Wānaka based Merino brand Mons Royale has been named Official Next to Skin Partner of Natural Selection Tour Snow and Ski, and Official Apparel Partner of NST Bike for 2026.
In practical terms, that puts Merino at the base layer of some of the most demanding freeride venues on the planet, from British Columbia to Alaska and back home to Queenstown.
The Natural Selection Tour, founded by Travis Rice, has built its reputation on natural terrain and consequence. No manicured courses. No park features dropped in by crane. Riders are selected to interpret mountains as they stand, with creativity and risk management front and centre.
For Mons Royale, the alignment is obvious. High output, variable weather, long competition windows. That is exactly where next to skin performance counts.
Hamish Acland, co founder and CEO, says the partnership reflects shared values. Natural terrain. Respect for the environment. Gear that works when conditions shift and margins tighten.
From the steep spines of Revelstoke to the exposed faces of Valdez and the ridgelines above Queenstown, NST athletes deal with wind, sweat, temperature swings and long waits between heats. Merino’s ability to regulate temperature, manage moisture and resist odour over extended periods becomes more than a comfort play. It is functional insurance.
This is also a material statement. Mons Royale is a certified B Corp and has been vocal about reducing reliance on oil based synthetics in technical apparel. In a sector still dominated by petroleum fibres, pushing natural fibre as performance kit rather than lifestyle wear is a strategic move.
If freeride competition is evolving, the materials worn underneath need to keep pace.
The partnership carries added weight with NST Bike returning to Queenstown in 2026. Mons Royale sources much of its wool through its Growers Club network of New Zealand Merino farmers. The brand continues to invest in regenerative sourcing, circular design and long term durability from farm to finished garment.
In short, this is not heritage storytelling. It is positioning natural fibre as future performance.
2026 Natural Selection Tour schedule
NST Snow
9 March – Snow Super Sessions
10 to 15 March – YETI Natural Selection Snow, Revelstoke
NST Ski
17 March – Ski Super Session, Palisades Tahoe
14 April – YETI Natural Selection Ski, Valdez, Alaska
NST Bike
5 May – Natural Selection Bike Aotearoa, Queenstown
Mons Royale will host watch parties in Innsbruck, Whistler and Wānaka during the Tour window.
For a New Zealand brand built on ridgelines and Merino, 2026 is more than a sponsorship cycle. It is a statement about where performance apparel is heading and who intends to lead it.
