The Burton European Open, BEO, is the only Open Snowboarding Event in Europe, with freestyle competitions in the disciplines Halfpipe and Slopestyle. Innovative Freestyle Snowboarding is a key factor of the BEO, constantly pushing progression of the sport. The BEO is mainly all about bringing the best riders in the world – including Olympic Winners, World Champs and Snowboarding Legends – together with amateur riders at the beginning of their career, kids and juniors from 8-14.

This year ses over 350 riders competing for a total prize fund of $125,000 dollars.

More information can be found on: www.opensnowboarding.com

First Top Riders confirmed

First rider confirmations are rolling in and the crème de la crème can be found among them, including BEO 12 Slopestyle winner Aleksander Ostreng (NOR), Men’s Overall World Tour Champion 11/12 Stale Sandbech (NOR), Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), who just earned a 2nd place at the Air&Style in Beijing and Seppe Smits (BEL), another regular to podiums across the world. Best female riders of the planet have also confirmed their presence, including Slopestyle Tour Champion 11/12 and defending BEO Slopestyle Winner Jamie Anderson (USA), record-winner Kelly Clark (USA) who had an incredible winning series of 16 events in a row as well as Finland’s Enni Rukajärvi, no stranger to podium’s. All invited riders are seeded directly into the Semi-Finals where they will meet all riders who made it through from the qualification rounds. All of them will battle for a portion of the US$ 125.000 prize-money.

Rider registration is open only until Dec. 21st, 2012 on www.register-for-events.com.

Secure your spot now to battle with the world’s top riders. Also the youngest shredders have their platform to showcase their skills with Junior events in both Halfpipe and Slopestyle. Many of today’s stars including Peetu Piiroinen, Mikkel Bang and Christian Haller have been BEO Junior winners in the early days of their careers.

Action on Crap Sogn Gion Mountain

All the action will take place again on Crap Sogn Gion Mountain – home of the Halfpipe since many years. The Slopestyle is happening like last year on Ils Plauns, where an innovative Slopestyle course can be expected. The MINI Creative Use of Space obstacle will be integrated again and the shape crew in LAAX is keen on defending their title from last year for the most creative obstacle.

Title: Burton European Open 2013 Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI

Location: LAAX, Switzerland
Date: 4th to 9th February 2013
Organizer: Burton Snowboards
Partners: MINI, NOKIA, LAAX, TTR
Edition: 14
Tour: World Snowboard Tour
Category: Open (open for amateurs and pros)
Disciplines: Slopestyle, Halfpipe
Format: qualification, semi-finals, finals
Rankings: juniors (up to 14 years), women, men
Prize Money: US$ 125.000.-
Contest Location: Crap Sogn Gion (LAAX)
Program: 4th February 2013: qualifications Slopestyle & Halfpipe men & women
5th February 2013: qualifications & semi-finals Halfpipe men
6th February 2013: semi-finals Slopestyle men & women,
qualification & semi-finals Halfpipe women
7th February 2013: finals Slopestyle men & women
8th February 2013: finals Halfpipe men & women
9th February 2013: JUNIORS DAY – qualifications & finals Slopestyle & Halfpipe

Riders: about 300 Riders:
Open Spots: Juniors: 50 boys/20 girls
Slopestyle 80 men/40 women
Halfpipe 80 men/40 women

Invited Riders:

16 men/8 women per discipline, seeded into the semi-finals
First BEO Winners’99: Sani Alibabic (AUT), Natasza Zurek (CAN), Therry Brunner (SUI)

Live-Acts: Riders Palace Club

7th February 2013 Mambo Kurt (LIVE), Support: The Goldfinger Brothers, 22:00, free entrance
8th February 2013 Left Boy, 22:00, tickets for 30 CHF on www.starticket.ch
9th February 2013 Homemade Vol. 3, 23:00, free entrance
Event Website: www.burton.com/BEO
www.facebook.com/BurtonEuropeanOpen
Resort Website: www.laax.com
Live Webcast: www.burton.com

Short Description: At the Burton European Open (BEO) presented by MINI amateurs from around the globe get the chance to challenge the world‘s top pro riders. The 14th edition of the Burton European Open will take place in LAAX, Switzerland, from 4th to 9th February 2013. With 6 days of elite competition in Halfpipe and Slopestyle, over 300 competitors and a prize purse of more than US$ 125,000, the BEO is the biggest and most well respected snowboard event in Europe and the only one which offers juniors, women and men the opportunity to show their skills in the same Superpipe and Slopestyle course. The BEO is one of the 7 6star World Snowboard Tour events.