A high-energy NST Dream Ticket qualifier went down this weekend in the hills above Queenstown, with five riders earning the final Dream Ticket invitations into the 27-rider roster for Natural Selection Bike 2026. In total, five riders—four international competitors and one New Zealand local—punched their tickets in front of a packed crowd, closing the door on last-chance qualification and setting the final puzzle pieces for competition on Mt. Dewar.
Perched on the Fernhill hillside overlooking Queenstown, the Dream Track delivered exactly what it’s known for: big jumps, a high-energy session, and a jam-style format that rewards a handful of the world’s best and brightest young riders based on style, commitment, and trick selection. Riders fed off the energy from spectators lining the course, dug deep into their bags of tricks, and laced lines with the kind of confidence you expect from hungry riders eager to earn a spot in a spectacular main event.
Dream Ticket has become one of the most compelling pieces of the Natural Selection Bike puzzle. It serves as a final entryway where local standouts and international heavy hitters meet head-to-head for a shot at competing in one of freeride’s most exciting and anticipated events. This year’s session was no different; from the clips I’ve seen and rumors I’ve heard, the high level of riding underscored just how competitive that last step into the field has become.
Photo: © Neil Kerr / Natural Selection Tour
Dream Ticket 2026 Winners
- Natasha Bradley (GBR)
- Shealen Reno (USA)
- Ondra Slez (CZE)
- Lukas Schäfer (GER)
- Billy Meaclem (NZL)
Ondra Slez, Lukas Schfer during Natural Selection Bike Aotearoa Queenstown – Dream Ticket Qualifier on February 06, 2026 at Dream Track in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Photo: © Riley McLay / Natural Selection Tour
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Those five riders now join a stacked rider lineup that blends freeride, slopestyle, and downhill backgrounds into a single competition format. With the roster complete, attention now shifts to Mt. Dewar itself, where the rest of the action will unfold. Thanks to updated shaping, refined features, and expanded line options, riders will have even more room for creativity and ridiculous top-to-bottom runs.
Natural Selection Bike 2026 – Full Rider Roster
Women’s Roster:
- Hannah Bergemann (USA)
- Kirsten Van Horne (CAN)
- Janelle Soukup (USA)
- Robin Goomes (NZL)
- Alma Wiggberg (SWE)
- Chelsea Kimball (USA)
- Vaea Verbeeck (CAN)
- Vinny Armstrong (NZL)
- Natasha Bradley (GBR)
- Shealen Reno (USA)
Men’s Roster:
- Szymon Godziek (POL)
- Carson Storch (USA)
- Louis Reboul (FRA)
- Finley Kirschenmann (USA)
- Reed Boggs (USA)
- Johny Salido (MEX)
- Nicholi Rogatkin (USA)
- Cam Zink (USA)
- Brett Rheeder (CAN)
- Hayden Zablotny (CAN)
- Thomas Genon (BEL)
- Tomas Lemoine (FRA)
- Kaidan Ingersoll (USA)
- Paul Couderc (FRA)
- Ondra Slez (CZE)
- Lukas Schäfer (GER)
- Billy Meaclem (NZL)
Natural Selection Bike will premiere globally on May 5, 2026, delivering the full event as a single cinematic release exclusively on Red Bull TV. For build updates, athlete features, and behind-the-scenes coverage leading into the event, follow @naturalselectionbike on social. Aside from that, it’s all under wraps until May 5.
