Two-time Burton Global Open Series overall winner Peetu Piiroinen qualified in first place in today’s men’s slopestyle semi-finals at the Burton European Open, earning a spot in the upcoming slopestyle finals taking place this Friday, January 14.

Only 10 riders out of 42 could make it into the men’s finals. Of these 42 riders, 30 were top invited riders like Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), Mikkel Bang (NOR), Marko Grilc (SLO), Chas Guldemond (USA) and Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI). Twelve of the riders who competed in today’s semi-finals worked their way up through rounds of pre-qualifiers and qualifiers. All riders got two runs to show the best style, trick variety and progression.

During the men’s slopestyle semi-finals, the weather frequently switched from sun and snow to sleet and fog. After their first runs, many of the top invited riders hadn’t earned a spot in the men’s slopestyle finals. Chas Guldemond (USA) was an exception and nailed his first run, which included a backside 1080 mute grab, a super stylish backside rodeo melon grab and a Cab 900 mute grab on the three kickers. Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), Mark McMorris (CAN), Sebastien Toutant (CAN) all had much better luck with their second runs, stepping it up to earn a spot in the finals.

Peetu put together a solid run that out-scored second place qualifier Mark McMorris by less than two-tenths of a point. Highlights from Peetu’s run included a backside 540 nose bonk on the steel ball obstacle followed by a Cab 900 stalefish grab, backside rodeo 720 nose grab finishing with a backside double cork 1080 mute grab. Mark McMorris impressed the judges with his second run, especially on the three kickers where he put together a backside 720 mute grab, a double backside rodeo 900 with a backside grab and a Cab 900 nose grab. Unfortunately, slopestyle heavies like Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI), Mikkel Bang (NOR) and Marko Grilc (SLO) fell victim to the tough weather conditions and didn’t make it into the finals.

Today’s BEO slopestyle semi-finals also marks the start of the MINI Creative Use of Space Award. One week after the finals of the Burton European Open, Canadian Open and US Open, riders will be able to vote on Facebook for the most creative runs from the semis and finals of halfpipe and slopestyle. After the US Open, the male and female riders who earn the most votes will each get $25,000 cash. Check out www.facebook.com/mini for more details.

Tomorrow, both the superpipe and slopestyle course at the BEO will be action-packed. The morning kicks off with men’s halfpipe semi-finals where riders like 2010 US Open champion Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN), Antti Autti (FIN) and Luke Mitrani (USA) will compete. In the afternoon, it will be the ladies turn to take on the slopestyle course with invited riders like Enni Rukajärvi (FIN), Jamie Anderson (USA) and Kjersti Buaas (NOR) all planning to compete.

Don’t miss the LIVE webcast on www.metacafe.com and www.burton.com/events starting in the morning with men’s halfpipe semi-finals.

2011 BEO Men’s Slopestyle Semi-Final Results
1 Peetu Piiroinen FIN NIKE 6.0 84.90
2 Mark McMorris CAN BURTON 84.75
3 Chas Guldemond USA ROCKSTAR 82.50
4 Sebastien Toutant CAN O'NEILL 80.15
5 Roope Tonteri FIN BURTON 79.30
6 Sven Thorgren SWE PROTEST 78.50
7 Seppe Smits BEL BURTON 77.15
8 Christian Haller SUI BURTON 76.95
9 Roger Kleivdal Roger NOR SWEET 76.80
10 Ethan Morgan GER NIKE 6.0 76.40

(13 Jamie Nicholls UK NIKE 73.70)