Sage Cattabriga-Alosa to lead Natural Selection Tour’s ski programme

Natural Selection Tour has named Sage Cattabriga-Alosa its new Director of Ski, placing one of big-mountain skiing’s best-known athletes in charge of shaping the tour’s ski competition as it prepares for its third season. The appointment was announced in early November 2026.

Cattabriga-Alosa steps into a role previously held by freeskiing pioneer Mike Douglas, who helped establish the ski division and guide its first two seasons. His appointment builds on his involvement at last winter’s event in Alaska, where he consulted and judged as organisers adapted to unstable snow conditions and changed venues at short notice.

That experience reflects the distinctive challenge of Natural Selection Ski: staging a head-to-head contest on natural backcountry terrain, where snow, weather and safety can dictate the course. Rather than relying on built features such as rails or halfpipes, the format asks skiers to choose lines through the mountain, linking natural airs and landings while balancing creativity with risk.

“I was fired up to be a part of the experience and blown away by the entire program,” Cattabriga-Alosa said of the Alaska event. He described the contest as a major logistical undertaking and said he was honoured to help steer the programme and showcase both women and men in skiing.

A longtime Teton Gravity Research athlete, Cattabriga-Alosa has spent more than two decades skiing and filming in demanding mountain terrain, including Alaska’s Neacola and Chugach ranges. His background gives him a direct understanding of how terrain, snow and speed shape a skier’s choices—experience that could inform both event design and the athlete experience.

He will work alongside the existing Ski Advisory Committee, which includes Chris Benchetler, Michelle Parker, Markus Eder, Kristi Leskinen and Candide Thovex. The group is involved in shaping the competition and selecting athletes for the 2027 event. Further details, including dates and location, were expected in mid-November.

Natural Selection was created by professional snowboarder Travis Rice and has expanded from snowboarding into skiing, while also encompassing surfing and biking. Its ski division is seeking to bring the visual freedom of big-mountain film segments into a competitive format. Cattabriga-Alosa’s appointment signals a continued emphasis on athlete and mountain expertise as the tour develops that approach.