Published September 14, 2026 at 7.00 PM

RUKA-KUUSAMO, FINLAND | X Games will bring the championship finale of its inaugural MoonPay X Games League Winter Season to Ruka-Kuusamo in northern Finland from 9 to 11 April 2027.

The new three-stop winter league will open at Aspen, Colorado, from 29 to 31 January, before continuing to Calgary, Canada, from 19 to 21 February. The first MoonPay X Games League Winter champions will be crowned at the season finale in Ruka.

The event marks the first time Finland will host a major X Games winter competition. Previous winter X Games events in Europe have been held in France and Norway.

A new season-long format for X Games

The MoonPay X Games League introduces a club-based championship format to winter action sports. Athletes will compete for individual victories while also earning points for four X Games Clubs: XC Golden State, XC New York, XC Park City and XC Whistler.

Results from all three events will contribute to the overall standings, with the championship decided during the final competitions in Ruka.

“The league gives every X Games result meaning beyond the individual athlete and a single weekend. Every performance now scores points for a club, building rivalries and a championship race across the entire season. Aspen, Calgary and Ruka give us three incredible stages to bring that vision to life,” says Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games.

Forty athletes, five women and five men per club, will be selected from an international pool of eligible freeskiers and snowboarders at the MoonPay X Games League Winter Draft in Los Angeles on 16 September 2026.

The draft pool includes several prominent Nordic and Baltic athletes, including Sweden’s Henrik Harlaut, Jesper Tjäder, Jennie-Lee Burmansson and Axel Burmansson, Norway’s Birk Ruud, Marcus Kleveland, Mons Røisland and Fridtjof Tischendorf, Estonia’s Kelly Sildaru, and Finland’s Anni Kärävä and Elias Syrjä.

The Winter League Draft will be held in Los Angeles on 16 September at 7 p.m. local time. Watch the event live: Where to Watch the X Games Online and TV

The X Games finale comes to Finnish Lapland

Ruka is an established venue on the international winter sports calendar. The resort hosts FIS World Cup competitions in ski jumping, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, moguls and aerials. Ruka’s experience across five World Cup disciplines, combined with its long and snow-reliable winter season, provides a strong setting for the first MoonPay X Games League Winter Championship Finals.

During the 2026/27 season, Ruka’s lifts are scheduled to operate from 2 October 2026 to 2 May 2027, offering more than 200 skiing days and reliable winter conditions into the spring.

“Ruka is a legendary winter destination with a proven track record of consistently delivering world-class events. The feedback we always hear from athletes and teams is that Ruka feels like home, which is the ultimate endorsement. Having competed there myself, I know firsthand how special the venue and the community are, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring the X Games to Ruka,” says Jeremy Bloom.

“The X Games are a perfect match for Ruka-Kuusamo and Ruka Ski Resort. Our long winter ensures excellent conditions well into spring, our infrastructure is designed to host international competitions, and everything is conveniently located within easy reach. Hosting the MoonPay X Games League Championship Finals gives us a fantastic opportunity to introduce Ruka to a new generation of winter sports fans,” says Antti Kärävä, CEO of Ruka Ski Resort.

Eight disciplines and EUR 2.5 million in prize money

The Ruka championship programme is scheduled to include Superpipe, Big Air, Slopestyle and Knuckle Huck for both freeskiers and snowboarders, with women’s and men’s competitions. The winter league will offer a total prize purse of more than USD$2,000,000 . X Games has awarded equal prize money to women and men since 2008.

Detailed competition schedules, confirmed athlete rosters, broadcast and streaming information, and on-site fan experiences will be announced separately.

Action sports meets live music

The MoonPay X Games League Winter Season will combine action sports with live music at all three stops.

In Ruka, internationally acclaimed electronic duo Adriatique will perform on Saturday night, bringing the inaugural winter season’s festival programme to its conclusion.

2027 MoonPay X Games League Winter Season

• Aspen, Colorado, USA: 29 to 31 January 2027
• Calgary, Alberta, Canada: 19 to 21 February 2027
• Ruka-Kuusamo, Finland: 9 to 11 April 2027, Championship Finals

Tickets and further information

Tickets for the Ruka event will go on sale on 16 September 2026.

• X Games Ruka: www.xgamesruka.com
• Official X Games website: www.xgames.com

For further information and interview requests:
Antti Kärävä, CEO, Ski Resort Ruka. +358 500 901 901, antti.karava@ruka.fi 
Jordan Miller, Senior Director, Communications & PR, X Games, jordan.miller@xgames.com 

About X Games

X Games is a global action sports brand showcasing leading athletes across skateboarding, BMX, freeskiing, snowboarding and Moto X. Its competitions and content reach audiences worldwide through broadcast, streaming, digital platforms and live events.

About Ruka-Kuusamo

Ruka-Kuusamo is a year-round outdoor and winter sports destination in northern Finland, close to the Arctic Circle. The destination combines one of Northern Europe’s longest skiing seasons with international competition facilities and extensive experience in hosting World Cup events.

Ruka-Kuusamo offers 12,000 guest beds across hotels, holiday apartments, chalets and nature-based accommodation. Kuusamo Airport is approximately 30 minutes from Ruka, and the destination is accessible from across Europe via Helsinki.