Danny Davis and Lisa Wiik Win Burton European Open Slopestyle

Photo: Jake Burton

LAAX, Switzerland (Jan. 15, 2009) – Danny Davis (USA) and Lisa Wiik (NOR) claimed the first Burton European Open titles of their careers in a highly competitive slopestyle finals at the BEO’s 10th birthday celebration. Each will take home $15,000 USD, 8,000 BGOS points and 1,000 TTR points, as well as being in a strong position to claim one of two Volvo XC 60s that will be awarded tomorrow to the best overall female and male BEO riders. Current BGOS Champion Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) and Laax local Sina Candrian (SUI) took second and Shaun White (USA) and Kjersti Buaas(NOR) took third place.

Danny was so excited about his win and had this to say, “This was my first podium at the BEO and I’m so happy to have won,“ said Danny Davis. “Now I feel like the pressure is off and I can just enjoy the halfpipe tomorrow and have a good run.” Lisa Wiik was also thrilled with the results and said, “This was my best contest result ever. I haven’t been on the podium for so long because of injuries, so I am very glad I won today.“

In one of the most cut-throat slopestyle competitions of the season, both the men’s and women’s podiums were not decided until the final runs. With most of the world’s best slopestyle riders competing, it was clear during the semi-finals this morning that only riders who nailed highly technical tricks on all of the course features earned top scores. The course was in perfect shape, starting out with several creative features, including a mini-spine log jib, followed by a wallride and the choice of a down rail or down box then a halfpipe feature followed by three kickers.

In the slopestyle finals, eight women and 16 men had three runs to earn a spot on the podium. The competition alternated between the women’s field taking one run followed by the men taking one run. The competition was extremely tight in the women’s finals with Laax local Sina Candrian (SUI), Kjersti Buaas (NOR) and Lisa Wiik (NOR) all stomping runs that put them in first place at one point during the finals. Sina Candrian threw down an epic second run, stomping the only frontside 900 of the competition. But she could only hold the top spot for a few minutes because Lisa Wiik (NOR) took the lead and held on to it with her second run that included a frontside 180 nose tap on the log jib, a frontside 360 on the wallride, a 50/50 nosepress on the down box a frontside air and a backside inverted 540 on the halfpipe hits and a backside 540 mute, frontside 360 and a backside 360 indy on the jumps. In the end, Lisa won the first major title of her career by less than two-tenths of a point, with Sina right behind her in second and Kjersti Buaas rounding out the podium with a third-place finish.

The men’s slopestyle finals turned into a real nail-biter during the third runs. After run two, 2008 BEO Slopestyle Champion Shaun White had a comfortable eight-point lead, and until Danny Davis dropped in for his third run, it looked like Shaun had first place in the bag. But then came Danny, who was on fire after a fall in his second run and pulled out all the stops, starting with a backside corked 360 handplant on the log jib, an alleyoop rock-n-roll slide on the wallride, a switch backside lipslide on the rail, then a huge switch backside inverted 720 nosegrab and backside 720 mute grab on the pipe hits followed by a switch backside 900 mute, a frontside 1080, a 180 on the roller, ending the jump line with a Cab 900 crail. Shaun still had one more run to top Danny’s score, and he started off strong at the top but unfortunately fell on the second kicker. The last run of the day belonged to current BGOS Champion Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), who has been riding at the BEO since he won the Junior Slopestyle title in 2005. Peetu shook up the podium standings one more time with the final run of the competition, claiming second place. In the end, less than one point separated first and third podium finishes in the men’s slopestyle finals, with Burton riders sweeping the men’s slopestyle podium. After the competition, Shaun White said, “The level of riding was insane here and I was super impressed by the young riders. I really liked the slopestyle course and I thought I had a great run.“

Competitors in today’s slopestyle finals also earned valuable points towards both the $100,000 Burton Global Opens Series title and the Swatch Ticket To Ride World Tour championship title. Both the BGOS and TTR standings saw some changes today with Chas Guldemond (USA) taking over the top spot in the BGOS men’s standings and holding on to his No.1 spot in the Swatch TTR World ranking. Jamie Anderson (USA) held on to her BGOS standings lead and her Swatch TTR World No. 1 ranking, despite being unable to compete today.

Today’s slopestyle results add up to a very exciting day in tomorrow’s BEO halfpipe finals where Danny, Peetu, Shaun, Lisa and Kjersti will meet again for a re-match along with 2008 BEO Halfpipe Champions Kelly Clark (USA) and Kevin Pearce (USA).

If you can’t make it to the BEO halfpipe finals up on Crap Sogn Gion at Laax, be sure to catch the action LIVE on Go211.com at the following times.

