Snow League brings international halfpipe competition to Park City during Sundance weekend

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Council approved a special event permit for the Snow League to hold its three-day event at Park City Mountain during the former Sundance Film Festival weekend.

At their typical Thursday meeting, council members approved the event’s Level Four special event permit following a public hearing.

The Snow League competition is scheduled for Jan. 21–23, 2027, with organizers projecting about 4,000 attendees per day, or roughly 12,000 across the weekend. The event will feature 60 athletes, more than 50 of whom have Olympic experience, according to league representatives.

The event, founded by three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, is a bracket-style competition that puts athletes head-to-head in halfpipe skiing and snowboarding. Snow League stages international competitions and is heading into its second season.

Traffic and parking plans

Councilmembers discussed traffic, parking, and public safety as the event’s primary potential impacts on the community.

Park City staff explained plans to use its peak-day transportation and mitigation plan during the competition, with additional shuttles from satellite parking lots. Richardson Flat is expected to serve as a satellite lot Thursday and Friday, and Park City High School will be added Saturday to accommodate additional demand.

The resort will also continue its parking reservation systems at Mountain Village and Canyons Village, with the goal of accommodating eventgoers without displacing day skiers.

Organizers said the competition will run during the day, with programming generally scheduled from the morning through midafternoon. Saturday concerts are planned from 3 to 5 p.m., giving attendees another reason to stay at the resort after competition ends.

Neighborhood access will also be managed under the same peak-day procedures used during busy periods, including security staff monitoring roads in Thaynes Canyon and Old Town to discourage drivers from cutting through residential neighborhoods.

Tickets and local access

Organizers said general admission tickets will start at $10 on Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday. Prices are expected to increase closer to the event, reaching about $20 for Thursday and Friday and $50 to $60 for Saturday, according to organizers.

Children 12 and younger will be admitted free. A premium hospitality option called the Snow Deck, which includes food and beverages, will start at $150 and increase to as much as $300 during event week.

The league also plans to offer limited free tickets to Epic Pass holders and distribute tickets through Park City Ski and Snowboard Club and local outreach events.

Organizers said they want the event to establish lasting ties with Park City rather than simply bring a global competition to town. Plans include outreach to local businesses, hotels and restaurants, as well as partnerships with local organizations and universities to support staffing and guest services.

The league also plans to work with Walking Mountains, a Colorado-based sustainability organization, and Recycle Utah on waste diversion.

A new halfpipe for local athletes

The competition also follows extensive work by Park City Mountain to rebuild its halfpipe. Organizers said additional snowfall will allow the feature to be extended further ahead of the event.

A representative of Park City Ski and Snowboard told council the upgraded halfpipe could be a significant benefit for local athletes. The club serves more than 1,100 skiers and snowboarders, including several hundred involved in freestyle programs, and its athletes are expected to have access to the facility for training during the season.

The Snow League expects to broadcast the competition live on YouTube and Peacock, with a highlight program scheduled for NBC the following Sunday.