Chris Rasman vs Jared Elston

CR: Rasman genuinely gave Travis Rice a run for his money in Jackson Hole last year, his explosive power and aggressive riding style cut through the course like a hot knife through butter. Bringing the razzle dazzle with uncanny agility and a decidedly old school flair, this Manboy is a hard man to beat.

JE: Big Air Jare is a certified backcountry freestyle powerhouse. The guy goes huge. Think Blauvelt meets young Travis Rice. He’s a favourite amongst the seasoned vets, can he live up to his name and show Jackson Hole what he’s made of?

WL Prediction: A wrecking ball vs a jackhammer, but Rasman’s experience tips the scales in his favour here.

“His explosive power and aggressive riding style cut through the course like a hot knife through butter”

Travis Rice vs Kevin Backstrom

TR: Ooft, quite possibly the most exciting of the men’s head to head rounds. Not only a Jackson local, but also intimately acquainted with the lay of the land, Travis seemingly has the upper hand when it comes to the course. As well as his god-like levels of board control, choosing lines and reading snow conditions, Travis has had all year to prepare for this moment.

KB: It’s ludicrous to think that Kevin Backstrom would ever be considered an underdog, but here we are. KB’s relative lack of experience on the course may actually work in his favour, and if it’s creativity and smooth, floaty style the judges are looking for then there aren’t many riders who can hold a candle to the big swede and his beautiful shiftys.

WL Prediction: Alas, there can only be one. On paper Travis has this one tied up, but everything we’ve seen of KB over the last few seasons points towards a freestyle finesse that will sway judges. Our heads say Rice but our hearts are saying Backstrom, this one really is wide open and anybody’s game to win.

“Ooft, quite possibly the most exciting of the men’s head to head rounds”

Blake Paul vs Torgeir Bergrem

BP: Blake’s got the home field advantage here, as well as having the experience competing at last years tour in Jackson Hole. Studying and perfecting his art under Travis and Bryan Iguchi, Blake rides with the sage confidence of a rider twice his age.

TB: Torgeir, although popping his NST cherry, is no stranger to the pressure of a high-profile contest. Performing on the biggest stages around the globe, he knows how to keep a cool head when tensions are running wild. The man can boost – there’s no denying that – and his exploits filming in the backcountry with Ståle have prepared him well for this.

WL Prediction: We think Blake will take this one, but it’s gonna be close. His intimate knowledge of Jackson’s weather conditions and terrain will lead him to victory.

“His exploits filming in the backcountry with Ståle have prepared him well for this”

Sage Kotsenburg vs Gabe Ferguson

SK: Sage got taken out last year by Gabe’s big bro Ben, so he just might be out for Ferguson blood. He’s an animal in the air, lithe and athletic, with a deep bag of tricks that are out of reach for even the most accomplished riders.

GF: As Whitney Houston said “I believe the children are the future” and Gabe Ferg is one young gun who will certainly shape the future of snowboarding. After an impressive career as a bibbed up comp kid, Gabe has made the move into backcountry freestyle filming earlier than most, which will do nothing but boost his chances in Jackson Hole.

WL Prediction: Gabe and Sage have filmed a lot together over the past few seasons, perhaps no match up knows each other’s strengths and weaknesses as well as this pair. Purely for the extra experience, we’re going with Sage on this one.

“Sage got taken out last year by Gabe’s big bro Ben, so he just might be out for Ferguson blood”

Ben Ferguson vs Austen Sweetin

BF: Ben Ferg is more calculated and technical in his approach, with his strategic lines and impressive displays in JH and Alaska taking him right to the very end of the comp. Just pipped to the win by McMorris last year, Ben will be looking to prove himself as a true champion in Jackson Hole.

AS: When the Froth Goblin throws down, very few can stand in his way, his cat-like reflexes and uncanny ability to land on his feet have left us scratching our heads more than once. There’s no one who brings the hype quite like Austen Sweetin, what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in stoke.

WL Prediction: Genuinely a tough one, this divided opinion in the office. There’s no denying Sweetin’s an absolute sender, but as we saw last year his kamikaze approach doesn’t always result in a ride-away landing. So discipline wins out here with Ben Ferguson taking home the ‘dubya.

“There’s no denying Sweetin’s an absolute sender, but as we saw last year his kamikaze approach doesn’t always result in a ride-away landing”

Marie-France Roy vs Elena Hight

MFR: She’s been around the block more than once, and knows her way around both a groomed slopestyle course and a rugged pillow field. MFR’s years of riding in some of the worlds gnarliest terrain will stand her in good stead for the course in Jackson.

EH: Throwing 900’s at just 13 years old and getting bigger and better every season since, Elena Hight quite possibly has the best bag of tricks in the women’s field at Jackson. She’s been pushing the envelope whilst moving into big mountain riding in recent years, and riding with Jeremy Jones and Co. undoubtedly bolster your chances when it comes to riding backcountry.

WL Prediction: We think MFR might have a touch more control in steep terrain, but Elena will take the win in Jackson with her freestyle prowess.

“Riding with Jeremy Jones and Co. undoubtedly bolster your chances when it comes to riding backcountry”

Spencer O’Brien vs Hana Beaman

So’B: Another rider with a bulging back of tricks, Spencer has moved away from the contest scene and made a name for herself riding outside the confines of the resort over the last decade. Progressive and consistent, Spencer is a force to be reckoned with.

HB: Hana showed Jamie Anderson a thing or two last year in Jackson Hole, and will look to continue her domination this time. An absolute charger when it comes to deep snow and technical terrain, Hana knows how to pick a line and has an expert eye for fluidity.

WL Prediction: This is a genuinely tough one, both riders have a skill set that will come into play on the course in Jackson Hole, but we think Hana will just pip the win.

“Hana knows how to pick a line and has an expert eye for fluidity”

Stefi Luxton vs Robin Van Gyn

SL: Coming in as a last minute alternative, Stefi hasn’t had the time to mentally prepare that some of the other athletes have enjoyed. That said, she’s an experienced ripper who has dealt with pressure her whole career and is no stranger to steep terrain or dropping tricks for judges.

RVG: Last year’s overall winner, Robin Van Gyn can do it all. She’s been pushing the boundaries of freeriding whilst filming some of the most influential video parts in recent memory, she’s a wise rider who’ll scout the best lines and can read the conditions that are best suited to her.

WL Prediction: As the defending champion, the smart money is on RVG, no doubt Stefi will put up a solid fight but we’re backing Robyn this time.

“As the defending champion, the smart money is on RVG”

Cheryl Maas vs. Marion Haerty

CM: We’ve got a feeling Cheryl is going to put on an absolute freestyle Maas-terclass here. She’s aggressive, explosive and confident when it comes to riding big lines and her experience winning high-pressure contests will do nothing but bolster her riding.

MH: Without a doubt one of the most fluid and impressive big mountain riders in the game. Marion has been dominating in the Freeride World Tour in recent years, and continues to prove that she’s a force of nature when it comes to technical descents, but will her freestyle bag of tricks be deep enough to take on Cheryl in Jackson?

WL Prediction: Marion could clean up in BC or AK, but as we saw last year, the terrain at Jackson is better suited to riders with a more freestyle focus. Cheryl takes the win here.

“Will her freestyle bag of tricks be deep enough to take on Cheryl”

The Natural Selection Tour will be streaming live on Whitelines today at 4:30GMT. Catch all the action here.