BEO Halfpipe Finals: Friday, January 16

Morning Show 11:15 – 11:45 (CET)

Halfpipe Finals 1 11:45 – 12:45 (CET)

Halfpipe Finals 2 13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

End Show 14:30 – 15:00 (CET)

Replay of entire webcast 17:00 (CET)

Women’s Slopestyle Finals Results

1 Wiik, Lisa (NOR) ROXY 75.83

2 Candrian, Sina (SUI) BURTON 75.67

3 Oestgaard Buaas, Kjersti (NOR) 72.67

Men’s Slopestyle Finals Results

1 Davis, Danny (USA) BURTON 91.17

2 Piiroinen, Peetu FIN BURTON 90.83

3 White, Shaun USA BURTON 90.33

For more information on the Burton European Open, head to opensnowboarding.com.

ESPN Cat trip with Jake, Tony, etc.

CLICK HERE to read more!

The Green Mountain Project is featured on Wend.com!

Wend Magazine is a publication dedicated to educating and inspiring consumers about the outside world. The article discusses how Burton goes ‘above and beyond…pushing the design enveloped to bring progressive materials into technical active wear.’ Specific products from the GMP are called out along with the recycled materials they are made from. The NYT article is also referenced and includes Todd King’s quote from the piece. Direct links to the NYT article and Burton’s website are featured and the article ends stating ‘With advances like this, Burton leads the way for the snowboard industry as a whole to move towards greener pastures.’

Click here to view the full article: http://wendmag.com/greenery/2009/01/sustainable-designs-from-a-big-name-burtons-eco-friendly-green-mountain-project-collection/

Jeff Samardzija Stops by the Burton Chicago Store

Chicago Cub Jeff Samardzija stopped by the Burton Chicago Flagship Store last week to get geared up for a trip to X Games this month.

Special thanks to the Patton Group!

The Blow Up: Guns 'n' Bombs Shops LA Burton Store

Since snow season is now in full effect in the Northern Hemisphere everyone and their moms, girlfriends, husbands, wives and kids seem to be hitting the slopes. This oddly includes night owls like Filip Nikolic, better known as disco producer Turbotito and one half of DJ/remix duo Guns 'n' Bombs. He and his Hollywood-stylist wife stopped through Burton LA to pick up some new gear before heading to Mammoth moments later.

The Fray Visits Burton Chicago Store

Grammy Award-winning alternative rock band, The Fray, stopped by the Burton Chicago Flagship Store last Friday during their sold out 10 city tour stop to check out the store and grab some gear and a copy of IASS to watch on their tour bus. The band is best known for songs "How to Save a Life" and "Over My Head (Cable Car)" which both charted to the top of the Billboard Top 100. The Fray has also recently signed on as 2009 ambassadors for VH1's Save The Music Foundation.

Thanks to Jill at The Patton Group for being such a great host. The band was so excited and thankful for the genuine hospitality, they kindly invited the Burton crew to their show that night! Check them out http://www.myspace.com/thefray.

The New York Times' Escapes section features the Eco Nico, quotes from Todd King and highlights from a tour of the BMC.

To help usher in the New Year is an article in THE NEW YORK TIMES that talks about snowboard companies doing their part to help create a more sustainable line of snowboards, heralding a change in their manufacturing practicies. Journalist Jesse Hufman presents Burton's plans to develop more sustainable snowboards in the 2010 season.

You can view the complete link here: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/travel/escapes/02ski.html?8dpc.

Burton is featured in The NEW YORK TIMES Weddings and Registry section!

Journalist Maryanne Roelich's story features wedding registry suggestions for snow loving couples and included Burton's Wheelie Board Case.

You can view the complete link here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/fashion/weddings/04REGISTRY.html?_r=1.

Burton Celebrates New Stash at Flachauwinkl, Austria

On Thursday, January 9, Burton pro riders, Burton dealers and media dropped in on the new Stash at Flachauwinkl to celebrate the run’s grand opening. Dmitry Fesenko, Marko Grilc (SLO), Chris Sörman (SWE), Stephan Mauer and Sani Alibabic were all there to break in the new Stash.

Here’s what Burton’s Global Resort Director Jeff Boliba had to say about the Stash at Flachauwinkl grand opening.

Have you ever dreamt of shredding a run that had everything from banked wall rides, rainbow logs, jersey jumps, cliff drops, log slides, pillow drops, bridge jumps, stumps and a rideable saloon? Well stop dreaming and start riding the newest Stash run at Flachauwinkl!

The Stash is really about bringing snowboarding back to its roots by creating a run that uses the natural features that the mountain offers. An added benefit of the Stash is that it is more ecological because it uses natural elements and materials found on the hill. But the real drive behind it is to inspire people to get creative with their riding by using the natural features that the mountain and woods offer.

