Watch the Most Unexpected Ski Comp of the Year on Outside TV

When the Natural Selection Tour crew arrived in Alaska this winter, the plan was simple: return to the steep, technical spine walls that helped define last season’s inaugural ski event. Instead, what unfolded became something entirely different—and perhaps even more exciting.

Now, fans will get another chance to watch it all unfold when the re-air of YETI Natural Selection Ski Alaska begins streaming on Outside TV starting May 15.

What was intended to be a classic Alaskan big-mountain showdown turned into a last-minute experiment in progression, adaptability, and creativity. Thanks to low-snow conditions, the organizers abandoned the original Valdez venue and relocated to the mountains outside of Girdwood, where the iconic Spine Cell face looked promising. But after part of the intended venue slid during an early conditions check, another venue switch had to be made.

The decision would set the stage for one of the most unique competitions freeskiing has seen.

With the weather window quickly closing, NST’s Travis Rice and Markus Eder identified a new face showcasing rolling terrain, natural transitions, and amazing freestyle potential in place of the steep, exposed spine riding that people were anticipating. The athletes and crew spent the final days building jumps and features directly into the Alaskan terrain, ultimately producing a one-of-a-kind race venue that more closely resembled a backcountry film segment than a competition course.

It was there that the athletes linked together massive trick combos during their three-minute runs that featured double backflips, double corks, and creative lines rarely seen in big-mountain competition. The venue gave the nod to skiers capable of combining freestyle precision with top-to-bottom creativity rather than just knitting together highly technical runs in deathly steep terrain.

“We came here thinking big mountain, spines, exposure—and suddenly we’re looking at a freestyle-heavy venue,” Eder said. “In my opinion, that’s what NST is all about. You’ve got to have all-round riding skills in your bag.”

This evolution may have ended up being the biggest storyline of the event.

For years, freeski competitions have largely lived in separate worlds: freestyle contests built around park features and freeride events focused on steep technical terrain. Natural Selection Ski’s Alaska edition blurred the lines, bringing it closer to the kind of creative skiing fans watch in beloved ski flicks rather than judged competitions

A stacked athlete roster helped push the progression even further. Returning champions Craig Murray and Manon Loschi were joined by names like Karl Fostvedt, Tanner Hall, Astrid Cheylis, and Colby Stevenson.

And while the event may not have looked the way organizers originally planned, that unpredictability lends itself to Natural Selection’s identity and appeal—especially as ski competitions can feel produced or manufactured. NST’s Alaska event proved that you can face chaos and still emerge with something genuine and real.

“We showed up ready for one thing and ended up doing something totally different,” said Hannah Epsteyn, who, at 17, is the youngest NST competitor ever. “No warm-up, building jumps, going straight into it. It felt more like filming with your friends than a contest. Everyone was hyping each other up, and it brought out a different side of everyone’s skiing.”

Watch the re-air of YETI Natural Selection Ski Alaska beginning May 15 on Outside TV.