In The News – Natural Selection Tour offers young freeride athletes a glimpse at future
February 12, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 2/12/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh
KIRKWOOD, Calif. – The Natural Selection Tour is taking place at Kirkwood on Feb. 12-15, offering young athletes on the Kirkwood Freeride team a full circle glimpse at a potential future. For professional freeride athletes like those competing in the tour, their journey often starts at a young age on these home mountain teams.
“I certainly believe that our athletes will be inspired by this competition to continue pursuing their dreams in hopes of maybe competing in the Natural Selection Tour, or the Freeride World Tour, or the Olympics,” Kirkwood Freeride Team head coach, Garrett Wisniewski says.
The Natural Selection Tour (NST) event at Kirkwood is one of the tour’s DUELS happening around the world where two snowboarders complete head-to-head on natural terrain. However, unlike traditional freeride competitions, NST athletes incorporate jumps and maneuvers into their lines in a more trick-oriented big mountain competition, the likes of which are gaining momentum.
Photo Credit: Garrett Wisniewski