Making a Stash run in Austria was a goal from the beginning as Burton’s European Headquarters have been based there since 1985. Flachauwinkl’s reputation of being a progressive freestyle terrain with killer big mountain riding made it the ideal location for the latest Burton Stash.

The Flachauwinkl Stash run is one of the most creative of the Stash runs. It has unique features and an endless amount of lines to keep riders discovering new ways to shred the mountain.

Thanks to the Harml Family, the driving force at Flachauwinkl, for their incredible support of the new Stash.

Burton has Five Stash runs around the globe:

Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA – USA

Avoriaz - France

The Remarkables - New Zealand

Killington, Vermont- USA

Flachauwinkl, Salzburg- Austria

For more information on the Burton Stash go to www.thestash.com. Stay tuned for details on the grand opening of the Killington Stash, taking place this week on January 14 and 15.

Check out some photos from the opening day of the Stash Flachauwinkl.

Once at the top of the Stash run at Flachauwinkl you have two main entrances, the one to riders’ right is the Lil’ Stash, which has smaller, more user-friendly features.

To riders’ left you will find the larger line. Dmitry Fesenko chooses the right and breaks off some style on the up-down log. Photo by: Cyril Müller

Marko Grilc doing his thing on the banked wall ride. Photo by Jeff Boliba

Chris Sörman flying over the Saloon. If you look closely, you will see the painted mural by Scott Lenhardt inside and Stephan Mauer strapping in next to the shreddie. Photo by Cyril Müller

The saloon feature is designed to be jumped or jibbed and riders can go inside and enjoy the mural above. Photo by Jeff Boliba

One of the most intricate carvings on the Stash run is the Yeti Arc feature carved by world-renowned chainsaw artist Bob King. Marko Grilc and Sani Alibabic approve of the King's work! Photo by Cyril Müller

10th Annual Burton European Open Kicks off with Junior Slopestyle Finals

The Burton European Open Snowboarding Championships kicked off its week-long birthday bash today in Laax, Switzerland with the junior slopestyle competition, where riders 14-years-old or younger competed in the legendary BEO slopestyle course on Crap Sogn Gion. Fourteen-year-old Swiss snowboarder Patrick Burgener won the boys’ slopestyle competition and 11-year-old American rider Ty Walker won the girls’ competition.

Bluebird skies and a perfectly designed slopestyle course greeted the little rippers in today’s competition where riders as young as eight-years-old braved the adult-sized slopestyle course, which starts off with several creative features, including a mini-spine log jib, followed by a wallride and the choice of a downrail or downbox then a halfpipe feature followed by three kickers.

Sixteen boys and nine girls from 14 different countries had three runs in the finals to earn their top scores. The girls started things off with 14-year-old Clémence Grimal from France dropping first with a solid run that included a straight air indy grab on the second kicker, earning her second place in the competition. Eleven-year-old Ty Walker (USA), who hails from Stowe, Vermont, impressed the judges with her winning run, which included a backside air over the jib, a 360 on the wallride, a switch frontside boardslide on the box, a Cab 360 and frontside air on the halfpipe feature finishing with a backside 360 tail grab, a backside air and a nosegrab on the three kickers. Fourteen-year-old Emma Bernard from France came in third place with a solid run that included a frontside 360 and Cab 360 on the halfpipe feature followed by a frontside 180, straight air indy and a straight air nosegrab on the kickers.

The boys were riding strong too, throwing grown-up sized tricks like frontside 9 indys on the jumps and 540 alley oops on the wallride. Swiss rider Patrick Burgener earned first place with an impressive run that started off with a frontside 360 bonk on the log jib, a 540 alley oop boardslide on the wallride, a backside boardslide, a frontside 540 to a big backside air on the halfpipe feature finishing off with a backside 720 mute grab, a frontside 900 indy grab and a Cab 540 melon grab on the three kickers. Swiss rider Jan Scherrer, who is part of the Freestyle Academy at LAAX, came in second place with a run that included a frontside 360 indy grab and back-to-back 720s on the kickers. Tim-Kevin Ravnjak from Slovenia earned third place with a solid run that included a frontside 540 and back-to-back 720s on the kickers.

In other BEO news, 40 men advanced from the halfpipe pre-qualifiers today to the halfpipe qualifiers, which take place on Monday. Tomorrow at the BEO, the young rippers will once again be in the spotlight as they compete for titles in the junior halfpipe event.

Junior Slopestyle Boys’ Results
1 Burgener, Patrick (SUI) 93.17
2 Scherrer, Jan (SUI) Forum 83.67
3 Ravnjak, Tim-Kevin (SLO) Burton 80.33

Junior Slopestyle Girls’ Results
1 Walker, Ty (USA) Roxy 74.33
2 Grimal, Clémence (FRA) Roxy 73.00
3 Bernard, Emma (FRA) Roxy 72.00