Backcountry
Industry News
YETI Natural Selection Ski has announced its highly anticipated 2025 rider lineup, featuring some of the world’s best freeskiers set to compete in Alaska’s legendary terrain. This marks the first ski-specific edition of the Natural Selection Tour, founded by Travis Rice, and brings together Olympians, X Games medalists, and Freeride World Tour champions for a groundbreaking competition.
The stacked roster includes four women and eight men each known for their elite freeride skills, along with a mystery rider for the men’s division:
Women’s Division:
- Michelle Parker (USA)
- Maggie Voisin (USA)
- Hedvig Wessel (NOR)
- Manon Loschi (FRA)
Men’s Division:
- Markus Eder (ITA)
- Colby Stevenson (USA)
- Kye Petersen (CAN)
- Sam Kuch (CAN)
- Craig Murray (NZL)
- Parker White (USA)
- Kai Jones (USA)
- Mystery Rider (TBA)
With an emphasis on creativity, risk, execution, and overall style, the event is set to redefine freeride skiing. Using drone footage and a head-to-head bracket format, competitors will showcase their skills on untouched, natural terrain without manmade features. The competition will be live-streamed on Red Bull TV starting April 16.
One skier whose name has been floated as a potential wildcard amongst the North American skiing community is Karl Fostvedt aka “Crazy Karl,” who recently announced his retirement from the Kings and Queens of Corbet’s competition at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Known for his aggressive style and fearless approach to big mountain skiing, Fostvedt’s addition to the Natural Selection roster would only add to the event’s intensity and progression.
“I’m still focused and hungry to compete, but I want to do it in a backcountry environment,” Fostvedt wrote in a social media post Sunday. “If I get called to represent in a backcountry contest, I’ll be ready.
As the countdown to April begins, the skiing world will be watching to see how this elite field pushes the limits of freeride competition.
