SNÖBAHN is transforming the way athletes train for snow sports. Learn how this indoor reduced risk training facility offers year-round access to cutting-edge training environments, making skiing and snowboarding more accessible, safer, and exciting for athletes of all levels.
Redefining Snow Sports Training
SNÖBAHN is not your average ski and snowboard facility—it’s a revolutionary space that’s redefining how athletes train and perfect their skills. Founded in 2016 by Colorado native Sadler Merrill, SNÖBAHN offers year-round training, making skiing and snowboarding more accessible for people in urban areas. And now, with the help of three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White and his action sports company, Unrivaled Sports, SNÖBAHN is set to expand its influence even further, shaping the next generation of snowboarders and skiers.
At BigAirBag, we are proud to be part of SNÖBAHN’s journey. We provide cutting-edge airbag safety technology that ensures athletes can push their limits in a safe, controlled environment. Together, we’re creating safer training environments that foster the future of action sports.
SNÖBAHN’s Innovative Approach to Training:
The core of SNÖBAHN’s mission is to inspire a life of adventure through action sports and motivate the next generation of athletes. Their facilities offer athletes of all levels a secure platform to learn new skills before hitting the slopes or parks. SNÖBAHN’s unique approach includes high-performance trampolines, a Big Air Jump, artificial slopes, fitting with a BigAirBag Landing and AirPit, providing the perfect setup for both novice and advanced riders to push their boundaries safely.
Key Highlights of SNÖBAHN's Freestyle Park:
- Big Air Jump: Athletes can safely practice advanced tricks using roller skis, roller snowboards, skateboards, scooters, and BMX bikes. The BigAirBag Landing ensures that athletes—from beginners to pros—can practice and perfect their tricks without fear of injury.
- PerformanceTrampolines: With seven trampolines, SNÖBAHN provides a space for athletes to build air awareness and practice flips, twists, and jumps, all while benefiting from the safety of the BigAirBag AirPit beneath them.
- Artificial slopes: Indoor skiing and snowboarding with a revolving, snow-like surface, SNÖBAHN replicates a mountain slope, allowing athletes to focus on skills and technique.
- Diverse Training Options: SNÖBAHN offers a wide variety of training options, from freestyle skiing and snowboarding to BMX and skateboarding. Professional coaches are available to guide athletes in developing the proper techniques for each sport.
BigAirBag’s Involvement and the Power of Partnerships at SNÖBAHN:
Bringing SNÖBAHN Thornton to life was a real team effort, led by SNÖBAHN’s vision to create an action sports experience like no other. Our friends at California Skateparks were key players, lending their world-class design and construction expertise—they’ve built over 500 skateparks worldwide, so they know a thing or two about creating awesome spaces!
We were also lucky to work with some other amazing partners. Ski Machine came on board with their state-of-the-art indoor ski simulators, making it possible for athletes to train all year, no matter where they are. And Max Air Trampolines designed top-of-the-line trampolines that work for both beginners and pros alike. Together, these partnerships helped turn SNÖBAHN Thornton into a reality.
At BigAirBag, we contributed a custom-designed Landing BigAirBag and BigAirBag AirPit, specifically tailored for SNÖBAHN’s freestyle park. The airbag was uniquely constructed with 3x the amount of down drops in order create the flattest landing surface possible. This flat landing surface was designed for multi-sport athletes, such as skaters, BMX riders, and rollerbladers, minimizing risks and making it easier for athletes to land their tricks safely. When designing the airbag, we considered the size of the wheels to ensure that all types of athletes could roll away smoothly after landing. This innovation was made possible with valuable input from Richard Zelinka, a renowned scooter rider who helped us refine the technology to create a safer yet high-performance airbag solution. The overall design of the Landing Bag was crafted to integrate and maintain the park’s flow.
These partnerships have resulted in one of the highest-quality, low-risk training facilities on the market. With SNÖBAHN set to expand to new locations in the coming years, we’re excited to see where this journey takes us and to explore future collaborative projects. While the next innovation in training facilities remains unknown, one thing is certain—SNÖBAHN and Unrivaled Sports will be leading the way, and BigAirBag is proud to contribute to these endeavors.
A Shared Mission: Safety and Innovation
At BigAirBag, safety, fun, and innovation are at the core of what we do, and projects like this are exactly why we’re here. It’s all about giving the next generation of athletes the space and support they need to redefine what’s possible. By providing the right facility and the expert knowledge that SNÖBAHN brings to the table, we’re setting them up for success.
We’re focused on creating a safe environment that not only helps athletes push their limits but also keeps them excited to keep going in their chosen sport. It’s about making things fun and accessible without compromising on safety. We love those adrenaline-filled slams, but we know that if the slam is too hard, it can kill the motivation to keep going. A reduced-risk environment is key to building confidence and driving the sport forward. So, when it’s time to throw that triple cork on the mega ramp or carve the slopes, you’ve got the skill and confidence to go all out.
Why SNÖBAHN’s Model is Revolutionary:
SNÖBAHN’s success lies in its ability to bring the mountains to the people. As Kevin English, CEO of Unrivaled Sports’ action sports division, noted, “It’s quite a financial and logistical investment to go from the city up to the mountains to just see if you like the sport. SNÖBAHN is reducing all those barriers.”
By creating accessible, indoor action sports facilities, SNÖBAHN is removing the logistical challenges that have traditionally made skiing and snowboarding less accessible to city dwellers. With Shaun White, Bode Miller, and investors like Ares Management backing SNÖBAHN, it’s clear that this facility is seen as the future of action sports training. These athletes and investors understand the value of safe, accessible training environments and are helping expand SNÖBAHN’s influence across the country.
Whether you’re running a ski resort, a freestyle park, or an urban action sports facility, SNÖBAHN sets the standard for elevating training environments to new heights. As action sports continue to grow, there’s an increasing demand for better facilities and greater accessibility. We’re thrilled to be part of this shift and can’t wait to see where the industry is headed.
The Future of Snow Sports Training
Let us help you create a world-class, safe training environment at your facility. Contact us today to learn more about how BigAirBag can elevate your business and redefine what’s possible in action sports training. Be sure to check out SNÖBAHN for a glimpse into the future of action sports.
