Rider Registration Kicks off for Burton European Open 2013 presented by MINI

INNSBRUCK, AUT (November 20, 2012) – Signs of winter are rolling in – the season has kicked off in
the Alps, LAAX recently opened their lifts, and now, the 14 th edition of the Burton European Open
(BEO) presented by MINI has officially opened rider registration.

Rider Registration
Taking place from February 4-9, 2013 in LAAX, Switzerland, this year’s Burton European Open will
once again unite the world’s top riders, upcoming riders and juniors for halfpipe and slopestyle
competitions at Europe’s most prestigious on-snow event. Olympic, TTR and World Champions – they
all have won BEO titles in the past, including Kelly Clark, Jamie Anderson, Kevin Pearce, Peetu
Piiroinen and Iouri Podladtchikov.
Rider registration will open on Nov. 20 th, 2012 on www.register-for-events.com. Reserve your spot
now, as they are limited. Registration is open until Dec. 20 th, 2012. Join now to battle with the world’s
best riders.

Live Act
Next to spectacular freestyle Snowboarding spectators can look forward to a very special live concert
on Friday, February 8th, 2013. The BEO and LAAX are proud to present Left Boy for his very first
concert in Switzerland! The music of the 23 years old, based in New York, is a mix of Electro,
Dubstep, Rap and Pop. He writes, composes and produces all of his arrangements on his own. After
having paramount success with video releases online, Left Boy will stop at the Riders Palace during
his first live-tour.

For more details follow us on facebook.com/BurtonEuropeanOpen and www.burton.com/BEO

Enni Rukajärvi, Seppe Smits, Ellery Hollingsworth and Taku Hiraoka pulled out the most creative tricks at the Burton US Open and each took home US $5,000! Watch their hits…

The MINI Creative Use of Space Award entered its final round at the 30th Burton US Open that took place in Stratton, Vermont, last weekend. For the fourth time during the 2011/12 Burton Global Open Series (BGOS), the world’s best snowboarders not only competed for a podium place in the event’s two major competitions: slopestyle and halfpipe, but also for the MINI CUoS Slopestyle and Halfpipe Awards.

SLOPESTYLE

In the women’s slopestyle finals, Enni Rukajärvi from Finland threw a cab 540 mute on the MINI CUoS Slopestyle Feature which resembled a driveway with a garage and a MINI parked out front, which bagged her the MINI CUoS Slopestyle Award and US$5,000. On the men’s side, the award went to Seppe Smits from Belgium for an innovative cab 9 shifty on the MINI Feature. In the halfpipe finals, US$5,000 were given to US rider Ellery Hollingsworth for her outstanding alley-oop Michalchuck and Japan’s Taku Hiraoka for his perfect backside 5 japan.

For the last time in the 2011/12 season, the awarded riders did not only earn prize money, but also collected 25 points towards the final ranking of the BGOS and the MINI Countryman. At the US Open it was time for the final decision: Which female and male riders had collected the most points? In the end, US girl Jamie Anderson and Ryo Aono from Japan were listed on top of the overall BGOS ranking which earned them both a MINI Countryman.

HALFPIPE

Besides the riders, the park designers could also compete for an award. Every park crew at the four BGOS events was given US$5,000 to build a totally unique MINI Feature that was then entered into a competition against the other MINI CUoS Slopestyle Features. At the last stop, the US Open, the most creative MINI Feature was finally picked: The judges unanimously chose the crew from Laax, Switzerland as the winners; they took home an additional US$5,000 as well as the MINI Creative Use of Space Slopestyle Feature Award.

Getting it done on Laax's award-winning Mini CUoS feature. Photos: Stadler.

Mini have been running their Creative Use of Space thingy at the Burton Global Open Series events this year, and as well as rewarding riders who think outside the box they also happily show some love to the shapers. At each BGOS stop the park crews were given cash to build a creative obstacle, and the dudes at Laax were ajudged to have built the best one. Props!

As anyone who’s been to Laax will tell you, you’ll be hard pressed to find a resort with better facilities for shredding in Europe, with an attitude looking firmly towards providing the coolest setup – both on and off the hill – for the younger generation. As a snowboarder, you always feel like you’ve come home when you get to Laax so we’re stoked the shaping crew there have been rewarded for their sterling effort at the BEO with this prize.

Laax's Roger Heid and co. Props!

The slopestyle course (and for regular humans, the whole run down from the Crap Sogn Gion for that matter) that head shaper Roger Heid and his crew created was epic, and more pointedly the Mini CUoS feature they built was easily the most innovative to our minds, and the judging panel agreed with our humble opinion and send the 5k prize money their way.

