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22.01.2007 | Laax, Switzerland
Burton European Open Final cancelled due to bad
weather
Dangerously high winds and low visibility forced
event organizers and competitors to cancel today’s
Burton European Open slopestyle finals for the safety
of the riders. Slopestyle course conditions at 3000
meters on the Vorab glacier deteriorated to a point
that it was far too risky for riders to compete.
“I was definitely looking forward to competing
in my first Burton European Open event,” says
Burton Global Team rider and Olympic gold medalist
Shaun White. “The course was super fun today
until the weather rolled in. I’m still glad
I came because it’s always fun to be in Europe.
I like meeting the snowboard fans here – they’re
always really stoked to hang out with us. I really
hope I can come back next year and compete at the
BEO.”
Burton Global Team rider and two-time BEO slopestyle
champion Natasza Zurek said, “I know everyone
here gave it their best shot to make this contest
happen, and I really appreciate all of their efforts.
The thing is that you can’t do anything about
the weather – it either loves us or hates
us. My prediction is that next year at the BEO the
weather will love us.”
Cancelling the event was a very difficult decision
for all involved as many of the world’s top
riders, including Antti Autti (FIN), Travis Rice
(USA), Natasza Zurek (CAN) and Shaun White (USA)
traveled long distances to compete at the event.
Ultimately, the riders’ safety comes first,
and all of the competitors supported the decision
to cancel the event.
Despite the warmest winter in Europe in 55 years,
LAAX made a tremendous commitment to build the best
slopestyle course possible with 50,000 cubic meters
of natural snow. Nine snowcats worked up on
the glacier for ten days straight to build a course
that all the riders were stoked on.
The $62,500 slopestyle prize purse will be split
evenly between the invited men and women riders
as well as the male riders who made it into the
slopestyle qualifiers for their efforts to come
to the event.
The Burton European Open slopestyle finals was also
one of the six remaining events where riders could
earn points towards the Burton Global Open Series
Championship title, which will award $100,000 each
to the male and female overall winners at the conclusion
of the US Open. Because this event was cancelled,
a rider’s four best results will now be used
to determine the winner of the overall title.
The lack of BEO slopestyle results also means
that the TTR Ranking Points allocation for this
format will be null and void. This does not affect
the next set of TTR SIX(6)STAR Ranking Points
that riders can earn at this week’s men's
and women's BEO halfpipe competition.
Check out forthcoming TTR events at:
www.ttrworldtour.com
:: source : burton press
    
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