9 Hot Take and Reactions Following the Biggest Ski Event of the Year, Natural Selection

In case you missed it, Natural Selection Ski Alaska 2026 just went down, and the second iteration of the event was undoubtedly a bit of a left turn from 2025, but still just as fun to watch.
To summarize, conditions forced the NST crew to a plan C, in which they competed on less consequential terrain that lent itself to a more slopestyle format. Competitors were still tasked with finding creative lines on the venue, landing tricks in variable snow conditions, and putting down multiple runs in a bracket format to crown winners.
Perhaps as highly anticipated as the event itself was the return of our very opinionated staff’s group chat while watching NST Ski this year.
There’s nothing like a bunch of journalists who are mere mortals spraying their opinions about things they’ll never dream of doing on skis, but hey, that’s what keeps the POWDER audience coming back for more, right?
Even POWDER’s talented Social Media Producer Beny Huckaby fired away on the keys to get a few takes off. Who can blame him?
So, without further ado, here are the hottest, most lukewarm, and probably even ice-cold takes from our staff about NST Ski 2026. You can read a full competition recap and results here.
The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

1. A Good Lesson

Ian Greenwood:
When the press release hit our inbox, I knew the crew behind Natural Selection was slightly worried about how this outing would be received. The release carefully explained that, because of difficult snow conditions in Alaska, viewers wouldn’t be getting the high-octane spine-skiing experience they expected.
And admittedly, when I first saw the new venue during the livestream, I was skeptical. That skepticism persisted after a few runs. But by the time the guys and girls had figured out how to make the slope sing, I was locked in. Yes, this wasn’t do-or-die big mountain skiing, but it was a very entertaining backcountry airtime showdown.
More importantly, though, Natural Selection sent a strong—and, I think, positive—message with its pivot. There is some alternate reality where, instead of changing venues, less scrupulous organizers or guides caved to the pressure and pushed the skiers down something steep anyway. While they might’ve gotten away with no injuries or burials, there would have been moving snow.
Viewers could’ve taken that approach as a sign that snow stability isn’t a big concern. Well, they might think, the pros are skiing it, so why can’t I? 
Instead, Natural Selection went with the safer option, illustrating on one of skiing’s biggest stages that sometimes, in the backcountry, the best thing to do is nix your original plan and come home in one piece. 
After all, pivoting is the less exciting but equally important part of the “natural” in Natural Selection. Way to set a good example.

2. There’s Something in the Water in New Zealand That Should Be Studied

Izzy Lidsky:
I know he didn’t win, but can we talk about Finn Bilous for a second? Up until Colby, Eder, and Sam Kuch’s second runs in the semi-finals, Bilous’ run was easily one of the best in the comp. If he hadn’t made those couple of mistakes in his final, I’d put money on him winning it. Like Colby, he’s got plenty of park experience and has competed in the Olympics. Bilous has also competed on the FWT and got second-place in Verbier in 2024. 
It’s not just Bilous, though. Craig Murray won NST last year, of course, and while he didn’t make it quite as far this year, he still put on a show going up against Sam Kuch again. Murray is also probably one of the most humble professional skiers around, which he exemplified during NST.
Sure, US skiers made a strong showing at NST, with five athletes hailing from the States this year, but it’s not just Bilous and Murray. Ben Richards absolutely dominated the FWT this year. Luke Harrold put on a hell of a show at the Snow League. Have you seen the Melville-Ives brothers? Jess Hotter? New Zealand keeps producing freeskiers who are consistently absolute savages.
I’d vote to get a couple more into the event next year. Imagine a heat between Bilous, Richards, and Murray. Minds would be blown, barriers would be broken, and everyone would be so friendly. This is what skiing needs. 

3. Tanner Hall’s Iconic Audio Bites

Beny Huckaby:
While some might call it anecdotal, Tanner Hall’s sound bites hit exactly how I didn’t realize I needed them to. I hesitate to admit it, but in my peak freeride grom years, the Chad’s Gap “MY ANKLES…” clip became a bit of a shared language. Myself or a buddy would deck a jump, and that line came out instantly.
With that moment at Chad’s is burned in, listening to his runs and post heat interview now realize how much his voice and charisma has stuck with me. It’s not just what he says, it’s how it lands.
It took me a few grunts, some narration, and the emotion in his NST runs coming through the hot mic before it all clicked again. He might not be the center of the spotlight anymore, but the personality that made him one still is.

4. Natural Selection or Natural Chameleon?

Ian Greenwood:
Last winter, we saw one vision of Natural Selection: a no-holds-barred ski competition on one of the gnarliest faces imaginable. This winter, we saw something entirely different: a backcountry slopestyle event.
There isn’t, as far as I know, an existing ski competition that could change that much from season to season while retaining a cohesive identity. Even if the terrain had changed, I still felt like I was watching Natural Selection because of the presentation, format, and important-yet-hard-to-place “vibe.”
The same may not be true for skiing’s other big circuits. The Freeride World Tour is all about technical faces. The X Games is park skiing (yes, Real Ski existed, I know, but that was a video competition). World Cup ski racing is, well, ski racing. That seems (and probably should remain) unchanging, even if I’d love to see Marco Odermatt ski the Bec des Rosses.
Now, of course, the Natural Selection switch-up was necessary, but something about it got me thinking: could a full-fledged Natural Selection tour span disciplines? A full-blown park build might be a stretch, but that could be one stop. Then, maybe, an event in the Japanese backcountry with a few built jumps, followed by the big Alaskan show with only Mother Nature’s finest steeps and spines?
If the format worked on this year’s jibby course (and at a ski resort, Palisades Tahoe, for the Super Sessions qualifier), I think it’s worth imagining how else Natural Selection could shapeshift without losing what makes the event so entertaining. 
The snowboarding side is already doing this to an extent. This year’s Revelstoke finals had some hand-built booters that complimented the natural terrain.

