The CoLab: A Creator Stage at the GoPro Mountain Games

2026 CoLab

The CoLab is a creator stage located in Solaris Plaza, featuring a dynamic lineup of daily programming—including the Mountain Games Show, live music, art, athlete integrations, dogs, and curated panel discussions.

Designed as a welcoming lounge in the heart of Vail Village, The CoLab brings together some of the best names in the outdoor and creator industries. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to connect in person with creators, athletes, and influencers throughout the week.

THURSDAY, JUNE 4

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Surf Hat 
Join us for good vibes to kick off the weekend at the CoLab Stage with Squamish BC based psychedelic surf rock band Surf Hat.

4:00 PM | GoPro Giveaway
Check out the GoPro booth, right across from the CoLab, for your chance to win in their daily giveaway!

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Dog Adoption Party with Matt Nelson from WeRateDogs
Come meet adorable adoptable pups with Eagle County Animal Services and find your new adventure buddy. 12/10, would recommend.

5:15 PM – 6:00 PM | Mountain Game Show
Think Family Feud meets Double Dare, featuring your favorite Mountain Games personalities — all in good fun and all for charity. Who will take home the gold? Only one way to find out.


FRIDAY, JUNE 5

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM | Miles the Music Kid & Steph Strings
Musical phenomenon Miles the Music Kid and Australian legendary guitarist Steph Strings bring the energy with a live collaborative performance that’ll have the whole crowd grooving.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Rating the best Mountain Dogs with Matt Nelson from WeRateDogs
The Dogfather returns to do what he does best — rate the goodest boys and girls the mountains have to offer. Bring your pup. Scores and vibes will be high.

12:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Free Tattoos / Face Painting / Art
It’s free, oh my! Get a piece of wearable art from our incredible artists. Whether you want a flash tattoo, an incredible face paint look, or want to customize your own Mountain Games T shirt, come hang and leave looking like a masterpiece.

3:00 PM -4:00 PM | Gus Glasser: Sampling Sounds of the Mountain Games.
Experience the Games like never before. Musician and sound artist Gus Glasser samples the raw, wild energy of the Mountain Games and transforms it into a live sonic journey you won’t forget.

4:00 PM | GoPro Giveaway
Check out the GoPro booth, right across from the CoLab, for your chance to win in their daily giveaway!

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Mountain Game Show
It’s back and better than ever! The athletes, games, laughs, and chaos continue!

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Paul Stamets: How Mushrooms Can Save the World (Special Guest Chris Benchetler)
Join world-renowned mycologist Paul Stamets for a powerful conversation on how mushrooms may support neurological health and resilience in athletes.

6:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Paul Stamets Book Signing
Don’t miss your chance to meet the man himself! Paul Stamets will be signing copies of his books following his talk. Bring your copy or grab one on-site — this is a rare opportunity with the one and only!


SATURDAY, JUNE 6

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Coffee & Cofresi: Live Electronica Set
Start your Saturday right. Grab your morning Stok brew and let Cofresi set the tone with a dreamy live electronica set that’s equal parts chill and electric. The perfect soundtrack to kick off a day in the mountains.

12:00 PM | Rowdy Dachshund: The World’s First Professional Female Skater on 4 Legs!
She shreds. She slays. She’s on four legs. Meet Rowdy Dachshund, the one and only professional female dachshund skater and champion racer who’s breaking barriers and melting hearts one trick at a time.

12:15 PM | Photo Op with Rowdy Dachshund
Get your cameras ready! After her big intro, Rowdy Dachshund is available for photos. Yes, really. Come meet the world’s most stylish four-legged skater and grab the cutest selfie of your year.

12:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Free Tattoos / Face Painting / Art
The art tent is open! Swing by for complimentary flash tattoos, face paint, and live art from our incredible artists. Perfect for all ages — come as you are, leave as a work of art.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Short Dogs in Da House Mountain Race: Hosted by Rowdy Dachshund
Low to the ground, high in speed! Rowdy Dachshund hosts the first ever short-dog race at the Mountain Games! 4 dogs per race, a 30-yard dash, who will win it all? Think March Madness bracket meets Mountain Dogs. Who can de-throne the champion herself?!

4:00 PM | GoPro Giveaway
Check out the GoPro booth, right across from the CoLab, for your chance to win in their daily giveaway!

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Mountain Game Show: Kids Only!
More athletes, more laughs, more chaos — the Mountain Game(s) Show is back on stage for another wild round of competitive fun, no boring adults allowed. All benefiting our local non-profit partners!

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Modern Biology: Plant & Mushroom Music
What do plants and mushrooms sound like? Time to find out. Modern Biology turns the electrical signals of living organisms into beautiful music in a live performance that blurs the line between science, music and art.

6:00 PM – 6:45 PM | Future Joy: Live Sax and Electronic Mashups 
Close out Saturday on a high note, literally. Vibrant power couple, Future Joy, brings a high energy fusion of live saxophone and electronic beats that’ll have you dancing into the sunset before you head to the Amp!


SUNDAY, JUNE 7

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Future Joy: Coffee & Grooves 
Rise and shine with Future Joy! Sip your morning coffee to the funky fresh and blissful grooves of Future Joy. The perfect Sunday send-off to get you stoked for an incredible final day of the Mountain Games!

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Mountain Games Fashion Show presented by Pat Milbery and Fresh Sam
Presented by artist Pat Milbery and stylist Fresh Sam. Style meets sport at the Mountain Games Fashion Show! Pat and Sam bring their signature flair to the runway as athletes and artists come together to showcase the amazing custom clothing they created all weekend long!

12:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Free Tattoos / Face Painting / Art
One last chance to get your art on! Our CoLab tattoo and face paint artists are back for the final session of the weekend. Walk up, sit down, and leave wearing something you’ll remember long after the trip home.

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM | Mountain Game Show & CoLab Grand Finale
Save the best for last: The Mountain Game(s) Show returns for its ultimate edition, featuring Olympic athletes going head-to-head in the most epic, ridiculous, and entertaining games of the weekend. The perfect send-off to an unforgettable 2026 GoPro Mountain Games.

4:00 PM | GoPro Giveaway
Check out the GoPro booth, right across from the CoLab, for your chance to win in their daily giveaway!


The VISIONARIES


wade holland

Meet (half) the creative mind behind The CoLab at the GoPro Mountain Games—Wade Holland. A veteran creative director known for his wild energy and adventurous spirit, he fills the world with infinite stoke through colorful, electric storytelling. Wade dreamed up The CoLab as a space where creators, athletes, and fans come together to share, connect, and get inspired. With his signature blend of fun and authenticity, Wade is shaping The CoLab into a hub of creativity, community, and mountain culture.


abby wren

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 – SUNDAY, JUNE 7
12:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Free Tattoos / Face Painting / Art
It’s free, oh my! Get a piece of wearable art from our incredible artists. Whether you want a flash tattoo, an incredible face paint look, or want to customize your own Mountain Games T shirt, come hang and leave looking like a masterpiece.

Abby Wren is the other half of the creative force behind The CoLab at the GoPro Mountain Games. A visionary artist and storyteller, Abby brings color, creativity, and connection to everything she touches. After losing her hair to the autoimmune disease Alopecia, she began using creative makeup to express her femininity. Abby’s bald head has become her iconic canvas as she transforms herself into mind-blowing art masterpieces. Co-founder of Wrenegade Media with her husband Wade, she helps shape The CoLab into a vibrant space where creators can truly shine at the GoPro Mountain Games.

