Full Breakdown
MoonPay X Games League Launches Inaugural Winter Draft
By Drooid · · How we work
Inaugural Winter Draft Set for September 16, 2026
The MoonPay X Games League (XGL) will hold its first winter draft on September 16, 2026 in Los Angeles. Four geographic clubs—XC Golden State, XC New York, XC Park City and XC Whistler—will each select ten athletes (five men and five women) over five rounds, creating a 40-athlete roster for the 2027 XGL Winter Season.
League Structure and Team Format
The XGL introduces a franchise-style, team-based model to winter action sports, a departure from three decades of primarily individual competition. Athletes will compete for club points across a season of events rather than solely under national flags. The format is intended to generate “season-long storylines and rivalries,” according to league officials, and to provide fans with geographic affiliations similar to traditional professional leagues.
Key Athletes and Expected Top Pick
Eileen Gu—born in San Francisco and representing China—has been widely projected as the first overall selection. Gu is the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, holding three gold and three silver medals. Her anticipated selection underscores the league’s strategy of anchoring clubs with globally recognized superstars to drive immediate audience engagement.
Season Schedule and Prize Money
The winter series will travel to three primary venues: Aspen, Colorado; Calgary, Alberta; and Ruka-Kuusamo, Finnish Lapland. The championship finals are scheduled for April 11, 2027 in Ruka, concluding a season that will award more than $2 million in prize money, with equal pools for men and women—a practice the X Games has maintained since 2008.
Official Statements from X Games Leadership
Chief Executive Jeremy Bloom explained that the team-based model is designed to deepen fan loyalty, strengthen ties with the Olympic movement, and sustain commercial growth in the action-sports ecosystem. Bloom highlighted the success of the inaugural Summer League, noting a 78 % increase in U.S. television viewership year-over-year (18.3 million viewers) and a $500,000 prize awarded to the New York club after a decisive finish in New Orleans. He also cited the Aspen X Games’ 43 % viewership rise to 15.3 million U.S. viewers, suggesting confidence that fans will respond positively to the winter format.
Annie Lokesh, senior vice president of the X Games League, described the draft as a “historic moment” for athletes, emphasizing that being called in the Los Angeles venue will mark a milestone in their careers.
Verbatim Quote
- “It was a walk-off win for New York.” — Jeremy Bloom, chief executive
Future Milestones
- September 16, 2026 – Winter draft in Los Angeles (7 PM local time).
- 2027 Season – Club competitions at Aspen, Calgary and Ruka.
- April 11, 2027 – Inaugural MoonPay X Games League Winter Championship Finals in Ruka-Kuusamo, Finland.
The launch of the XGL winter draft signals a structural shift for the X Games, aiming to blend the high-profile appeal of Olympic events with the sustained narrative of a professional sports league.