Laax were selected as winners by a crew of judges consisting of pro snowboarder Jamie Anderson, event judge Guillaume Morisset, BGOS organizer Greg Johnson as well as Alex Schwan and Christian Bach who were both representing MINI. They unanimously chose Roger Heid and his team from Laax, Switzerland, as the award winners: The team creatively worked with various slopestyle elements resulting in an innovative arrangement and new trick variations.

The Mini statement explained: “Heid and his crew are the first winners of the MINI Creative Use of Space Slopestyle Feature Award, but a big thanks goes to all the BGOS shape crews. Their hard work and creative drive on the snow made it possible for the riders to demonstrate snowboarding at its best.”

It’s pretty sweet to see something other than über-twirling rewarded at contests, even if often it was thrown down when the run became a throwaway, and even sweeter to see courses and hits being crafted to help this happen. Let’s see what they come up with for the new season when it kicks off down under this summer…

L to R - Jamie Anderson, Emil Ulsletten, Cilka Sadar and Christian Haller.

Check the runs of the guys and girls who are now 5k richer thanks to their creativity and Mini’s desire to see innovation rewarded at the Open series of shred contests.

The MINI Creative Use of Space Award at the Burton European Open 2012: Jamie Anderson, Emil Ulsletten, Cilka Sadar and Christian Haller show the most creative tricks and take home US$ 5,000!

The third round of the MINI Creative Use of Space Award (CUoS) went down last weekend at the Burton European Open (BEO) in Laax, Switzerland. In spring-like conditions, the world’s best snowboarders unwrapped their skills in the event’s two major competitions: slopestyle and halfpipe. The female and male riders that demonstrated the most creative tricks during the finals took home US$ 5,000 and the MINI CUoS Slopestyle and Halfpipe Awards.

SLOPESTYLE WINNERS

With a smooth backside lipslide on the corner wall combination followed by a massive front side 360 melon over the roof gap, Jamie Anderson (USA) proved her creativity and bagged the MINI CUoS Slopestyle Award in the women’s category. On the men’s side, the judges awarded Emil Ulsletten (NOR) for his rad trick combo on the MINI CUoS Slopestyle Feature: alley-oop 360 over the corner wall followed by a cab to 50/50 to 360 out on the rail set. In the halfpipe finals, the MINI CUoS Awards went to Cilka Sadar (SLO) for a stylish backside alley-oop japan and Christian “Hitsch” Haller (SUI) who stomped an incredible alley-oop seatbelt.

The awarded riders not only took home the prize money, but also collected 25 points towards the final ranking of the Burton Global Open Series (BGOS) and the MINI Countryman which will be given to the male and female with the most points at the 30th Annual US Open in Stratton, Vermont on March 10, 2012.

HALFPIPE WINNERS

The MINI CUoS Slopestyle Feature at the 2012 Burton European Open was created by lead builder Roger Heid and his shape crew. Inspired by urban snowboarding, Heid designed a unique feature that aimed to bring the streets to the mountain – including a corner wall combination, a rail set and a MINI. Thanks to its diversity, the MINI Feature offered the riders great freedom in choosing their line resulting in innovative and unconventional tricks. In addition to the riders, the shape crews also compete for an award: The MINI Feature that is deemed to be the most creative of the four BGOS stops will win US$ 5,000 and the MINI CUoS Slopestyle Feature Award.

As you’ll know, the venerable daddy of US snowboard comps, the US Open, is on in its hometown of Stratton. As with the European Open last week, MINI have charged the shaping crew with the task of coming up with an innovative park obstacle for the riders to show their creativity on and be rewarded with cold hard cash. Check it…

The contest season is coming to an end and so is the second installment of the MINI Creative Use of Space (CUoS) Award. From March 5th to 11th, 2012, the cream of freestyle snowboarding’s crop will be competing for the glory, but happily snowboarding’s unsung heroes – the shapers – can also bag an award at the last stop of the Burton Global Open Series (BGOS). At each of the four BGOS competitions, the shapers were given US$5,000 to build an exceptional MINI Feature. At the final stop, the Burton US Open, the MINI Feature that is picked by the judging panel to be the most creative will be awarded an additional US$5,000 as well as the Creative Use of Space Slopestyle Feature Award.

