Natural Selection Surf is back for round two, and this time Natural Selection Tour trades the Pacific for the South Atlantic. Rather than a single-venue contest, the 2026 format sends the field to a remote camp for a full week, where surfers will test their skills across a range of wave types to prove who can adapt, create, and endure better than anyone else in the water. The crown goes to the man and woman who prove most versatile across the week.
The event will premiere on September 25 on Red Bull TVÂ and Red Bull Surfing YouTube.
NST Surf Announcement Clip: YouTube or share from @naturalselectionsurf
Reigning champions Milla Coco Brown and Soli Bailey are both back to defend their titles. They’re joined by 2025 finalists Kirra Pinkerton, Noah Beschen, and Eithan Osborne, all returning to the water for round two. Fellow 2025 finalist Alan Cleland Jr. will sit this one out, after qualifying for the WCT shortly after last year’s event.
“So excited that NST is coming back for round two! It’s such a special event for me, getting to go on a surf trip with all my idols. Hearing that it’s in South Africa this year is so cool, because it’s another place I haven’t visited yet. Crazy how many new places surfing brings you to,” said Milla Coco Brown.
The Line Up – prequalified surfers from 2025:
Milla “Coco” Brown (Australia)
Soli Bailey (Australia)
Kirra Pinkerton (USA)
Noah Beschen (Hawaii)
Eithan Osborne (USA)
Additional invitees and wild card selections will be announced on @naturalselectionsurf starting in late July.
As with previous NST events, Natural Selection’s CREDO judging system, assessing Creativity, Risk, Execution, Difficulty, and Overall impression, will guide how the surfing is evaluated. A full breakdown of the format and heat structure to follow.
Natural Selection Surf proudly partners with a dynamic lineup of brands to bring this event to life: GMC, the Official Auto Partner, Turtlebox, the Official Audio Supplier, Rocky Mountain Watches, the Official Timekeeper, and A New Earth Project, an Official Supplier.
About Natural Selection Tour
Founded by pro snowboarder Travis Rice, the Natural Selection Tour brings fans the best in competitive action sports, with events across snowboarding, skiing, freeride mountain biking, and surfing. With Mother Nature as the lead character, the Tour pushes the limits of what’s possible in spectacular natural venues, showcasing the skills and resilience of the world’s most exciting athletes.
For more information, visit NaturalSelectionTour.com
Follow us on Instagram: @naturalselectiontour, @naturalselectionsurf
