European Open Junior Slopestyle Comes To A Close!
Under bluebird skies, the 14th Burton European Open presented by MINI concluded here in Laax with the Junior slopestyle and halfpipe contests!
For kids aged 14 and younger. Chloe Kim (USA), Jake Pates (USA) and Marcus Kleveland (NOR) are the new BEO 2013 Junior Champions.
The Junior's division of the BEO is a virtual crystal ball into snowboarding's future, and after witnessing
what went down in the immaculately groomed pipe and slopestyle courses it is clear that that future is
bright. Yesterday's senior men's halfpipe finals contained no fewer than four guys who'd been BEO
Juniors champions when younger, and when you look at the list of previous winners of this event it's
practically a who's who of riders who have gone on to make a serious mark on the sport.
BEO Junior Halfpipe
Burton European Open
There was a real family vibe on Laax's Crap Sogn Gion, with kids aged from 6 to 14 taking turns to tear
through the slopestyle or send it in the pipe while being cheered on by their family, friends and a vocal
crowd of spectators who'd turned up to watch the future stars of snowboarding announce themselves to
the world.
And announce themselves they did: 12-year-old Chloe Kim (USA) scored a near-flawless 99.17
points to win the girls' pipe and dominated the slopestyle too while Marcus Kleveland (NOR) and Jake
Pates (USA) at 13 and 14 respectively showed precocious skills that belie their tender ages. The top two
boys and the winning girl also received an extra, special prize: an invite to the US Open from February
25th to March 2nd where they'll have the chance to ride against their heroes, as well as bagging an invite
to next year's BEO.
Chloe, winning both titles today, had this to say: “I am really surprised and super
stoked that I won Halfpipe and Slopestyle. I love it here in LAAX and I made a lot of friends; it’s really
special to me that I’m invited to the US Open in Vail.“ Jake was equally pumped: “The level of riding was
super high today, there is a crazy new generation coming up. I can’t wait to go to Vail.“
But as much as the Juniors event is about the frankly mindblowing riding these children are capable of, a
huge part of it is also the sight of diminutive kids that can appear more helmet than human riding a 90cm
Burton Chicklet down a 6.7m superpipe for the first time ever and having an initial introduction to the
warm embrace of the snowboarding family.
All in all it was a fantastic day and a great ending of the BEO week. Burton and Laax would like to give a
massive thanks to all the riders, crew, spectators and media who showed up in Laax to make the 14th
BEO happen, and of course to the sponsors MINI, Nokia and GoPro.
BEO 2013 Junior Girls Halfpipe Results
1. Chloe Kim, USA, Burton, 99.17
2. Emma Laine, FIN, Roxy, 83.83
3. Elli Pikkujämsä, FIN, K2, 77.67
BEO 2013 Junior Boys Halfpipe Results
1. Jake Pates, USA, Oakley, 94.33
2. Luke Staveley, AUS, 91.17
3. Tito Stante, SLO, Elan, 88.83
BEO 2013 Junior Girls Slopestyle Results
1. Chloe Kim, USA, Burton, 84.50
2. Henna Ikola, FIN, Burton, 81.00
3. Miyabi Onitsuka, JPN, Burton, 80.50
BEO 2013 Junior Boys Slopestyle Results
1. Marcus Kleveland, NOR, Volcom, 86.75
2. Jake Pates, USA, Oakley, 85.25
3. Isak Ulstein, NOR, Burton, 83.00
For more information head to: www.facebook.com/BurtonEurope
Related Pages
Laax
Excellent snowsure resort with a good long season. The slopes are great for freestylers and freeriders alike, as well as suiting beginners. The resort can be slack at opening lifts and the off-piste gets tracked out within hours of a dump.