Photo: The Snow League
Luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co.has built some iconic trophies in American sports. There’s the National Football League’s Lombardi trophy, Major League Baseball’s Commissioner’s Trophy, the National Basketball Association’s Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, and in tennis, the U.S. Open Championship trophy, just to start a very short list. Shaun White’s brand new Snow League can also add itself to the growing list of professional sports whose championship trophy is built and designed by Tiffany & Co.
The Snow League gave a first look at the trophy ahead of its event in Aspen just last week. At just over 14 inches tall and weighing 13 pounds, the trophy is made of sterling silver and 24K vermeil. There’s also a striking resemblance to another iconic sports trophy that wasn’t named earlier here (only because it’s not made by the famous jeweler): Lord Stanley’s Cup. And similar to the NHL’s trophy, the rings around this trophy will grow over time as new men’s and women’s freeski and snowboard halfpipe champions are named.
“From the beginning, we wanted to raise the bar for what a championship in winter sports could look like. Partnering with Tiffany & Co. to create a luxury trophy brings a sense of permanence, prestige and history that our sports have been deserving of for so long,” league founder Shaun White said. “These are world-class athletes performing at the highest level, and it felt important that the trophy reflect that same level of excellence, craftsmanship and greatness.”
The value of the Snow League’s Tiffany & Co. trophy hasn’t been disclosed yet, but it’s likely worth a pretty penny. For reference, the jeweler’s Lombardi Trophy costs about $50,000 to produce. Baseball’s commissioner’s trophy costs anywhere between $20,000 and $30,000. Those are chump change compared to the Woodlawn Vase, another Tiffany-made trophy, which is given out to the winner of the Preakness Stakes. That three-foot-tall, 30-pound trophy is valued at $4 million.
