Industry News
DUELS Drop February 24 on Red Bull TV
Find out which of the “challenger” riders—including Alexander, Blackley, Crosby, Davis, Ferguson, Leines, Lundstrom, Luxton, Moller, Van Der Meer, Sandbech, and Sato—will advance to YETI Natural Selection Revelstoke.
Andermatt+Sedrun+Disentis, CH; Eleven Irwin, CO; High Mountain Heli, ID; Journeyman Lodge, BC; Kirkwood Mtn Resort, CA; and Myoko, Japan to host.
Revelstoke, BC (December 17, 2024) → The list of riders challenging for a spot on the 2025 Natural Selection Tour is out today and it is as exciting as ever. Olympians, icons, and snowboarding’s most dynamic up-and-coming talents are competing in head-to-head matchups at iconic mountain venues worldwide for the first stage of the 2025 Natural Selection Tour: YETI Natural Selection DUELS. Watch DUELS exclusively on Red Bull TV starting February 24, 2025.
This year’s DUELS will take place in standout mountain venues with prime backcountry and freeride terrain, including Andermatt+Sedrun+Disentis in Switzerland; evo’s Journeyman Lodge at the Callaghan in Whistler, BC; Eleven Irwin, CO; High Mountain Heli, ID; Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe, CA; and Myoko, Japan.
The 2025 YETI Natural Selection DUELS match-ups are:
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Tor Lundstrom x Stale Sandbech @ Andermatt+Sedrun+Disentis, Switzerland
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Stefi Luxton x Madison Blackley @ Eleven Irwin, CO*
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Bjorn Leines x Brin Alexander @ evo’s Journeyman Lodge at the Callaghan, BC* (foot-powered DUEL)
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Severin Van Der Meer x Brandon Davis @ Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe, CA*
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Gabe Ferguson x Blake Moller @ High Mountain Heli, Victor, ID*
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Aya Sato x Sarka Pancochova@ Myoko, Japan
*Rider announcement videos dropping on @NaturalSelectionSnow starting this week
“I’m really excited to be competing in the DUELS this year. The last time I did Natural Selection it was a pretty last-minute thing, so it’s nice to have time to prepare,” said Stefi Luxton, who last competed as a wildcard alternate in 2022. “The venue at Eleven Irwin looks incredible–fun, flowy, freestyle terrain. I can’t wait to check it out and spend the week snowboarding with Madison in Colorado.”
The Natural Selection Rider Selection Committee made up of one representative from Natural Selection and three other respected men and women from snowboarding, selected the challenger riders. The selection process considers video footage, competition results, and the potential for success in the Natural Selection format of backcountry freeriding.
“I’m feeling honored and stoked to have the opportunity to be riding in the NST DUELS!” said Bjorn Leines, who is joining the Tour following his appearance at the first-ever Natural Selection in 2008. “The mindset of big mountain freestyle riding combined with the location, the format, and the talent pool are the ingredients that I’ve been dreaming about for some time now. Looking forward to visualizing, charging, and putting signatures down on BC’s Coast Range alongside Brin and battling it out in God’s country!”
The eight men and four women invited to the DUELS represent the most talented riders in backcountry competition today. Each DUEL showcases two riders head-to-head during their weather window, judged by the Natural Selection judging panel. The winner of each match-up advances to the next stage of the Tour in Revelstoke. Winners will be revealed on February 24 as DUELS premiere on Red Bull TV. Watch the 2024 NST DUELS (again!) on YouTube.
2025 Natural Selection Tour Dates:
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YETI Natural Selection DUELS:
Streaming starting February 24, 2025, exclusively on Red Bull TV (winners revealed in show). -
YETI Natural Selection Revelstoke:
March 10-17, 2025*
*Live for two days in the competition window exclusively on Red Bull TV.
Like-minded partners are coming together to help develop and support the Natural Selection Tour. YETI is back as the Title Partner of the DUELS and Revelstoke snowboarding events, and the Tour’s Official Sustainability Partner. YETI will also title the inaugural Natural Selection Ski event. Arc’teryx returns as the Tour’s outerwear partner for both snowboarding and ski. Dakine, Oakley, Ski-Doo, and BOA have also signed on early as NST partners. More 2025 partners will be announced throughout the fall and winter.
The Industry Alliance program returns this season. Members receive access to their respective team athletes’ content and media integration within the Tour and represent a fundamental group in supporting the future of each sport’s health and progression. To get involved, please contact the Natural Selection Tour’s partnership team (conor@naturalselectiontour.com).
