The third annual Research and Development has wrapped up with an eruption as 18 year-old Billy Pelchat takes the win ahead of Yuka Fujimori in second and Katie Kennedy in third. Now a Natural Selection Super Session event, the full podium advances to Natural Selection Revelstoke with Billy and Yuka seeded directly into the field and Katie slotted as an alternate.
While the contest day carries the spotlight, it isn’t a direct path to the podium. Spanning a full week, RND gives riders time to scope the venue and log multiple film days in zones of their choice alongside mentors and filmers. Riders are judged on their two contest runs making up 70% of the score, and their best single clip from filming days closing out the other 30%. Criteria follows the CREDO method: creativity, risk, execution, difficulty, and overall impression.
Aside from the podium, credit was given where it was due with six additional awards being dished out as follows:
Tomahawk Award: Ellie Weiler
Mountain Monkey Award: Melissa Krawczak
J.K. Approved Award: Stefi Luxton
Seal Team Sender: Eva Van Vugt
Clinic Award: Katie Kennedy
Since year one, RND has filled a gap in backcountry freestyle competition, not just creating space, but building a pathway for women at every stage of their careers. The 2026 podium reflects that range, from riders straight out of high school to seasoned competitors balancing motherhood, film projects, and careers beyond competition.
Trash Chutes, the venue, is a well-featured backcountry zone adjacent to Whitewater Mountain Resort. It’s a place littered with cliff bands, spiney features and pillows where local rippers cut their teeth in the freeride sphere. Now in year three, some riders have a sense of the zone, bringing a bit of experience to the drop in, where RND rookies like Audrey Doan and Maria Hidalgo went in blind.
The full scope of the CREDO criteria was on display in Trash Chutes on Sunday. The roster brought a diverse amount of style and technicality to the course, making every run completely different. Estelle Pensiero who has stood on the RND podium in past years opened it up with a technical spine line that she executed with control. Enni Rukajärvi was the first to hit the bottom booter, taking a slam that pulled her out of a second run. The riders from the slopestyle pipeline put on a clinic on the lower jump line with Yuka (winner of The Draft-Japan) narrowly missing her cab one to back seven line as the landings deteriorated. In her second year at RND, Egan Wint came close to stomping a double backflip that almost took her to the judges booth.
What’s striking about RND is how riders bring their style to the course through both trick selection and line choice, adding another layer of depth to the judging criteria. Inspired by Natural Selection, the parallels are clear, and the 2026 podium showed up in a way that is hella deserving of a natty select invite.
“The level has definitely been raised since year one,” says Hana Beaman, reflecting on the caliber of riding that went down this week. “I didn’t know what to expect in the first year. I was like, ‘Is this too much?’ But they stepped up to the challenge.”
Beaman credits the format itself for creating a learning environment that builds confidence and composure. “Having days to ride and scope helps riders get comfortable in an area. You understand the venue, the snow, the features. It adds up over the week.”
Each crew logged three dedicated film days, working toward a single best clip that would factor into overall judging, making space to leave an impression outside of the two contest runs. When the 15 minute sizzle reel played on screen at the awards, the week’s work was proven with enough solid clips to run as a standalone film project.
Three years in, Research and Development has established itself as a platform that cultivates backcountry riders through mentorship and experience. With the addition of The Draft Japan, this year expanded that vision bringing Yuka Fujimori into the event and onto the podium, showing how creating access only continues to strengthen the field. As Billy Pelchat and Fujimori head to Natural Selection, with Katie Kennedy standing in the alternate position, the impact of this event doesn’t just stand on the podium. From rookies to returning contenders, every rider contributed to the evolution on display in Trash Chutes. RND isn’t only creating a pathway for progression, it’s defining how women are carving out their place in the backcountry.
Stay tuned for the full edit going live on Redbull TV March 9th. RND is presented by Arc’teryx, Yeti and supported by Jones, Sunbum, Burton, Natural Selection, Tribute Boardshop, The Adventure Hotel, Whitewater Mountain Resort, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism.
Full rider roster: Amelia Pelchat, Audrey Doan, Celia Petrig, Egan Wint, Ellie Weiler, Ellery Manning, Enni Rukajärvi, Estelle Pensiero, Eva Van Vugt, Juliette Pelchat, Katie Kennedy, Maria Hidalgo, Marissa Krawczak, Stefi Luxton, Yuka Fujimori.
