Natural Selection Returns to Jackson Hole
The 2022 YETI Natural Selection Tour at Jackson Hole featuring the world’s top riders from contest medalists to big mountain slayers will livestream globally and for free on NaturalSelectionTour.com, January 23-31, with the seven-day contest window opening January 25. NaturalSelectionTour.com will feature the most exciting moments from the opening ceremony including determining rider match-ups on January 23, right through the closing ceremony, with two days of intense head-to-head competition in the natural(ly) enhanced venue at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in between.
A stacked crew of riders - new to the Tour, but hardly rookies - have accepted invites, including Arthur Longo (FRA), Danny Davis (USA), Kevin Backstrom (SWE), Jared Elston (USA), Marie-France Roy (CAN), Torgeir Bergrem (NOR), and Torstein Horgmo (NOR). They’ll be joining the eight men and six women who requalified from the 2021 Tour. Keep a close eye on Natural Selection’s Instagram to find out who will get the final three invites.
Natural Selection will also syndicate the livestream to select domestic and international media and marketing partners including Red Bull TV (outside of the U.S. only.) The livestream on NaturalSelectionTour.com will feature extras including interactive course maps, raffles, exclusive gear and chats with the crew both in the studio and on the course. Uncle Toad’s Media Group is returning to produce the show with live racing drone follow cams piloted by racing drone champion Gabriel Kocher “Gab707” on the sticks. Selema Masekela, Mary Walsh, Jeff Moran and Tom Monterosso will be back in the host chairs this year joined by Pat Bridges and Matt Barr. Justin “Stan” Leveille and Jack Mitrani will be reporting live from the mountain.
Travis Rice. Photo: Dean “Blotto” Gray
Invitations are being offered based on time-tested backcountry riding, past event finishes, video parts and the entire breadth of each riders’ career weighed for current performance. The top half of the pack coming out of Jackson will head north to the legendary Baldface Lodge in British Columbia. There the riders will punch their ticket to Alaska for the final stop, where the champions will be crowned.
New for 2022, the Natural Selection ‘Stay Wild’ Festival, presented in partnership with Visit Jackson Hole, offers eight days and nights of music, inspiration and education during the YETI Natural Selection at Jackson Hole. The line-up includes Shakey Graves and Saint Sinner presented by Backcountry and Natural Selection, Kishi Bashi, who provided the score for The Fourth Phase, Perel, The Librarian, Dirtwire, Red Fang and more. Tickets are now on sale for the ‘Stay Wild’ Festival, January 23-30, 2022. Find the full event schedule and link for tickets at NaturalSelectionTour.com/events. All indoor Natural Selection events will require a mask to be worn at all times inside the venue, except when actively eating or drinking, and proof of full vaccination from COVID-19. Those unable to be vaccinated must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event. Refunds will be provided if events are canceled.
2022 Natural Selection Tour Contest Windows:
YETI Natural Selection at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort:
Jan 25th - 31st
(Stay Wild Festival January 24-30)
Natural Selection at Baldface Lodge:
Feb 20th - 27th
Natural Selection in the Tordrillo Mountains:
March 21st - 28th
Like-minded partners are coming together to help develop and support the Natural Selection Tour. Backcountry returns as the Tour’s Official Outerwear and Retail partner, home to the Natural Selection Tour’s merchandise store online and from their customized 1974 Airstream Sovereign store will be in Teton Village during the Jackson contest window. Other tour partners include Red Bull, GoPro, Fuel Off-Road, Visit Jackson Hole, Thule, Burton, Fast, Conservation International, Pacifico, BetterHelp, DraftKings, Carnal, Ski-Doo, Oakley, Dakine, TAE and Rocky Mountain Yeti, along with host venues Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Baldface Lodge.
Through the Industry Alliance marketing platform, endemic brands are able to directly support the events and their team riders competing on the Natural Selection Tour. Alliance members including 20+ of the biggest names in snowboard, boot, binding, outerwear and eyewear will receive brand presence on streaming, broadcast and at the events, along with access to content and social assets from the Tour for marketing their team riders. To get involved please contact the Natural Selection Tour’s CEO Carter Westfall.