17, Pankiewicz, who had traveled to Oregon for the occasion, saw his vision become accessible for thousands of skiers and snowboarders based in North America. Jaramillo wanted to help progress freeskiing and snowboarding not just for Wy'East Mountain Academy students and campers but for Team USA overall. To that end, the airbag's debut was held in conjunction with Project Gold, a U.S. Ski & Snowboard youth development initiative. Project Gold is a natural progression from grassroots development camps High Cascade Snowboard Camp and Windells Freeski Camp, both of which operate on the Wy'East Mountain Academy grounds and, in 2014, merged under newly created parent company We Are Camp. White spent his summers honing his skills at High Cascade and Windells (before the latter rebranded to a ski-only camp in 2015 following the merger with High Cascade). After retiring from competitive snowboarding following the Beijing 2022 Games, White has remained involved in the industry in other ways. He's launched a namesake snowboarding brand, Whitespace, and created a global ski and snowboard competition series, the Snow League. In 2024, he became an investor in We Are Camp. 'I have so many memories of being here, learning new tricks, taking those tricks to competitions, winning events and looking forward to coming back every single year,' White told me. 'In retirement, I still had such a longing to come here and be a part of the camp and help the next generation of athletes and give back. 'It was my selfish way of coming to camp every year,' White joked. After the ribbon-cutting, White rode to the top of the airbag in a Can-Am to drop in for the first time. He's trained on airbags before, but never this large and never with this dry slope technology. White consulted with 15-year-old Jess Perlmutter, asking her for tips on how to use his edges and how to approach the takeoff. After a beat, he said, 'Why don't you go first?' Cue laughter. After a successful jump, White revealed what had been on his mind: This thing is a lot bigger than I thought! Shaun White prepares to drop in to the Wy'East Mountain Academy dry slope and airbag for the first ... More time The June Project Gold session at Wy'East Mountain Academy brought together 60 of the country's top junior athletes for a week of Olympic-caliber coaching, progression-based training and evaluation by U.S. Ski & Snowboard coaches. Athletes who catch the eye a coach could secure their spot on the national team pathway, perhaps one day representing the U.S. at future Olympic Games. Wy'East Mountain Academy has produced three Olympians who have won a total of four Olympic medals, as well as athletes who have gone on to win 12 X Games medals. Notable alumni include Alex Beaulieu-Marchand and Nick Goepper, who were roommates before graduating in 2012 and stood on an Olympic podium together just four years later. Beaulieu-Marchand, representing Canada, took bronze in freeski slopestyle at Pyeongchang 2018. Goepper has earned three Olympic medals in freeski slopestyle (bronze at Sochi 2014, silver at Pyeongchang 2018 and silver at Beijing 2022). Goepper is eyeing his first Olympic gold at Milano Cortina 2026, where he will compete in a different freeski discipline: halfpipe. This sort of multidisciplinary excellence is rare for Olympic competition; athletes are by necessity ultra specialized. But Goepper isn't your average skier, and that was obvious when he attended Wy'East. 'Over the years, downhill landing bags have pushed my progression over the edge," Goepper said. 'Now that Wy'East has one, the campus will be an even more incredible place to practice.' It would, however, be a mistake to focus solely on how Wy'East Mountain Academy and its new airbag will produce future Olympians, though it certainly will do that. Plenty of students who attend the school won't pursue a career in professional skiing or snowboarding. But they will receive an education that will prepare them for college; the academy has a 100% university acceptance rate. And they will hopefully maintain a lifelong passion for the sports they pursued during their unique secondary school experience at Wy'East Mountain Academy, perhaps teaching their own children to ski or snowboard and ensuring a healthy future for the industry.
