February 23 – March 3 2026, at Whitewater Mountain Resort in Nelson, British Columbia. 

Research and Development is presented by Arc'teryx and Yeti. 

Supported by Sun Bum, Jones, Burton, Tribute, The Adventure Hotel, Nelson & Kootenay Lake Tourism, the Natural Selection Tour, and Whitewater Mountain Resort.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (RnD) RETURNS TO WHITEWATER SKI RESORT, FEBRUARY 23 – MARCH 3, 2026

The third annual Research and Development (RnD) returns to Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson, British Columbia, February 23 – March 3, 2026 — with higher stakes than ever. RnD has become a powerhouse in women’s backcountry freestyle snowboarding, challenging riders to push harder, explore new terrain, innovate, and raise the bar higher

In 2026, 14 invited riders will once again throw down across two filming days and one contest day, earning a combined score from their strongest filmed trick and best contest run. Creativity, line choice, and technical execution remain at the core — a true reflection of what it means to ride big mountains with style.

The Contest Day unfolds in Whitewater Mountain Resort’s Trash Chutes — a raw, natural playground of pillows, chutes, and hand-built backcountry jumps — where riders earn two judged runs. Filming takes place both in-resort and throughout Whitewater’s sidecountry, giving riders the freedom to hunt for their best lines and put their strongest tricks in natural terrain.  

This year’s lineup runs deep — from stacked video parts, X Games medalists, Olympians, and Uninvited champions, to powerful big mountain riders — each bringing a distinct edge to the backcountry freestyle landscape: Estelle Pensiero, Egan Wint, Katie Kennedy, Ellery Manning, Amelia Pelchat, Enni Rukajärvi, Marissa Krawczak, Celia Petrig, Stefi Luxton, Ellie Weiler, Yuka Fujimori, Eva van Vugt, Maria Hidalgo, and Audrey Doan.

Founded by professional snowboarder Robin Van Gyn, RnD was built from a relentless love for backcountry freestyle and a clear mission: put more women deep in the mountains — and on the Natural Selection Tour stage, ready to own it. After winning NST in 2021, Van Gyn set out to create tangible pathways for women to gain the experience required to succeed at the highest level. RnD was built not just to help riders qualify, but to prepare them to perform.

The results speak for themselves.

In 2024, 17-year-old Ellery Manning, heading off to university and still uncertain about her path in snowboarding, took first place. In 2025, Šárka Pančochová claimed the overall win, earning an invitation to the 2025 Natural Selection Tour, where she went on to place third overall, directly crediting RnD for providing the confidence, BC backcountry experience, and preparation needed to compete at the highest level. That same year, Estelle Pensiero placed second at RnD, earning an alternate start at NST and later being called up to compete when a spot opened. In just two years, three riders earned positions on the Natural Selection Tour — a clear testament to RnD’s role in preparing riders for the demands of high-level freeride competition.

For 2026, a major opportunity has emerged: the Natural Selection Tour has chosen to elevate RnD — maintaining the RnD competition format, but pushing the rewards and consequences to a whole new level. Whether this moment comes around again, only time will tell.

The top two finishers will earn direct invitations to the 2026 Natural Selection Tour Final in Revelstoke, expanding access and opportunity at the sport’s highest level.

Riders will compete for a $20,000 cash prize purse, the largest in RnD history:
• 1st Place: $10,000
• 2nd Place: $6,000
• 3rd Place: $4,000

As RnD continues to grow, it has firmly established itself as a critical progression platform in women’s backcountry freestyle snowboarding — proving that when opportunity, mentorship, and terrain align, talent that has long existed finally gets the stage it deserves.

Tune in for the RnD recap premiering March 9, 2026 — streaming exclusively on Red Bull TV.