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Natural Selection Tour Launches First-Ever Ski Competition in Alaska


Credit: Chad Chomlack / Natural Selection


NST Ski is launching in style tomorrow, April 17, 2025—and it’s shaping up to be a landmark moment for the sport. Set deep in the Alaska Range on a face that organizers call “one of Mother Nature’s premier theatres,” the YETI Natural Selection Ski competition is finally here. This isn’t just a contest—it’s a celebration of progression, creativity, and the wildest terrain on Earth.

Premieres Thursday, April 17 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 9PM CET
Watch it on Red Bull TV: redbull.com/NSTski
Available for on-demand streaming immediately after the live show.

And yeah—look out for our guy Kai Jones!

The Lineup

The athlete roster is absolutely stacked. These are the skiers who are redefining what’s possible:

Women’s Session

  • Michelle Parker (USA)
  • Maggie Voisin (USA)
  • Manon Loschi (FRA)
  • Hedvig Wessel (NOR)

Men’s Session 1

Men’s Session 2

  • Craig Murray (NZL)
  • Kye Petersen (CAN)
  • Max Palm (SWE)
  • Markus Eder (ITA)

Credit: Chad Chomlack / Natural Selection

The Format: Big Mountain Freeride

NST Ski’s format is all about progression. Riders throw down full solo lines—no cuts, no edits—just top-to-bottom, feature-worthy rides. Each session’s standout skier advances automatically, while the rest fight for bracket spots. From there, it’s head-to-head elimination rounds until champions are crowned.

“This format makes every turn count,” says Parker White. “NST is creating a new lane for skiers to push the boundaries and actually build a career in backcountry progression. It’s something we’ve needed for a long time.”

The Venue: Alaska’s Legendary “P1”

Welcome to Priority 1 (P1)—a face that’s earned near-mythical status in the world of snow. First ridden by Jeremy Nobis in 2007 and later by Travis Rice in The Fourth Phase, this towering slope near Eleven’s Winterlake Lodge offers massive spines, natural hits, and all the freedom a skier could dream of.

“When I saw the face, it looked huge in photos. Then I stood on top. And it was even bigger,” says Maggie Voisin. “There are so many features to link—it’s a dream for creativity.”

“This is the greatest ski event and competition that I’ve ever participated in,” adds Hedvig Wessel, 2024 Freeride World Champion. “It’s the kind of stage our sport deserves.”

Hedvig Wessel. Credit: Chad Chomlack / Natural Selection


Judged by CREDO

Each line will be judged using the CREDO system—Creativity, Risk, Execution, Difficulty, and Overall Flow—by a crew of legends: Sean Pettit, Dion Newport, and Kristi Leskinen. These folks know what they’re looking for, and they’ll be scoring in real time from a judging booth perched right on the glacier.

The Broadcast: Live, Unfiltered, and Fully Stacked

The show’s coming to you live with Ed Leigh on the mic, joined by freeski icons Chris Benchetler, Tonje Kvivik, and Mark Abma in the booth. Tatum Monod brings field reporting from the glacier, giving viewers an inside look at what it’s like on the ground (and in the air).

Expect cutting-edge visuals from skier POVs and FPV drones flown by Gabriel Kocher, all crafted by Uncle Toad’s Media Group. You’ll be watching alongside the hosts, who’ll be reacting live as the action unfolds.

This is the kind of competition skiing has been waiting for. Freeride, freestyle, and big mountain energy all wrapped into one high-stakes showdown.

Premieres Thursday. Don’t miss it. Watch here

Credit: Chad Chomlack / Natural Selection
Credit: Leslie Hittmeier / Natural Selection

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