THE HOST


UNCLE E

Uncle E is bringing the hype to The CoLab as one of this year’s hosts. With deep roots in ski racing and a long career behind the mic, he’s known for his high-energy commentary and unmatched ability to fire up a crowd. Whether it’s World Cup gates or mountain town gatherings, Uncle E brings passion, personality, and pure stoke. At The CoLab, he’s here to keep the momentum rolling and the good vibes flowing.

 

2026 Creators


PAUL STAMETS

FRIDAY, JUNE 5
5:00 PM | How Mushrooms Can Save the World (Special Guest Chris Benchetler)
Legendary mycologist Paul Stamets takes the stage for a mind-opening session on the power of fungi—from trail to planet.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE


modern biology

SATURDAY, JUNE 6
5:00 PM | Modern Biology: Plant & Mushroom Music
Biologist and musician, Tarun Nayar, uses synthesizers and electronic techniques to turn bioelectric signals from mushrooms into ambient soundscapes.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE


chris benchetler

FRIDAY, JUNE 5
5:00 PM | How Mushrooms Can Save the World (Special Guest Chris Benchetler)
10:00 PM | Mountains of the Moon x Chasing Rabbits Vail

Chris Benchetler is a Mammoth Lakes–based artist and pro skier whose work blends mountain culture, music, and the natural world. Known for vivid, dreamlike visuals, he has created work for the Grateful Dead and led the immersive Mountains of the Moon project, and co-founded the Benchetler Fasani Foundation and Wind Drift Studios.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE

ROWDY COLAB


rowdy dachshund

SATURDAY, JUNE 6
12:00 PM | Rowdy Dachshund: The World’s First Professional Female Skater on 4 legs
12:15 PM | Rowdy Dachshund: Photo Op
3:00 PM | Short Dogs in Da House Mountain Race: Hosted by Rowdy Dachshund
World champion wiener dog racer Rowdy Dachshund and mom Kim host the Mountain Games 1st annual Short Dogs Mountain race.

Female from Hollywood, CA / The Tony Hawk Of Dachshunds / Professional Skateboarder / Championship Racer / Model / Trend Setter / Hotdog
Rowdy is one of the fastest dogs in the west with multiple championship race wins, entries, and
podium finishes. In CA, AZ, CO. Short Dawgs In Da House Mountain Race in Vail CO is the first
of its kind bringing the Short Dawgs To the Mountain Top.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE


matt nelson from we rate dogs

FRIDAY, JUNE 5
12:00 PM | Rating the best 2026 Mountain Dogs
Matt Nelson from WeRateDogs rates the best Mountain Dogs

Matt Nelson is the founder of WeRateDogs, the viral social media account famous for rating dogs “above” 10/10 since 2015. He later launched the 15/10 Foundation, a nonprofit helping shelter dogs get adopted by covering their medical care. His media universe blending internet culture with real-world animal advocacy has amassed nearly 30 million followers. Matt currently resides in Los Angeles, California

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE


miles the music kid

FRIDAY, JUNE 5
11:00 AM | Miles the Music Kid & Steph Strings
Miles and Australian singer / songwriter, Steph Strings, create a collab song live on stage.

Miles Bonham, aka Miles Music Kid, is a 9-year-old prodigy and the world’s youngest producer, first gaining attention at age five for recreating multitrack songs while playing up to eight instruments. His viral videos showcase his talent in the studio, earning praise from artists like Lenny Kravitz and Mark Ronson, as he creates original music and remixes across genres from pop to EDM.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE

 

cofresi


cofresi

SATURDAY, JUNE 6
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Coffee & Cofresi: Live Electronica Set – Start your Saturday right. Grab your morning STōK brew and let Cofresi set the tone with a dreamy live electronica set that’s equal parts chill and electric. The perfect soundtrack to kick off a day in the mountains.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE


future joy

SATURDAY, JUNE 6
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM | Future Joy: Live Sax and Electronic Mashups – Close out Saturday on a high note, literally. Vibrant power couple, Future Joy, brings a high energy fusion of live saxophone and electronic beats that’ll have you dancing into the sunset before you head to the Amp!

