Shaun White, the legendary three-time Olympic gold medalist, is pioneering the future of snowboarding and skiing through his company, Unrivaled Sports. In a groundbreaking move, Unrivaled Sports has acquired a minority stake in Snöbahn, a leading chain of indoor action sports facilities.
Key Highlights:
- Unrivaled Sports receives investment from Ares Management
- Snöbahn offers year-round indoor skiing and snowboarding experiences
- Expansion plans target markets like Texas and California
- TheSnowLeague, a new pro skiing and snowboarding league, launches
White’s vision is to democratize access to snowboarding and skiing, making these sports accessible to enthusiasts regardless of their location. “The next great snowboarder or skier could come from a market you’d least expect,” White stated, emphasizing the potential of indoor facilities like Snöbahn.
Unrivaled Sports, co-founded by Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and The Chernin Group, aims to create a comprehensive action sports hospitality vertical. This includes unique skill-based experiences in surfing, mountain biking, and other adrenaline-pumping activities.
Kevin English, CEO of Unrivaled Sports’ action sports division, highlighted the importance of reducing barriers to entry for snowboarding and skiing. “It’s about giving them that first experience,” English explained, addressing the financial and logistical challenges of traditional mountain trips.
Snöbahn, founded in 2016, operates two locations in the Denver area, including a 38,000 square-foot facility in Thornton. The company plans to leverage the new investment to refine existing facilities and expand into new markets.
This acquisition aligns with the growing trend of institutional firms and private equity players investing in action sports. It follows the recent announcement of TheSnowLeague, the first professional skiing and snowboarding league, also backed by White and other investors.
As Unrivaled Sports continues its expansion in the action sports sector, it remains committed to a customer-centric approach. “It’s literally one customer at a time,” English emphasized, underlining the importance of understanding the nuances of the industry.
via: Sportico
via: Unrivaled Sports
