The world’s top snowboarders are getting ready for orbit at the 13th annual Burton European Open (BEO) presented by MINI. Taking place from February 25 – March 3 at LAAX/Switzerland, the BEO has confirmed some of the sport’s biggest names like Mark McMorris, Seppe Smits, Sebastien Toutant, Iouri Podladtchikov, Jamie Anderson, Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter.
Riders to Watch
This year, the BEO is stacked with top-level riders from all over the world, including 2012 X Games Slopestyle & Big Air Champion Mark McMorris, who will be the rider to beat in this year’s BEO slopestyle competition. Last year’s BEO slopestyle champion, Roope Tonteri, will try to defend his title against the likes of Mark McMorris and 2012 Dew Cup winner Sebastien Toutant. Belgium’s snowboard star Seppe Smits, who recently became the 2012 TTR Big Air Tour Champion, is also slated to compete in slopestyle. The BEO halfpipe field is also loaded with world-renowned riders like Danny Davis, Jack Mitrani, Iouri Podladtchikov, Christian Haller and Janne Korpi, who currently holds the #1 spot of the Overall TTR Ranking.
On the women’s side, three-time Olympian Kelly Clark will defend her 2011 BEO halfpipe title and try to continue her 14-competition winning streak at the BEO. Fellow US riders and Olympians Hannah Teter and Gretchen Bleiler will join Kelly in the BEO halfpipe competition. Also competing in halfpipe are current TTR Overall Ranking leader Cilka Sadar from Slovenia and Spain’s Queralt Castellet, who currently leads both the women’s TTR Halfpipe Ranking and the BGOS Championship standings for halfpipe. The women’s slopestyle field is equally as impressive. Two-time TTR Champion Jamie Anderson, who currently leads the BGOS Championship standings for slopestyle, will compete in LAAX. Also in attendance will be 2011 US Open slopestyle winner Enni Rukajärvi and Canadian slopestyle rider Spencer O’Brien.
Titles, Cash and Glory
The 13th Burton European Open, a 6Star TTR event, will offer many prestigious titles, cash and championship points for participating riders, who will compete for top honors in women’s, men’s and junior’s slopestyle and halfpipe competitions. A total prize purse of $125,000 is up for grabs as well as additional cash for the second generation of the Creative Use of Space (CUOS) Award, presented by MINI. The male and female rider with the most creative and progressive tricks in the halfpipe and slopestyle will each win $5,000. Additionally, MINI will award $5,000 at the end of the season to the resort shape crew that builds the most creative CUOS slopestyle feature during the 2011/12 Burton Global Open Series. Winning riders will also earn valuable points towards the TTR and Burton Global Open Series ranking lists, which will contribute towards the crowning of the TTR and BGOS Champions one week after the BEO at the 30th anniversary of the Burton US Open in Stratton, Vermont.
Live Acts
Besides next-level snowboarding action, the BEO offers a legendary selection of evening events, including top music acts. On Friday, March 2nd, the “Space” theme-party will rock the Riders Palace Club with a Turntablerocker DJ set. On Saturday, March 3rd, Trouble Andrew and Reptile Youth will perform live for an unbelievable finale of the 13th annual BEO. Below are details on how to purchase BEO concert tickets.
BEO Party & Concert Tickets (www.starticket.ch):
Friday, March 2nd, 2012:
‘Space’ Party & Turntablerocker DJ Set
Riders Palace Club
Tickets: 20 chf
Saturday, March 3rd, 2012:
Live on Stage – Trouble Andrew, Reptile Youth,
BRIGHT SHADES & KOOBRA (Starboard, FIN)
Riders Palace Club
Tickets: 30 chf
BEO Competition Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 25 Slopestyle Junior Contest
Sunday, Feb. 26 Halfpipe Junior Contest
Monday, Feb. 27 Halfpipe Pre-Qualification Men Slopestyle Qualification Women & Men
Tuesday, Feb. 28 Halfpipe Qualification Women & Men
Wednesday, Feb. 29 Slopestyle Semi-Finals Women & Men
Thursday, March 1 Slopestyle Finals Women & Men
Friday, March 2 Halfpipe Semi-Finals Women & Men
Saturday, March 3 Halfpipe Finals Women & Men
If you can’t make it to LAAX, watch the BEO action live from Feb. 29th - March 3rd, 2012 on www.redbull.tv.
TAGS: Burton, Burton Euro Open, Christian Haller, Danny Davis, Euro Open, Iouri Podladtchikov, Jack Mitrani, jamie anderson, kelly clark, Mark McMorris, Sebastien Toutant, Seppe Smits