SUNDAY, JUNE 7
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Future Joy: Coffee & Grooves – Rise and shine with Future Joy! Sip your morning coffee to the funky fresh and blissful grooves of Future Joy. The perfect Sunday send-off to get you stoked for an incredible final day of the Mountain Games!

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE


PAT MILBERY

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 – SUNDAY, JUNE 7
12:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Free Tattoos / Face Painting / Art
It’s free, oh my! Get a piece of wearable art from our incredible artists. Whether you want a flash tattoo, an incredible face paint look, or want to customize your own Mountain Games T shirt, come hang and leave looking like a masterpiece.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Mountain Games Fashion Show presented by Pat Milbery and Fresh Sam
Presented by artist Pat Milbery and stylist Fresh Sam. Style meets sport at the Mountain Games Fashion Show! Pat and Sam bring their signature flair to the runway as athletes and artists come together to showcase the amazing custom clothing they created all weekend long!

Pat Milbery is bringing his signature splash of color and creativity to The CoLab with a special kids art activation. Known for his vibrant murals and positive energy, Pat is not just an artist—he’s a community builder and joy spreader. His work lights up everything from city walls to snowboards, and now he’s inviting young creators to join the fun. With Pat leading the charge, this hands-on experience is all about expression, imagination, and inspiring the next generation of artists.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE

FRESH SAM

SUNDAY, JUNE 7
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Mountain Games Fashion Show presented by Pat Milbery and Fresh Sam
Presented by artist Pat Milbery and stylist Fresh Sam. Style meets sport at the Mountain Games Fashion Show! Pat and Sam bring their signature flair to the runway as athletes and artists come together to showcase the amazing custom clothing they created all weekend long!

Fresh Sam is a fashion powerhouse whose work lives at the intersection of high fashion, street culture, and environmental revolution. With a career spanning over a decade across Denver, LA, and Europe, she has become a go-to creative for global icons like The Pharcyde and Eminem,  and a trusted collaborator for heavyweights like Netflix, Puma, and The Grammys.

But her true legacy is built on sustainability. By reimagining the lifecycle of textiles, she has personally diverted enough waste to save over 650,000 gallons of water, proving that ‘fresh’ doesn’t have to mean ‘new.’

Whether she is art directing global campaigns, mentoring the next generation, or advocating for community impact through the lens of radical self-expression, she is redefining what it means to be a creator in the modern age.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE

 

GUS GLASSER

FRIDAY, JUNE 5
3:00 PM -4:00 PM | Gus Glasser: Sampling Sounds of the Mountain Games.
Experience the Games like never before. Musician and sound artist Gus Glasser samples the raw, wild energy of the Mountain Games and transforms it into a live sonic journey you won’t forget.

Gus Glasser is an Atlanta-based musician known for his interactive and engaging street performances, creative production, and earworm melodies. Using live looping and improvisation, every show is something new; he draws you in with humor and sincerity, giving way to honest and self-reflective songs made for the moment. His infectious energy connects him to others wherever he goes whether in his music or in a random conversation, standing in line at the pharmacy.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE

FLASH TATTOO ARTISTS


amanda coykendall

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 – SUNDAY, JUNE 7
12:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Free Tattoos / Face Painting / Art
It’s free, oh my! Get a piece of wearable art from our incredible artists. Whether you want a flash tattoo, an incredible face paint look, or want to customize your own Mountain Games T shirt, come hang and leave looking like a masterpiece.

Meet Amanda, a talented tattoo artist based in Fort Collins, CO. She got her start in Wyoming about six years ago and has spent the last five building her craft in Colorado—where she’s found a true creative home.

Amanda specializes in black and grey illustrative tattoos, with a love for fine lines and intricate details. She’s thrilled to be back on the CoLab Stage this year, sharing her art and connecting with the community once again!

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE