Once again, the snowboard community will be able to see more than 300 top snowboarders from around the globe compete in slopestyle and halfpipe during six action-packed days at LAAX Resort in Switzerland. To round out the week, spectators can also watch the Juniors compete on the last day of the event,Saturday, Feb. 9th.

Riders to Watch

Snowboarding’s elite riders will battle at LAAX for prestigious World Snowboard Tour Ranking points and a portion of the Burton European Open US $125,000 prize money. Among them will be Canadian Mark McMorris, who just won two X-Games medals – gold in slopestyle and silver in big air, Belgium Seppe Smits, who continues with podium spots in 2013 with a bronze medal at the X-Games slopestyle contest,defending Burton European Open slopestyle champion Aleksander Oestreng fromNorway and Roope Tonteri, Finland’s current double World Champion in slopestyle and big air. And competing for Switzerland are halfpipe World Champion Iouri Podladtchikov and Christian Haller. The women’s field will be led by American Kelly Clark, who just won X-Games halfpipe gold and already has five BEO halfpipe medals, more than any other woman. Also competing will be LAAX local and regular on the BEO slopestyle podium, Sina Candrian, Swiss rising star Isabel Derungs who hopes to earn a podium spot at home, Canadian TTR World Champion Spencer O’Brien and Finnish sensation Enni Rukajärvi.

Setup

Just as it was last year, the Burton European Open 500 meter slopestyle course is located on Ils Plauns, and consists of seven features. Starting with a straight rail to bank, the straight plaza feature continues to the kicker line with three kickers heading into a flat down rail. Next is the pole jam to tank feature and then finally the course ends with the MINI Creative Use of Space feature. This last feature will once again showcase the creativity and innovative approach of the LAAX shape crew. As part of this year’s MINI Feature Award, the LAAX shape crew competes against the US Open shape crew in hopes of winning US$ 5,000 in prize money. Additionally, the 140 meter halfpipe is located on Crap Sogn Gion and has 6.7 meter high walls and an inclination of 18 degrees.

Music/Live-Concerts

Top music acts will entertain the Burton European Open crowds at the Riders Palace Club from Thursday, February 7th – Friday, Feb. 8th. Look for unique entertainer Mambo Kurt live on stage on Thursday and then on Friday night, Left Boy, a 23 year-old from New York City who writes, composes and produces all of his own electro, dubstep, rap and pop arrangements, will peform for the first time in Switzerland. After having great success with online video releases,this concert is part of Left Boy’s first live-tour. Tickets are available online at www.starticket.ch and at the Riders Palace front desk.

Partner Activities

And there’s lots more action to check-out. In addition to watching incredible Burton European Open snowboarding, there will be lots of activities happening through out the week both on and off the mountain. Look for MINI presents RE:LAAX – The MINI Countryman Perspective with the PirateArtCrew who will turn a MINI Countryman into a piece of incredible snowboard art, test drive a new MINI and enter to participate in the MINI Cabriolet Winter Challenge. And for all spectators who want to fit in some top-rate riding at LAAX, Burton will be offering a variety of Burton boards and bindings for the public to demo. Also make sure to visit the Burton tent for the chance to win a new Burton Nug/Nugget board.

Webcast

If you can’t make it to LAAX in person, tune in to watch the Burton European Open live on www.burton.com/BEO.

And for more information, head to www.burton.com/BEO or www.facebook.com/BurtonEurope.