RnD Returned to Nelson BC’s WhiteWater Resort to kick off their 2nd Annual event, presented by Arc’Teryx and YETI.
Robin Van Gyn, who has been one of the most influential figures in back country riding has now set out to keep the progression of female back country riders not only alive; but take it to a whole new level.
RnD takes on a whole new and exciting concept by combining both competition and film-based progression, offering riders both a judged contest and a film challenge while building a portfolio of high-quality footage and photography to showcase their talent.
“For the second year, we’ve proven that with the right opportunity and environment, riders rise to the occasion. With better conditions, progression levelled up, and new crews formed,” says Van Gyn. “It’s not just about progression, access, and shared knowledge — It’s about fostering community and building our own culture. I’m so proud of the riders and honoured to provide this platform to see them fly.”
Competition Recap:
This year’s competition portion took place in Whitewater Ski Resort’s Trash Chutes, a natural playground of pillows, chutes, and hand-built jumps. Riders had time to explore, collaborate, and refine their backcountry skills before putting it all on the line on comp day, with two judged runs, followed by two days of filming in and around Whitewater’s sidecountry to capture their best footage.
This year’s competition featured a strong European and North American crew, including Enni Rukajärvi, Šárka Pančochová, and Celia Petrig from Europe; Estelle Pensiero, Billy Pelchat, Gillian Andrewshenko, and Eva Van Vugt from Canada; and Marissa Krawczak, Zoë Vernon, Izzy Gomez, Emilé Zynobia, Katie Kennedy, Ellie Weiler, Cali Loeb, Amaya Potts, Egan Wint, Mia Jones, and Ellery Manning from the United States.
With another successful event in the books, RnD continues to redefine women’s big mountain snowboarding. Stay tuned as Šárka Pančochová and last year’s RnD winner, Ellery Manning, face off against the world’s best at the Natural Selection Tour
Final in Revelstoke, March 10-17, 2025.
Watch the Full Recap below the Results!
Final Results
The House Award: Egan Wint
1st Place: Šárka Pančochová – $5,000 + Natural Selection Tour Final Stop entry
2nd Place: Estelle Pensiero – $3,000
3rd Place: Mia Jones – $2,000
Special Awards
Air Chair Award: Enni Rukajärvi
Seal Team 69 Sender Award: Eva Van Vugt
Mountain Goat Award: Marissa Krawczak
Style Award: Ellie Weiler
Very Proper Award: Billy Pelchat
Cover:
EstellePensiero
[o] Chad Chomlack