The US Open feature is the last to enter the competition this season. According to head-shaper Aaron Dettling and his Snow Park Technologies crew, the idea was to give the riders the possibility to play in their “driveway”, hence a backdrop based on a garage with a MINI parked in front framing two kickers on the slopestyle course. We’ll have to see how it plays out in real life – you can watch it on Redbull.tv – but our initial reaction is that the Laax crew have the 5k in the bag as the BEO feature was super sick and allowed so much creativity from the riders.

Also for the last time in the BGOS 2011/12, the riders have a chance can win US$5,000 for the most creative trick on the MINI Feature during the slopestyle finals, while in the halfpipe, the most innovative trick will also be rewarded with US$5,000. Last week Jamie Anderson, Cilka Sadar, Christian Haller and Emil Ulsletten bagged the swag, so we’ll see who can match that in the States.

The CUoS Slopestyle Feature Award 2012 will be decided at the US Open along with the CUoS Slopestyle and Halfpipe Awards.
The dates for the finals are:  Slopestyle Finals: Friday, March 9th, 2012 (women’s & men’s) Halfpipe Finals: Saturday, March 10th, 2012 (women’s & men’s)

Watch it all live on RedBull.tv

The Burton European Open kicks off another edition next week, and with it MINI will roll out another rider and shaper-oriented Creative Use of Space Awards program. Check the setup Laax have planned…

The MINI Creative Use of Space (CUoS) Award drops back in for the Burton European Open, the third stop in the Burton Global Open Series (BGOS). The BEO will be going down in Laax, Switzerland from February 25th to March 3rd, 2012.

Head shaper Roger Heid and his crew have taken charge of the setup of the CUoS Feature on the slopestyle course. They were given US$5,000 to build a unique MINI Feature that will then be entered into a competition against three other MINI CUoS Slopestyle Features created for the BGOS series. The most creative MINI Feature out of the four will be awarded an additional US$5,000. Boom!

In Laax, bricks will be a big part of the CUoS Feature’s design. Heid has a vision in mind, “Everybody who is into urban shredding will love this obstacle”, he assures. While the MINI Feature will bring a certain street ambiance to the mountain, it’s also designed to give the riders great freedom when choosing their line.

Creativity is not only demanded from the shape crew. The female and male riders who demonstrate the most creative trick on the MINI Feature during the slopestyle finals will take home US$5,000. A CUoS Award is also up for grabs for the two athletes in the halfpipe finals who demonstrate the most unique tricks. Along with the cash prizes, the riders will also collect points towards the BGOS overall ranking and the MINI Countryman, which will be awarded to the male and female with the most points at the end of the season.

The CUoS Slopestyle Feature Award, as well as the CUoS Slopestyle and Halfpipe Awards, will guarantee standing out performances at the 2012 Burton European Open!

The dates for the finals are: Slopestyle Finals: Thursday, March 1st, 2012 (women’s & men’s) Halfpipe Finals: Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 (women’s & men’s)

Watch it all live on RedBull.tv

Getting it done on the CUoS feature at the Canadian Open.

Jamie Anderson, Sarah Conrad, Chas Guldemond and Janne Korpi are the first riders to be rewarded by MINI for their creativity at this season’ Burton Global Open Series for their alternative lines at the Canadian Open. Check the videos…

The second phase of the MINI Creative Use of Space (CU0S) Awards went down last weekend at the Burton Canadian Open where the riders had a chance to be rewarded for their creativity in the slopestyle and pipe events. Whoever pulled creative tricks or took an innovative line would be in consideration for the US$ 2,500 MINI had to dish out to a guy and a girl in each discipline

SLOPESTYLE

For the women, Jamie Anderson (USA) took the cash for slopestyle while Sarah Conrad (CAN) netted the award for halfpipe. In the men’s category Chas Guldemond (USA) launched off the MINI car with a 3 “Roofy” Stalefish to take the slope prize and Janne Korpi (FIN) got inventive in the pipe with an Alley Oop Backside Rodeo 540 Nose. All four walked away from Calgary with a nice wedge of cash in their back pockets for thinking different.

HALFPIPE

As well as the dollar, the riders also netted 25 ‘creative points’ towards a MINI Countryman. The car will be given to the male and female with the most points at the 30th Annual US Open in Stratton, Vermont on March 10, 2012.

The MINI CUoS Feature at the 2012 CANO was created by Ryan Neptune, lead builder with Planet Snow Design. The unique feature’s design was based on an old skate park in Portland and inspired the riders with its multiple rails, and the car itself, to come up with the most creative tricks seen to date. In addition to the riders, the park builders that create the best CUoS Slopestyle Feature during the 2012 BGOS series will win US$ 5,000.

