Rookie-ness is difficult to gauge in snowboarding. New faces aren’t—for the most part—shot out of a cannon and into stardom the way they are in practically every other major sport. There is no definitive first year because most of the riders who have made it onto this list have been snowboarding since they were children. The line between doing it for fun and whatever comes after that has been so blurred that one day we just wake up and realize—if we’re lucky—that we’ve been doing what we always wanted. That being said, there is always a next generation, a group of riders who will—god willing—evolve the sport. These nominees are part of that generation.
ELLIE WEILER –
The queen of the underground contest scene, Ellie dominated this year, taking the World Quarters and Round Up Mini Pipe titles with her signature mix of style and power.
TELMA SÄRKIPAJU –
A certified threat in both street and slopestyle, Telma backed up her Uninvited Invitational win with standout footage in Hot Mess, proving she can hold her own in any arena.
SIERRA FORCHHEIMER –
With an electric breakout part in Bittersweet, Sierra made sure her riding left a lasting impression, bringing both style and technicality to every shot.
STINE TØNNESSEN –
A vital mind behind sensesse’s streetstyle_24, Stine didn’t just contribute—she delivered, with footage that showed precision, creativity, and a deep understanding of street snowboarding.
MATEO MASSITTI –
Making his backcountry debut in Swamp Donkey, a collab with Dustin Craven, Mateo came out swinging. For a first video part, he didn’t just show up—he threw down tricks even the veterans are leaving on the table.
JADYN CHOMLACK –
A longtime underground name in Canada, Jadyn’s footage in Sophia put him on more people’s radar. With a well-earned spot on the GNU team, this nod feels like the start of something bigger.
DRAKE WARNER -
Easily the most technical rider on this list, Drake has become a staple of the Michigan based short videos directed by Cooper Vosburg. His opening part in Vosburg’s Breaking Free, from two years ago was the kind of well rounded display that you would expect from someone ten years his age. But it was his ending part in Rome Snowboards latest video, Particle, that caught our attention and landed Drake a rookie nomination this year.
CALEB KINNEAR -
Caleb likes to jump down shit, it’s as simple as that. He’s developed a love for big rails, big ledges, and enough kinks to start an argument on how to count them. His footage in Running With Scissors, from two seasons ago landed him on the cover of Garage Magazine, but his footage from last year’s Ant Hill, showed that it wasn’t just a fluke.