A Showcase of What Modern Skiing Looks Like
Natural Selection Tour Ski 2026 wasn’t just about who stood on top, it was a statement about where competitive freeride skiing is headed. With format shifts, terrain changes, and no room for error, the event rewarded skiers who could blend filming‑level creativity with competition‑level discipline. In Alaska, Colby Stevenson and Manon Loschi proved that adaptability is the ultimate advantage. When the mountain rewrote the rules, they rewrote the playbook.
Watch the Full Replay of the Natural Selection Ski 2026
Pivot! A Course Built on Adaptation
Originally slated for iconic big‑mountain spine terrain near Valdez, the event was forced to pivot just 24 hours before drop‑in due to unstable snowpack and avalanche concerns. The Natural Selection crew, led by Travis Rice alongside athletes and guides relocated the contest to a rolling, feature‑rich zone outside Girdwood, rebuilding the entire venue from scratch in a single weather window. The result was a hybrid backcountry freestyle course: less about exposed lines and more about fluidity, creativity, and trick‑linking. Runs stretched nearly three minutes long, with athletes stacking up to nine tricks top‑to‑bottom—rewarding versatility over specialization and putting the spotlight squarely on skiers who could do it all.
Colby Stevenson: Power, Precision, and the Men’s Win
In the men’s field, Colby Stevenson set the tone early and never looked back. Known for blending competition‑tested consistency with big‑mountain confidence, Colby delivered one of the cleanest and most decisive runs of the day. His winning finals line combined speed, control, and technical execution—highlighted by a massive double cork 1080 blunt grab on the course’s largest feature.
What separated Colby was not just difficulty, but composure. On a venue that had no obvious “right” line, he committed fully, trusted his instincts, and executed every hit with precision—showing exactly why he’s one of the most versatile skiers in the world.
Manon Loschi: Back‑to‑Back and Still Pushing
On the women’s side, Manon Loschi continued her rise at the top of freeride and freestyle progression, securing back‑to‑back Natural Selection Tour Ski titles. Her winning performance was defined by control and flow, setting the tone with a confident double backflip before linking features seamlessly through the rest of the course. Rather than chasing size alone, Manon focused on smart line choice and flawless execution—delivering a run that balanced creativity, speed, and technical precision. In a format that demanded adaptability, her ability to stay calm and calculated made the difference.
More NST Coverage
- Red Bull: YETI Natural Selection Ski – Alaska Event 2026 Recap on RedBull.com
- FREESKIER: Natural Selection Ski 2026 Full Recap and Winning Runs on Freeskier.com
- SBC Skier: SBCskier.com