Mamadou Delfino *like* Intercrew.

The Full Monty on the TTR 4* Intercrew 2011: check the official video here, and the report here.

Here’s the last chunk of new snowboard gear previewed at the 2011 Ispo tradeshow. We might have to check into a Betty Ford clinic now, so let’s get this over with: More images of the latest products from 686, Stepchild, Völkl, Forum, Special Blend, Vans and Pro-Tec…

Peetu-D2 at last year's BEO. Photo: David Blazek.

THE BURTON EUROPEAN OPEN COUNTDOWN IS ON!

Only three more weeks before the 12th annual Burton European Open (BEO) kicks off. Top riders and amateurs from around the world are getting ready to participate in Europe’s biggest snowboarding event from January 8 – 15, 2011 in LAAX, Switzerland. The BEO is the second stop of the 2010/11 Burton Global Open Series (BGOS), a Swatch TTR 6Star event and offers a total prize-purse of US $125,000.

1 is the number of riders competing from Belgium: Burton’s own Seppe Smits.

3 Halfpipe Olympic Gold Medal Winners are participating in the BEO 2011: Kelly Clark, Hannah Teter and Gian Simmen.

4 Burton Global Open Series events are currently taking place around the world, one in New Zealand, one in Europe, one in Canada and one in the US.

7 is the number of BEO events that have taken place in LAAX.

8 is the number of planned obstacles for the BEO Slopestyle course. The crew in LAAX needs roughly 10 days to build it.

10 is the age of the youngest BEO rider, Chloe Kim from USA, who won the 2010 Junior Halfpipe.

13 is Burton’s favorite number.

25 countries will be represented at this year’s BEO.

77 riders from hosting country Switzerland registered for the BEO competitions. This makes Switzerland the strongest represented country.

163 events are currently listed on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour, with the BEO being one of seven 6Star events.

452 is the number of registered riders in the BEO’s slopestyle and halfpipe competitions.

1000 square meters is the size of the new Indoor Base operated by Freestyle Academy in LAAX which is your playground to try new tricks all season long.

25,000 US$ each will be rewarded by MINI to the most creative male and female BGOS 2010/11 rider one week after the US Open.

310,000 is the number of search results for the Burton European Open on Google.

7,727,417 is the number of Monster facebook fans. Go check it out!

5. You can see the bottom of the outdoor swimming pool.
4. The city looks even greyer than usual.
3. If it is sunny you will make it a Facebook update.
2. Nipples.
1. The new Burton catalog is released.

And would you believe – we just received a press release from Burton announcing their new 2011 website and catalog. I guess summer is now officially doomed. We had a quick peek at their web offering and it sure looks dope. Here’s some more gobbledygook on web and print:

The first signs of winter are hitting riders worldwide today with the launch of the completely re-designed www.burton.com and the arrival of new 2011 Burton catalogs in mailboxes from Milwaukee to the Netherlands.

The 2011 Burton catalog is the printed resource for all things Burton, while the all-new burton.com is fully loaded with more rider-friendly features and usability than ever. The new site focuses on the overall snowboarding experience, allowing riders to connect with Burton and to the sport in ways they never have before.

From extensive team rider info, updates and profiles and the ability to connect to a global rider network, to exact coordinates of your local snowboard shop and live info from local mountains, the 2011 burton.com is all about servicing and supporting riders.

Check out some of the features of the new burton.com, all of which will make you swear off summer and wish for winter.

Meet the Team: The all new Team Timelines let you really experience the life of our team riders – from birth to their first podium, film part and mag cover.
Support Local Snowboarding: Check out our new and improved shop locator to find a store near you.
Board Finder: Find the board that’s right for you in two easy steps.
Look Books: See our team riders living the dream and check out the gear they’re wearing in each photo.
Product Tech: Want to know exactly what our boot backstays or bindings’ SensoryBED™ look like up close? See more product tech details than ever on the new site.
Twitter feed on the homepage: See Twitter feeds from Burton, team riders and shops right on the homepage.
The Community: Join the Community to upload your own photos, videos and interact with riders around the world.
Catalog sign-up: Get your copy while they last. And if you just can’t wait to see it, flip through the entire 2011 catalog online. You can even turn the pages, just like the paper one.

The new burton.com is live now, and catalogs are available at your local snowboard shop or online when you sign up.

And just in case you need any more reasons to get stoked for winter, check out some fresh 2011 footage here http://bit.ly/c4cuyH

Can’t get enough of winter 2011? Follow our line at
facebook.com/burtonsnowboards and twitter.com/burtonsnowboard

This year's pipe.

Lo an behold, the dates for the next Winter X Games Europe have been released: The French resort of Tignes will once again host the event from March 16 to 18, 2011. Judging from this year’s experience I recommend marking the 15th and the 19th in your calendar, too. Or else you might miss a day or two worth of action. Here’s the full press release:

WHAT: Event dates for Winter X Games Europe Tignes
WHEN: March 16 – March 18, 2011 – Winter X Games Europe in Tignes, France
WHO: More than 125 athletes will compete from all over the globe in Snowboard and Skiing in France for the second year of Winter X Games Europe Tignes.

POPULARITY OF WINTER X GAMES EUROPE TIGNES

Winter X Games Europe Tignes was the first Winter X Games outside of the United States. Produced by CANAL+ EVENTS and ESPN, Winter X Games Europe Tignes was broadcast live in eight countries, including France (Canal+ network), and distributed to 166 countries and territories, including Latin America, Middle East, Pacific Rim, sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, Israel, Caribbean, North America and Europe. The three-day event attracted 66,200 spectators for the inaugural event.

Winter X Games 15 will be held in Aspen January 27 – January 30, 2011.