Featured Picture: Courtesy of Pure Choice
This isn’t a drill. I repeat, this isn’t a drill. NATURAL SELECTION IS COMING TO THE WORLD OF FREESKIING! We’ve been ready for this second for a protracted, very long time, as has any skier who has witnessed the unbelievable marvel that’s the Pure Choice Tour (NST) over the previous few years. With skiers like Chris Benchetler, Markus Eder, Michelle Parker and sure, even Candide Thovex selling the announcement and becoming a member of the NST Ski Advisory Council, the joy has permeated all through the ski neighborhood.
The place will the occasion be? What is that this mysterious NST Ski Advisory Council? Who’s competing? And what the hell is Pure Choice, anyway? Let’s dive into all the data we all know as of now.
Pure Choice has been one of many biggest latest successes in snow sports activities. Spearheaded by legendary snowboarder Travis Rice, the occasion stands as a defiant darkish horse amongst a sea of regulated competitions. The closest comparable occasions could be the Nendaz Backcountry Invitational and the Freeride World Tour. There’s no higher or worse on this state of affairs when evaluating construction and scoring, as every of those occasions has its strengths.
Rice introduced Pure Choice to many locations round North America over the previous few years. To call a number of, they’ve hosted competitions in Jackson Gap, British Columbia and Alaska. Image massive mountains layered with snow and complex options that function a rider’s pure playground.
The entire thought of Pure Choice is to guage freeriding; an extremely troublesome factor to do for causes that vary from viewing logistics to opinions on scoring. However by considerate pondering, the workforce has created a strategy to rank opponents’ runs.
Utilizing exact drone footage to livestream the occasion, judges are capable of watch the riders and rating them. NST makes use of a head-to-head bracket system that pits one rider in opposition to one other, thus making it simpler to match and distinction matchups.
The riders are scored on:
- Creativity – Specializing in the distinctiveness of a skier’s line alternative and maneuvers.
- Threat – How consequential the methods are and what part of the course they’re executed in.
- Execution – A skier’s type, together with grabs and turns, and the way cleanly they experience out of maneuvers.
- Problem – Is determined by challenges within the run and complexity of methods and rotations, together with taking off or touchdown change.
- General – That is decided by taking a look at parts of their move, pace and physique management all through the run.
There are some phrases above which might be loosely outlined, reminiscent of “maneuvers,” however general that is about as technical a rating sheet as you possibly can have for an occasion reminiscent of this. It has been aptly utilized to snowboarding up to now, and it’s cool to see the similarities and variations on the ski facet.
Pure Choice Ski will likely be held in Alaska
The occasion will likely be held in Alaska with a listed climate window of mid-April 2025. There aren’t at the moment many different specifics on NST Ski, however the official press launch talked about that extra particulars will likely be coming within the early phases of winter.
As for opponents, we don’t know who precisely will likely be partaking on this unbelievable second of freeski historical past. There are numerous names being thrown round, and one solely wants to have a look at the feedback part on Instagram to see that loads of the most effective skiers on the earth are chomping on the bits to get a spot.
We do know that the NST Ski Advisory Committee is made up of a number of esteemed legends of our sport, together with Chris Benchetler, Colby Stevenson, Michelle Parker, Sammy Carlson and presumably a really irrelevant flying Frenchman who occurred to put up concerning the announcement on his Instagram.
“Snowboarding in these unbelievable landscapes and discovering new methods to strategy the mountains is what it’s all about for me. This Tour’s mix of showcasing the pure magnificence and problem of snowboarding, however on a contest platform will likely be utterly contemporary. Wanting ahead to seeing what everybody brings to Alaska.” — Michelle Parker, NST Ski Advisory Council
General, there may be nonetheless a lot within the air. Nonetheless, this announcement is an thrilling one. There’ll certainly be an ensuing dialog about which of the ever-popular freeride contests is the most effective, however we discover that time irrelevant. The extra athletes, filmmakers and photographers get an opportunity to share freeskiing with the world, the higher. Pure Choice Ski is simply one other means for the enjoyment and fervour of this sport to unfold, and we will’t wait to see what comes subsequent.
Keep tuned to FREESKIER for additional updates on Pure Choice Ski, together with opponents, venue location particulars and extra.