5. Two Female Competitors Landed Doubles (and yet there’s still only four women in this competition??)

Izzy Lidsky:
Manon Loschi, the defending champion, was the only female skier to return to NST from last year and was joined by three other incredibly talented skiers. Also hailing from France was Astrid Cheylus, who has wowed on the FWT the last couple of years. Hannah Epsteyn earned her way in at Super Sessions, as did Elisabeth Gerritzen, who came in as runner-up and took the final spot.
All of them absolutely threw down and had incredible runs, not to mention the best attitudes (we’re looking at you, Hannah!!). The two French skiers made it to the finals, in which they both sent double backflips.
Loschi stomped hers, but Cheylus was not far off from stomping. I know doubles are all the rage these days and seemingly everyone is doing them, but can we take a step back and actually look at how incredible it was to have a women’s field where not one but two competitors threw them in competition?
So, why on God’s green Earth are there still only four spots for women in this competition? There is no “women’s freeride hasn’t caught up excuse”; we’ve got MULTIPLE GALS THROWING DOUBLES.
They’re flipping, spinning, going as big as the boys, and doing it with a ton of grace. Make the field deeper, give more women the chance to be on this epic stage because it’s 2026, and it’s time that skiing caught up.

6. Snow Science

Beny Huckaby:
I thought the venue pivot by the event organizers and staff was the right call, but did the broadcast leave a few things on the table in its explanation? As a niche-sport fanatic, I’ve come to expect Red Bull TV–level broadcasts to take a moment to break down the mechanics of what we’re watching, giving the mainstream audience some footing in these highly technical sports.
Why not do that with snow science?
I’ll point to surfing as a comparison. When competitions run at dangerous, barreling slab waves, broadcasts take the time to break down the mechanics: how the water hits the reef or shelf, where the energy goes, and why it all matters.
At the beginning of the show, I feel there was an opportunity to do the same. A quick primer on avalanche basics, burial/injury potential, and a clearer breakdown (possibly with graphics) of the conditions at play.
It could have reinforced the reasoning for the pivot while also sparking curiosity and awe for viewers who might not already understand it.

7. A Moment for the Production Crew

Izzy Lidsky:
Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “everything looks smaller on camera.”
If you’ve never tried to do document larger-than-life features and huge sends, it’s hard to convey just how true this is. This is probably the most ice-cold take of them all and most certainly informed by my own personal bias, but the NST Production team absolutely crushed it once again.
It’s no accident that they’re made up of some of the most dialed photographers, cinematographers, and editors in the industry, but hopefully the level of skill comes across to the casual viewer as well. To document a competition like this on terrain this big and do it safely takes a set of skills beyond just operating a camera.
The editing that puts it into a show that captivates viewers from beginning to end is also notably difficult, and NST nails it. Bravo.

8. Skiers Are a Product of Their Environment

Beny Huckaby:
It was cool to watch Colby Stevenson progressively lock in on the win through his runs. As many predicted, he looked like a trained killer in this more repetitive, slope-style environment.
Upping the ante with each run, it started to feel less like improv and more like a killer competitive edge that was switched on. It felt like we stepped into Colby’s office this time around.
Seeing him pair that comp background with his backcountry film part pedigree to build into the win was badass. It also made me think about last year’s winner, Craig Murray, who, to my dismay, didn’t make the finals this time around.
On the big stage of last year’s NST ski, Murray looked the most comfortable in the field, going noticeably fast and huge from the get-go. While NST isn’t anyone’s natural habitat, his IG feed is filled with outrageously fast skiing in big terrain, being done in a fully nonchalant fashion. That’s his environment.
Last year, we were in his office. Hopefully we’ll be back.

9. Skiing is the best.

Matt Lorelli:
WARNING: The take you’re about to read is HOT. Like, so hot. Viewer discretion advised.
Here it goes… skiing is the best.
Standing with a group of fellow freeskiing lovers at the NST watch party at Sierra Surf Club in Tahoe City on Tuesday, a voice said from behind me, “Look at them. There’s nothing ski dudes love more than watching a freeride competition. They’re like kids in a candy store.”
While I strongly disagree with her assumption that only ski “dudes” like freeride competitions, I am willing to admit that yes, there are few things I love more than watching a bunch of guys and gals huck double backflips in the Alaskan backcountry. Sue me.
We didn’t care that the venue had changed or that some skiers were struggling to land tricks. We were standing in a bar, on a Tuesday, beers in hand, watching the best skiers in the world put on a show, together.
It was a sense of normalcy in its purest, ski-influenced form.
It was further proof that skiing, whether experienced live or through a pre-recorded broadcast, is simply the best. I rest my case.
Thanks to the NST athletes, organizers, media, and additional crews for giving it their all. I’m already excited about next year!

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