More of this to come when the Global Open Series rolls into Laax for the BEO at the end of this month.

MINI Creative Use of Space Award goes into round two: Prize money and extra BGOS credits for riders, as well as a new award for shaping crews.

Snowboarding lives off the riders’ creativity – no matter if it’s during a competition or while freeriding. Nowadays, with snowboarding being more popular and mainstream than ever before, it is important to not lose sight of the basic ideas of snowboarding: progression is not just about Spin To Win but also about creativity and the interaction with all sorts of features and snow.

MINI got together with Burton Snowboards and integrated their principal motto of ‘Creative Use of Space’ into the Burton Global Open Series (BGOS). After the huge success of the Creative Use of Space (CUoS) Awards during the 2010/2011 season, they will now go into the round two – a revised edition.

Creative points for the riders and a new award for shape crews

MINI and Burton were brought together based on a common passion for creative handling of the surroundings and making the best use of the available resources and space. By combining the CUoS Awards with one of the world’s most important event series, snowboarders will be rewarded not just for their technical skills but for their creativity as well. Thus the most creative riders will collect important points towards their overall BGOS ranking.

In addition to awarding the riders, for the first time this season, the shape crews responsible for the design and build of the four slopestyle courses will be competing for a CUoS award of their own. This way, from the riders to the shapers, MINI is rewarding those who demonstrate the highest level of creativity.

CUoS Halfpipe and Slopestyle Awards

The judges during the halfpipe finals will not only judge riders according to the usual criteria, but will also look out for stylish and creative tricks. Called “the other trick” judges will be looking for tricks that can be defined as progressive, creative and unusual, as well as creative grabs. At slopestyle, there will be a specially made CUoS Feature within the course, which will create the perfect platform on which to judge the riders’ creativity.

Like the pipe, the one rider who handles the CUoS feature in the most innovative way will win. This means creative tricks and grabs and overall creative use of the feature. Each CUoS Award given away at the BGOS 2011/12 will not only come with prize money of up to US$ 5,000, but also adds 25 points which factors into a riders‘ final overall BGOS ranking which can advance finalists by more than one place within the overall BGOS rating.

CUoS Slopestyle Feature Award Supported by MINI, at each contest within the BGOS 2011/2012, the respective shape crews will have the opportunity to design a feature according to their own ideas which within the particular slopestyle course. A judging crew consisting of snowboard legends, pros and media will award the most creative solution at the end of the tour. The crews from the resorts of Cardrona Alpine Resort (NZ), Canada Olympic Park, Calgary Alberta (CA), Laax (CH) and Stratton, Vermont (USA) will have therewith the chance to not only influence the contest but to also take home prize money of US$5.000.

For more info read the corresponding Creative Use of Space Slopestyle and Halfpipe press releases or come to the riders meetings!

[Here's Cilka Sadar's effort from the Canadian Open. We've posted it here as she's neck and neck with Ty Walker and fellow Slovenian Marko Grilc says if Cilka wins the party will be all time.]

Voting closes 13.00 CET (ie Munich, Paris, etc), so make sure you have your voice heard and you’ll be entered in to win the VIP trip to NZ.

There’s only a few more hours left for you to cast your votes on which guy and girl you reckon should win the inaugural MINI Creative Use of Space Global award. We could waffle on about it but seeing as time is short you can read the chatter here, but it’s not rocket science. Head to the MINI Facebook page, watch the clips and click Like on the men’s and women’s one that you think got most creative. Simple.

The winner bags the prestige and the greenbacks, and everyone who votes is thrown in the virtual tombola for a chance to win a VIP trip for you and 3 mates to this summer’s NZ Open.

Get involved quick smart – Facebook.com/MINI

This year, MINI have been running a side event at the Burton Global Open Series events to reward riders who approach the course in a more creative manner than just sending it with hyperspinning. After keeping their eyes out for the most imaginative line, the steeziest slow spins and basically the rider who embodies the ‘Creative Use of Space’ mantra to the fullest, thanks to your voting they’ve narrowed it down to 3 guys and 3 girls who are going for the Global title and the cash prize purse.

Now it’s over to you guys again to vote for who you think deserves the glory. Currently Yale Cousino and Ty Walker are out in front, but there’s still a few days for your votes to make a difference to the final standings.

Check out the clips, vote for the rider you think used the course most creatively and you could not only help the rider on their way to payday, you could bag yourself and 3 friends a VIP to check out the NZ Open this summer. Happy days. Get involved on facebook.com/MINI