Published Apr 22, 2025
Craig Murray (NZL) and Manon Loschi (FRA) emerged victorious at the debut YETI Natural Selection Ski event held on the steep, rugged faces of Alaska’s remote Chugach Mountains. With a creative and high-risk approach, the two athletes etched their names in freeride history as the first-ever winners of this ski-focused expansion of the renowned backcountry tour.
Men’s Podium:
- Craig Murray (NZL)
- Sam Kuch (CAN)
- Markus Eder (ITA)
Murray’s final run featured high-speed, powerful riding with minimal turns and a massive flatspin off a spine, earning him the top score of the day. This victory follows consistent top-tier performances this season, including a runner-up finish at the Kicking Horse Freeride World Tour stop.
Sam Kuch, a standout in qualifiers, impressed in the semis with a flawless 360 gap transfer but ultimately fell just short of the title in a friendly head-to-head final with Murray. Markus Eder, the veteran Italian, wowed with a double cork 1080 in semis but missed a clean landing, placing third.
Women’s Podium:
- Manon Loschi (FRA)
- Michelle Parker (USA)
- Hedvig Wessel (NOR)
In the women's field, French skier Manon Loschi topped the scoreboard with aggressive, fluid riding and a top-to-bottom charge that outpaced veteran Michelle Parker. This was Loschi’s only contest of the season, making her win all the more remarkable. Parker, despite a strong line and clean cliff drop, was edged out by just two points. Norway’s Hedvig Wessel rounded out the podium.
The event was hosted in partnership with Eleven’s Winterlake Lodge, with heli-accessed terrain featuring 1,800 feet of vertical and pitches up to 55 degrees. Judging was based on the CREDO system (Creativity, Risk, Execution, Difficulty, Overall Flow). The format combined film-worthy freeriding with a head-to-head structure, creating one of the most visually compelling ski contests to date.
The premiere was live-streamed globally with commentary from pro skiers Chris Benchetler and Tonje Kvivik, drawing strong viewership and solidifying NST Ski’s place as a must-watch stop on the action sports calendar.
Results, stats & predictions provided by: wyldata.com
Live Scoring by: Rawmotion.com
Article Sources: https://www.redbull.com/int-en/natural-selection-tour-ski-results-highlights
Image Source: Red Bull / Natural Selection Tour
