8 Guaranteed Ways to Increase Freeski and Snowboard Competition Engagement

With the graph looking more and more unlikely for X Game this year—can’t blame them for not being able to handle our alien tech to advance freeskiing and snowboarding viewership and understanding—I decided to drop 8 surefire ways to increase viewership and engagement. Hopefully we see at least one in action with the Laax Open and X Game coming up.

Designated Fan Sections

The first thing I’ve noticed in recent years is the lack of crowd energy at events. According to the X Games website, attendance for X Games Aspen 2011 was a whopping 114,200. This year? Capacity is capped at just 18,000, per The Aspen Times. Credit where credit is due: shoutout to X Games for pulling in a projected $3.5 million in ticket revenue ($2.1 million from general admission and $1.4 million from Xclusive access tickets and add-ons). As a fellow esteemed biskness man in the ski and snowboard world, I get the need to turn a profit—but not at the expense of the sport's core fans (see below).

Now, some naysayers—decked out head-to-toe in a Chloe Kim fit, rocking the same Jiberish tee as Tucker FitzSimons, or sporting a setup that’s basically a Mia Brookes cosplay—might argue that these fans, flags, signs, and chants belong in soccer stadiums, not at Slopestyle and Haflpipe events. But I disagree, 1000%. These fans are incredible, and we need more of them. Bring on the flags. Bring on the signs. Give us loud, free fan sections to crank up the energy and elevate the entire experience. This isn’t just about spectating—it’s about making the culture come alive.

With that in mind, here’s my abbreviated 3-Part Plan to implement fan sections

Pictured above: we see a layout of free fan sections for individual athletes at a halfpipe competition. Now use your imagination and extrapolate this to Slopestyle and Big Air. Fans are let in for free only if they have some sign, kit, or overall vibes that match the rider they are supporting.

Now, imagine the chaos if your favorite rider pulls up mid competition and hypes their section. The chirping between sections. The mayhem when someone has a full pull. The beer-fueled chants echoing across the course. It would be straight-up Ecliptic. We might see actual brawls between sections if betting is on the line. Event organizers could rake in revenue by having athlete sponsors fund these fan sections, covering the cost of expanded viewing areas, access, and $2 beers (yes, two-dollar beers—a staple of great fan experiences). With this setup, Halfpipe, Slopestyle, and Big Air would become something like the Tri Wizard Cup—arguably the greatest sporting event in the universe.

Here are some hypothetical names for fan sections: The Dog Pound (Henrik Harlaut), The Spark Plugs (Mark McMorris),  Magma’s Lava (Hunter Hess and A Hall), and The Gass Cans (Anna Gasser)—BYO whip-its, obviously.

5 Years from now, Ecliptic will have one of these sections dedicated to whoever we are sponsoring at that moment. Our theme: Strictly Biskness. Suit jacket over your gear will be required for entrance to pray on our competitions defeat and to show the love of Bisk. Cheers—instead of clapping—will revolve around making it rain or throwing cash money signs like Johnny Manziel 2012. Boombox: Mandatory. Progression pushed: infinite.

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John 3:16

Take a look at the top 100 most-watched live sports broadcasts of 2024—74% of them were football. Now, if there’s one thing that’s a constant fixture at every football game, it’s a John 3:16 sign. I’m not the most religious person, but even I can recognize what drives views. And based on the data, it’s obvious: if you’ve got a John 3:16 sign in the frame, your sporting event is destined for massive eyeballs.

So why not embrace it? Slap a few between the sponsor banners, and let’s get some folks in the corral carrying them like championship banners. It’s not just a sign—it’s a surefire ratings booster.

Live Rider and Coach Interviews During the Competition

Watching freeski and snowboard competitions like Halfpipe, Slopestyle, and Big Air, we always get that shot of an athlete either alone or in conversation with their coach. There’s this raw, visceral energy: athletes screaming, barking, or silently nodding while their coaches clap and shout encouragement from behind. As a viewer, it’s impossible not to feel like Wile E. Coyote sprinting across a frozen tundra, heart racing at 150 BPM—until, inevitably, you reach the edge of the cliff. That fleeting moment of tension melts into relief as the athlete finally drops in.

But here’s the question: why don’t we mic up the coaches or athletes before they are about to drop, giving us a hot mic glimpse into this action? Imagine a pre-run interview with a coach, right as a rider gets to the gate, telling us what to look for. Or a rider in the competition commentating another athlete’s run live. The viewer would feel like they are they are in a 200 mph car speeding towards eternal glory. Let’s take it one step further and have walkie talkie communication between teams of coaches open just like pit crew communication in Nascar. I’m hesitant on requiring interviews after each run for everyone because some people just sound like they want to kill the messenger (the interviewer) but the right personality always makes a huge difference.