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Eileen Gu Is Joining Shaun White's Snow League As Global Ambassador
Eileen Gu of Team China reacts after winning the gold medal during the Women's Freestyle Freeski ... More Halfpipe Final on Day 14 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 18, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. Shaun White's professional snowboarding and freeskiing competition, The Snow League, debuted this year with a host of big-name sponsors and backers. White's venture is supported by partners like Marriott Bonvoy, INEOS Automotive, Pacifico, Hublot and Tiffany & Co., and it inked a multi-year media rights deal with NBC Sports. These partnerships have allowed White and his team to offer athletes the opportunity to compete for an unprecedented $2.5 million season purse at the end of The Snow League's four-stop season. Now, The Snow League has announced that Eileen Gu, one of the most recognizable names and faces in action sports, is joining as global ambassador. The news is sure to excite freeskiing fans, who eagerly await that sport's debut in the second stop of the Snow League's first season in Yunding Secret Garden in China on December 4–6, 2025. 'Eileen represents everything The Snow League stands for: greatness, creativity and a relentless drive to push boundaries,' White said. 'The Snow League is doing what no other winter sports league has done—bringing together world-class venues, premium global partners and high-profile investors to create an experience that elevates both the athletes and the sports themselves.' Having Gu onboard, White added, 'is not only an asset for the league, but also for the future of winter sports, and I'm so proud to have her as a partner on this journey.' Freeskier Eileen Gu, a powerhouse on and off the slopes, is joining Shaun White's Snow League as ... More global ambassador Gu, at 21, is already making her case as one of the best freeskiers to ever do it. She is as skilled in halfpipe as she is slopestyle and rails. At Beijing 2022, Gu became the youngest freeski Olympic gold medalist at age 18. She's also the first winter sports athlete to claim three medals at both the 2021 X Games and FIS World Championships. In World Cup competition, Gu has made the podium in 89% of her starts. But skiing represents just a fraction of Gu's platform. Gu is a full-time student at Stanford University, where she is studying quantum physics. She is also an in-demand model, having walked the runway for designers like Louis Vuitton and Brunello Cucinelli and been featured on covers of magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. In short, Gu is a sports and culture powerhouse, truly the freeskiing equivalent to White, who became the face of snowboarding during his pro career. Gu has already served as an ambassador for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, 2024 Gangwon Youth Olympics, 2024 Paris Olympics and Salt Lake City's 2030 Olympic bid. Now, Gu will bring that global crossover appeal to The Snow League as the series prepares for its event in China at the same venue that saw Gu made history, becoming the only action sports athlete to win three medals (two golds and a silver) at the Beijing 2022 Games. The inaugural Snow League event, held in Aspen Snowmass March 7–8, featured snowboard halfpipe only. The final two events of the season in 2026, at Aspen Snowmass again in February and then Laax, Switzerland, in March, will also feature both disciplines. Shaun White poses in the halfpipe after competition on day 2 of The Snow League at Buttermilk Ski ... More Resort on March 08, 2025 in Aspen, Colorado. The list of invited freeski athletes for the remaining Snow League events has not yet been released. 'I vividly remember the first time I heard about The Snow League," Gu told me. 'I was getting my boots fitted in the springtime when my phone rang in my pocket. Shaun and I spoke for over an hour about our common goal of sharing the joy of snowsport with kids and adults all around the world who maybe hadn't engaged in winter sports before.' The partnership is symbolic of The Snow League's—and White's and Gu's—goal of elevating winter sports as a whole, moving beyond the tired skiing vs. snowboarding debate. 'It's about the power of sport to bring people together, cultivate resilience and build sportsmanship,' Gu added. 'I'm excited to align with TSL to make the world better through sport.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Colorado Ski Resorts Report Third-Busiest Season on Record
Colorado's 2024-2025 ski season was the third busiest on record, with a projected 13.8 million skier visits, according to a preliminary report from Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA).This number, the ski resort industry trade association said in a press release, 'highlights the ongoing enthusiasm for skiing and snowboarding in Colorado.''This season brought a little bit of everything, starting off strong with solid snowfall in November, followed by weather variability mid-season and a snowy spring that kept many ski areas open well into May,' said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills, in the press release.'Our member resorts did a great job of adapting to changing conditions while offering a welcoming and enjoyable experience for a broad range of visitors,' she noted several event highlights that took place last winter, generating buzz on Colorado's Snowmass hosted the inaugural Snow League, a halfpipe competition and brainchild of Olympian Shaun White. Arapahoe Basin saw two stops of the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA) Challenger Tour, where skiers competed for a ticket to the Freeride World Tour (FWT). Copper Mountain welcomed X Games Street Style and the USASA National to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates. Infrastructure and operational developments drew attention, too. Eldora opened its new Caribou Lodge. The multi-use facility houses Ignite Adaptive Sports, an organization that helps people with disabilities participate in snow sports. Ski Cooper made affordability a priority, launching $45 midweek lift tickets in a market where lift tickets oftentimes cost five times that. 