Natural Selection Tour Duel – Ben Ferguson vs Nils Mindnich – Whistler, BC, Canada, January 2023.

Natural Selection Tour Duels

19 February – 2 March 2023

19

Feb

2

Mar

The most dynamic backcountry snowboarders on the planet ride against each other in head-to-head battles around the world in order to advance on to the final stops of Natural Selection Tour in British Columbia and Alaska for the Overall Tour title.
Watch the Natural Selection Tour Duels exclusively on redbull.com from February 19 to March 2. Videos will be released every day at 10AM PT / 7PM CET on this page.
01

Mikkel Bang vs Ulrik  Badertscher

9 min

Mikkel Bang vs Ulrik Badertscher

It’s a Norwegian head-to-head in this Duel between Natural Selection Tour veteran Mikkel and newcomer Ulrik.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Mikkel
It’s a Norwegian head-to-head in this Duel between Natural Selection Tour veteran Mikkel and newcomer Ulrik. Mikkel’s timeless style and ability to improvise has made him a Natural Selection Tour favourite, but Ulrik enters the ring with lots of momentum and plenty of tricks.
02

Blake Paul vs Brock Crouch 

7 min

Blake Paul vs Brock Crouch

Blake is effortless and melodic. Brock is explosive and smooth. Both are shaping the state of snowboarding.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Blake
Blake is effortless and melodic. Brock is explosive and smooth. But while their unique approaches to the mountains may be different, the results are the same: both riders are shaping the current state of snowboarding – in the backcountry and beyond.
03

Kimmy Fasani vs Darrah Reid-McLean 

7 min

Kimmy Fasani vs Darrah Reid-McLean

In the only Duel in which both riders are new to the Tour, USA's Kimmy goes up against Canada's Darrah.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Kimmy
In the only Duel in which both riders are new to the Tour, big mountain luminary Kimmy – who beat breast cancer in 2022 – goes up against Canadian upstart Darrah.
04

Jared Elston vs Gigi Rüf

8 min

Jared Elston vs Gigi Rüf

Jared, a Tour favourite in 2022, goes head to head with Gigi, who set the very first line in Jackson in 2021.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Jared
Jared, the dark horse from Bend, Oregon, whose explosive talent made him a Tour favourite in 2022, goes head to head with Austrian icon Gigi, who returns to Natural Selection Tour after setting the very first line in Jackson in 2021.
05

Ben Ferguson vs Nils Mindnich 

9 min

Ben Ferguson vs Nils Mindnich

Favourites for their flawless style, both Ben and Nils bring tricks and creativity to big mountain terrain.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Ben
Perennial favourites for their flawless style, both Ben and Nils bring park-honed tricks and innate creativity to big mountain terrain. Nils’s return to Natural Selection Tour is much anticipated after he was narrowly eliminated in 2021.
06

Elena Hight vs Enni Rukajärvi 

9 min

Elena Hight vs Enni Rukajärvi

2022 Tour champion Elena and newcomer Enni made names for themselves in halfpipe and slopestyle, respectively.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Elena
2022 Natural Selection Tour champion Elena, and Natural Selection Tour newcomer Enni, made names for themselves in halfpipe and slopestyle, respectively. They’ve further ascended by applying their deep bags of tricks to powder landings.
07

Dustin Craven vs Werni Stock

10 min

Dustin Craven vs Werni Stock

Canada's Dustin goes up against Austrian Werni in a no-holds-barred Duel between backcountry destroyers.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Dustin
Dustin, the wily winner at Baldface in 2022, goes up against Austrian powerhouse Werni in a no-holds-barred Duel between backcountry destroyers.
08

Torstein Horgmo vs John Jackson 

9 min

Torstein Horgmo vs John Jackson

It’s a battle of backcountry giants when the legendary Torstein Horgmo and John Jackson meet in competition.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Torstein
It’s a battle of backcountry giants when these two legendary riders face off in competition. Will Torstein’s precision or John J’s finesse come out on top?
09

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott vs Marissa Krawczak

8 min

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott vs Marissa Krawczak

A natural in any terrain, New Zealander Zoi faces the USA's Pacific Northwest backcountry phenom Marissa.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Zoi
One of the most dominant Natural Selection Tour riders and a natural in any terrain, Zoi faces off against Pacific Northwest backcountry phenom Marissa, who brings seasons of experience and mental toughness to the Duels.
10

Travis Rice vs Red Gerard 

13 min

Travis Rice vs Red Gerard

The pioneer vs the rising star: both Travis and Red possess iron-clad focus and easily adapt to all terrain.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Travis
The pioneer versus the rising star, both Travis and Red possess iron-clad focus in consequential situations and easily adapt to all terrain. Will selecting the zone give Travis an advantage?
11

Mark McMorris vs Mikey Ciccarelli 

7 min

Mark McMorris vs Mikey Ciccarelli

Tour rookie Mikey and Burton team-mate and NST veteran Mark bring slopestyle tricks to a high-octane match-up.

English

Location and terrain selected by: Mark
A Canadian backcountry battle between two riders whose big mountain abilities are reinforced with slopestyle-ready bags of tricks. Tour rookie Mikey will face Burton team-mate and Natural Selection Tour veteran Mark in this high-octane match-up.
12

Leanne Pelosi vs Hailey Langland

10 min

Leanne Pelosi vs Hailey Langland

Will Leanne’s experience of technical steeps win out or will Hailey double down on her world-renowned moves?

English

Location and terrain selected by: Leanne
Backcountry trailblazer Leanne faces rising talent Hailey. Will Leanne’s experience navigating technical steeps win out or will Hailey double down on the frontside 720 heard ‘round the world' to advance?