Craig Murray and Manon Loschi came, saw, and sent at the first-ever NST Ski event—dropping into the dreamy spines of Alaska and skiing away with the win. Between variable conditions, basecamp hangs, and the wildest competition format skiing’s seen in years, NST felt more like a fever dream than a contest. We caught up with both riders to hear what went down behind the scenes and what it felt like to be part of something that might just change the game.
The terrain in Alaska is legendary. Was this your first time skiing there?
Craig Murray (CM): I’d been to Alaska before, but it was my first time at that zone.
Manon Loschi (ML): Yeah, first time for me
What set Natural Selection apart from other events you’ve competed in?
CM: For me, the biggest differences were the format and the judging. I didn’t think about the judging much in the end—I prefer to just ski what I see—but it was cool that they didn’t build any features. It kept it feeling like a wild, natural venue.
ML: Everything’s different—course selection, judging, the vibe. Other comps are all about points, but Natural Selection focuses more on creativity and style. Even if you mess up a bit, a strong line still scores. It’s more in line with the true spirit of free skiing.
Every competition face has its challenges, but Natural Selection puts a special focus on freestyle opportunity. How did you prep for it?
CM: It’s hard to train specifically for this kind of terrain. You can work on tricks, but it’s rare to find a face that’s sustained, fast, and stacked with natural features in deep snow. It’s like a big puzzle—you hope all the pieces come together when it counts.
ML: I didn’t really train—just traveled and filmed all winter. I’ve skied a lot of different conditions, which helped, but I wasn’t putting pressure on myself. I just wanted to enjoy the experience.
Standing at the top of the course looking down, what was going through your head?
CM: You really just have to trust your instincts and your experience. You can prep all you want, but once you’re there, it’s about reacting and staying in the moment.
ML: I was excited. I’d scoped the venue a ton beforehand, so it felt familiar. You could see almost the whole face from the top—no blind drop. I was just ready to have fun.
Had you watched NST’s snowboard events before? Were you stoked to get invited to the ski debut?
CM: Yeah, I’ve followed the events—my friend Zoi (Sadowski-Synnott) competed in them, so I’d watched before. I thought it was a rad move to add skiing. I wasn’t expecting an invite. There are probably 40 skiers they could’ve picked, so to be one of the eight… I was just super grateful. I’d actually been injured at the end of February and hadn’t skied in three weeks. I nearly pulled out a few times. I only got a couple warm-up laps before it started, so I wasn’t super confident. But once I dropped in, something clicked. That flow came back—it was a special feeling.
ML: For sure. I’ve watched since the beginning. I always thought, “This would be so sick for skiing,” especially after Linecatcher and Cold Rush stopped. When I heard they were adding skiers, I was so stoked. I’d been waiting for something like this.
Was there a standout moment outside the event itself?
CM: Oh, so many. But maybe the broom ball—like hockey on the frozen lake outside the lodge. That was super fun. One of those little memories that sticks.
ML: I think those riding days before the comp were my favourite. We got to ski lines out of the heli—it was wild. Usually you’re with a small crew on a shoot, but we had 15 riders and two helis flying around Alaska. Just chaos in the best way. The vibe was unreal.
What’s next for you both?
CM: I managed to squeeze in two days for NST, and now I’m trying to get another three or four in Haines—that’s with MSP and Arcteryx. Then I’m done for the winter. Planning to let my body recover—ride bikes around the Sea to Sky, do some climbing. In June I’m heading back to Alaska to climb and hopefully ski Denali
ML: I’ve been filming a solo project all winter—in Japan, North America, and now I’m planning to shoot more in France. It’ll be a full release, and I’m hyped to share it. I’ve also worked on a few brand shoots, including a little K2 movie dropping this fall.
Shoutouts?
CM: Oh man, I should’ve prepped for this. So many people to thank. Definitely my family and friends back home in New Zealand, and the whole GRITT community, And of course, Travis Rice and the whole NST team.
ML: Yeah, huge thanks to T. Rice and the NST crew. I’m just so grateful they invited me—probably the best experience of my life. It was insane.
Skier Thoughts
Natural Selection’s first foray into skiing delivered in every way. From the puckering terrain to the laid-back camaraderie at base camp, it struck a rare balance between high-stakes progression and pure fun. Craig Murray and Manon Loschi not only took home the wins—they set the tone for what this event can be: creative, soulful, and seriously stylish. If this is the future of ski comps, we’re all in.
Links
Check out Craig’s funny video series on training for the event here
Read Travis Rice’s thoughts about the inaugural ski event here
Full event stream
Photo Credits – Chad Chomlak / Natural Selection and Leslie Hittmeier / Natural Selection