'Across our member resorts, we saw people carving their first turns, reconnecting with annual traditions, and finding their place on the slopes,' said Mills. 'In a chaotic world, skiing remains a meaningful touchstone for so many.'Notably, one ski resort in Colorado, Arapahoe Basin, remains open for the 2024-2025 announcement from CSCUSA follows a nationwide assessment from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), which found that, based on preliminary data, the 2024-2025 ski season was the second busiest on record across the Ski Resorts Report Third-Busiest Season on Record first appeared on Powder on Jun 6, 2025
Business Upturn
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Business Upturn
Colorado Ski Country USA Announces Projected Skier Visits for Colorado's 2024-25 Ski Season
Denver, Colo., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced projected skier visits of 13.8 million in Colorado for the 2024-25 season. The announcement was made at CSCUSA's 62nd Annual Meeting today at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO. This season's preliminary total means this season ranks 3rd highest for skier visits and highlights the ongoing enthusiasm for skiing and snowboarding in Colorado. CSCUSA, an industry trade association of 21 member resorts throughout Colorado, uses publicly available information to project statewide skier visits each year. 'This season brought a little bit of everything, starting off strong with solid snowfall in November, followed by weather variability mid-season and a snowy spring that kept many ski areas open well into May,' said Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Melanie Mills. 'Our member resorts did a great job of adapting to changing conditions while offering a welcoming and enjoyable experience for a broad range of visitors.' Skier visits are the metric used to track participation in skiing and snowboarding. A skier visit represents one person participating in the sport of skiing and snowboarding for any part of one day at a ski resort. Today's projection is preliminary and subject to adjustment. The 2024–25 season saw meaningful developments across Colorado Ski Country USA member resorts, with a continued focus on access, guest experience, and community impact. Eldora opened its new Caribou Lodge, a multi-use facility that now houses Ignite Adaptive Sports, reinforcing the resort's ongoing support for adaptive snowsports on the Front Range. Ski Cooper prioritized value this season, with $45 midweek lift tickets and all non-peak days priced under $100. New offerings and events added fresh energy to the season at several resorts. Aspen Snowmass hosted the debut of The Snow League, the first professional snowboarding league created by legendary snowboarder Shaun White. Arapahoe Basin welcomed the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA), drawing top freeride athletes to one of Colorado's most challenging venues. Copper Mountain buzzed all season, hosting the X Games Street Style Pro and the USASA National Championships. Safety remained a priority across the state. Colorado Ski Country USA worked closely with resorts and partners to promote responsible on-mountain behavior, culminating in the recognition of Ski Safety Awareness Day by Governor Jared Polis on January 23. 'This season showed the many ways Colorado's ski areas provide places for people to connect—with the mountains and with each other,' said Mills. 'Across our member resorts, we saw people carving their first turns, reconnecting with annual traditions, and finding their place on the slopes. In a chaotic world, skiing remains a meaningful touchstone for so many. Colorado's ski areas welcome skiers and snowboarders from around the state, the country and the world, to escape to our slopes and enjoy our genuine Colorado hospitality.' In recognition of the work it takes to get the slopes ready for visitors every single morning of ski season, CSCUSA celebrates the folks 'behind the snow' with the Double Diamond Awards ceremony at its Annual Meeting. Awards celebrating the standout Groomer, Snowmaker, Terrain Park Specialist, Food and Beverage and Guest Services team members, Ski Patrol, and Ski Instructor of the Year will be announced later today at Infinity Park in Glendale. A release with photos will be distributed next week. Colorado Ski Country USA offers a suite of pass programs designed to help families ski together: the kids' Ski Passport, Gems Teen and Parent Passes, and the Gems Discount Card. For more information, visit the CSCUSA pass page. Attachment Courtesy: Colorado Ski Country USA Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
