They say good things take time, and in the case of the NST Snaked Banked Slalom, that time was three years. Three years of scheming, digging, hoping, and praying—mostly for snow, but also for the occasional structural integrity of a berm. And finally, in March 2025, it all came to life in Revelstoke.
At the heart of this winding, undulating masterpiece was the vision of Travis Rice. The Natural Selection Tour has always been about progression, but Rice wanted something more—a way to bring the public into the action, to create an inclusive event within the tour stop in Revelstoke. Thus, the Snaked Banked Slalom was born, and thanks to the tireless efforts of the NST crew, RMR Mountain Ops, RMR Park Crew, Revelstoke Snowboard Club, and the Revelstoke Snowboard Academy, it finally materialized.
This was not just another competition; it was an open invitation to anyone willing to strap in, drop in, and see if they could hold an edge through a hand-sculpted gauntlet of snow. It was a snowboard-only affair, where skiers were relegated to bystander status, forced to watch and wonder if they could have survived the course (they couldn’t). The premise? Simple. Beat the pros. The execution? Less simple, unless your name happened to be Ben Ferguson. On Wednesday, March 13, the pros and the Revelstoke Snowboard Club took the first official laps, setting the bar for the mere mortals who would follow. Ferguson claimed top honors with a blistering 50.41-second run, a time that made the rest of us question our waxing choices, edge control, and overall life decisions.
But the real event was still to come. Sunday was competition day, when 150 pre-registered competitors arrived with a mix of confidence, nerves, and the misguided belief that they just might have what it takes. Each competitor took a turn at taming the snake, battling not just the course but the laws of physics themselves. Some rode flawlessly, some took creative detours, and some found themselves in a more horizontal-than-vertical state of being. Regardless of the outcome, fun was had by all, and in the end, that’s what this event was really about—bringing snowboarders together in a mix of friendly competition, mutual respect, and shared exhaustion.
And now? The course is open to the public until the end of the season. That’s right. You too can try your luck at besting Ben Ferguson’s time (spoiler: you probably won’t). But more importantly, you can be a part of what is sure to become a lasting legacy in Revelstoke. This isn’t a one-and-done event—it’s the start of something bigger, something that will carve its own place in the town’s deep-rooted snowboard culture.
From its inception to its grand debut, the NST Snaked Banked Slalom was a testament to patience, passion, and a whole lot of shoveling. It was proof that when a group of dedicated snowboarders set their minds (and their shovels) to something, they can create something truly special. Here’s to many more years of getting snaked in the best way possible.
