Dustin Craven is ready to show off not only his snowboarding skills, but the mountains and terrain he’s loved for years as Natural Selection makes their Revelstoke stop this March.
“We have this unique Interior old growth forest that makes for really beautiful riding,” Craven told Revelstoke Mountaineer.
The Natural Selection Tour, a snowboard competition developed by pro snowboarder Travis Rice, brings the best snowboarders from around the world to stand-out mountain destinations worldwide. The first stage of the 2024 Tour features Duels that will decide the final 6 of the 24 riders who will compete in Revelstoke. The 24 riders will drop into a new venue near Revelstoke Mountain Resort for the YETI Natural Selection Revelstoke. From there, the top 12 riders will compete in head-to-head competition for the finals at the YETI Natural Selection Selkirk Tangiers, where this year’s men’s and women’s champions will come out on top.
The terrain is known to keep the rider’s situational awareness at top level, providing a wealth of jumps, obstacles, pillows and more. Not only is Craven ready to show off what these mountains have taught him, he’s also helped design the competition courses to truly highlight what the interior BC mountain ranges offer to riders. That includes giving riders a chance to experience the somewhat unique snow feature for the region, snow pillows.
“Pillow riding is kind of unique to the interior area,” Craven explained. “Some would say [Revelstoke] has the best pillow terrain in the world. These dark, snowy winters. We don’t see the sun very much. And that eventually leads you to exploring these dark, very treed areas and getting comfortable with these pillow areas.”
Working with Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) and Natural Selection operations crew, Craven spent time over the summer shaping the competition range and visualizing what natural features would lend to the best runs come challenge time. That included glading the area, building jump opportunities from the trees available on the slope and pruning a rogue branch or two.
“We weren’t so much changing the flow but more just adding to it.”
Any thought that gives Craven an unfair advantage was squashed as he explained how each rider will get a view of the course to study. Competitors are provided with photos and drone footage of the entire course prior to the competition and are allowed to map out what potential routes they will take based on the information provided.
“A couple days before, you sit on your computer and study exactly where you’re gonna go, what trees and features you’re going to try and use as landmarks.”
Gabriel Kocher, renowned drone navigator, will be bringing the closer shots of the competition to the screen, providing access to the sport that is becoming a highlight of the competition.
Kocher navigates the drone with each rider, judging what lines to take and what shots to get at the same time each competitor is deciding how to navigate their lines.
“He’s watching it and following us, reading our body language,” Craven said. ”Just trying to adapt to what he thinks is about to happen. But really, he has no idea.”
It might even be adding another layer to how riders take on their lines, Craven said.
“It’s kind of always a joke with us. Can you go fast enough or make a wild enough turn in the trees that it actually makes it fun for him.”
Craven is also excited for live streaming, which offers a chance for folks to come together around the world and watch, possibly even host a viewing party or two.
“It brings a broad audience in. ‘My three friends are into this, why wouldn’t I go hang out with them and watch it’? Next thing you know they’re a Natural Selection fan.”
Growing up in Calgary with the Rockies in the background and WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park across the street, Craven has called Revelstoke home for seven years now. As a youth, the drive to get out to the mountains was a core in nearly everything he did.
“I thought everyone just stared at the Rockies their whole life, like this kind of torture, until you could get out there. Then you head out this way, you get that first fix and realize you don’t need to ride ice all the time.”
When asked if there are any thoughts from last year’s results, Craven said the focus is on the now and the heats he’s facing.
“You kind of just take the whole thing heat-by-heat, two rounds at a time. Focusing and making sure that you take the time to go as hard as possible for those runs.”
Instead, his focus is on the work put into creating this event and how the local and international community has rallied behind Natural Selection.
“It takes a year to put on this event. And everyone works so hard to make sure this happens, it’s really awesome. RMR has stepped up these last two years to support us, that’s been huge. And it’s so refreshing how on board they are.”
Natural Selection will take place on a date selected in the March 10 to 17 window depending on weather and conditions. The Natural Selections DUELS, starting Feb. 27 can be viewed online on Red Bull TV. YETI Natural Selection Revelstoke and Selkirk Tangiers will take place during the March 10-17 window and can be viewed live on Red Bull TV.
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