Emotes

Nothing beats a good emote to win over the casual viewer. Take for example Alex Ferreira’s Pole Whip, Henrik’s Dog Bark, a Griddy from Konnor Ralph, Edjoy’s Disco, or most recently Lyon Farrell’s Rizz Face. It instantly makes me either love or hate the person, but either way, I’m going to watching the next run so I can emulate that from the couch in my mom’s basement.

Some new emote ideas: tossing snow at the end of each run, à la LeBron James’ iconic chalk toss; breaking out the OG Fortnite Dance; or hiding a phone at the bottom of the course, pulling a Joe Horn and dialing 911 to report a fire caused, of course, by your run.

Halftime Shows

Halftime shows are the ultimate bridge, bringing together die-hard fans and casual viewers. For those who might not know the difference between a K-fed on a DFD or a Front Board Same Way on a waterfall rail, they offer a reason to stick around and enjoy the spectacle. Here are a few creative halftime show ideas to make the experience unforgettable:

Snowboard Hike/Ski Skin Competition

Rules: Start at the bottom of the rail section. Hike or skin up to the top, then ride down, hitting as many rail sections as possible. For every rail section you skip, you get a 1-minute penalty. The finish line? Right back where you started.

• Prize: A prestigious gift certificate to the Chili’s in Aspen.
• Why It’s Awesome: Picture the chaos of competitors jostling for rail position on the way down—basically a mashup of Boarder/Ski Cross and Park Skiing/Snowboarding. It’s competitive, ridiculous, and entertaining all at once.
• Credit Where It’s Due: Inspired by The Bombhole Beat Down at Loon — check it out here.
  

Crowd Member Snowball Fight Presented By [Sponsor]

Who doesn’t love a good snowball fight? We channel Elf x High Cascade dodgeball rules—with one twist: you can’t catch snowballs. If you get hit, you’re out. The last person standing wins eternal glory (and maybe some swag from the sponsor).

Big Air Zorb

Ever seen zorbing? It’s when people roll downhill in giant inflatable orbs. Now, take that concept and add snow. Place drunk college kids in zorbs at the top of the second-to-last jump in the course. They roll down, hit the final jump, and whoever flies the farthest wins.

• The Challenge: We haven’t quite figured out how they’ll stop, but that’s half the fun—let the crowd cheer and brainstorm rescue plans!

Pick Your Head To Head

‍With the recent rise of Head-to-Head competitions like Dew Tour and Natural Selection, it’s time to ditch the bracket format. Start with initial seeding, let everyone do their runs, and then make it like Fight Club—where Ayumu Hirano can call out Scotty James for a second-round showdown. Not only would this boost viewership throughout the entire competition, but it would also create storylines for pundits like me to analyze for years, fueling meaningless drama that hundreds of people will devour.

Fly Overs

If your country doesn’t have a military capable of executing a proper flyover at a sporting event, then sorry—not eligible to host a freeski or snowboard competition. Sorry poors. There’s nothing like the deafening roar of supersonic jets to get the crowd amped, ideally sponsored by the U.S. Army. Honestly, as a sponsor of action sports for over a decade, how have we not had a flyover yet? 🤔

Family Dirty Laundry

Don’t you love when you’re watching a football game, and suddenly #89 makes a catch? The announcer chimes in with, “Tony, I bet his family is looking down on him right now, smiling,” before casually dropping, “after #89’s mother, father, and sister were tragically killed in a car crash when he was 12.” Then, as if on cue, the camera pans to Sandra Bullock—who adopted him—sobbing behind her sunglasses.

These moments in broadcasts always blindside me. I can’t help but think, Why did I need to know that? I just wanted to watch the game. And yet, somehow, the scriptwriters know exactly what they’re doing. Suddenly, I’m rooting for #89 with every fiber of my being, consumed by guilt that can only be absolved if this poor guy wins it all. And, of course, I’ll keep tuning in—because now I’m emotionally invested, whether I wanted to be or not. Cue then the Red Bull or 30 for 30 movie coming out in 2 years.

Thanks Cotton. I’ll take my consultant fee next year. Ecliptic Devology update coming at the end of the week, First Snake will be re-vamped, and World War E is about to drop. Can’t wait.

Ethan with the NB 3 in the Header