The US Open of Snowboarding Championships are at Vail this year. Remember? Not Vermont. Vail, Colorado. Those V words are confusing and Burton would like to remind everyone that the world’s winningest halfpipe shredder and 2012 US Open halfpipe champ Shaun White will be riding the Vail pipe (not a Vermont pipe) to defend his title.
“The US Open is one of snowboarding’s legendary events, and some of my best competition memories are of competing at Vail, so for me, bringing the two together is all time,” said Shaun White. “I’m excited to compete in Vail’s new pipe and see everyone come out for the next evolution of this contest.”
Mr. White, however, isn’t the only one confirmed for this event. Louie Vito, Greg Bretz, and Kazuhiro Kokubo will be jocking the pipe as well. It sounds like the snowboard event of the season, doesn’t it? Follow the jump for the official word.World’s Best Riders to Compete at the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships in Vail
BURLINGTON, Vt. (January 30, 2013) The 31st annual Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI is excited to announce an impressive list of confirmed riders, all on deck to compete at the sport’s most legendary event taking place in Vail, Colorado from February 25th – March 2nd, 2013. Some of the biggest names in snowboarding are confirmed, including Shaun White, Mark McMorris, Kelly Clark, Torah Bright, Jamie Anderson, Iouri Podladtchikov and more, who are all heading to Vail Mountain for the Burton US Open world-class slope style and half pipe competitions.
“The US Open is one of snowboarding’s legendary events, and some of my best competition memories are of competing at Vail, so for me, bringing the two together is all time,” said Shaun White. “I’m excited to compete in Vail’s new pipe and see everyone come out for the next evolution of this contest.”
It all gets started on Wednesday, February 27, with slope style semi-finals, which will be more exciting than ever now that slope style is an official sport at the 2014 Winter Olympics. At the US Open, the best slope style competitors in the world are confirmed to compete, including X-Games slope style gold medalist Mark McMorris (CAN), 2012 Burton European Open (BEO) slope style winner Aleksander Oestreng (NOR), 2012 US Open slope style champ Sebastien Toutant (CAN), and World Snowboard Tour overall title holder Stale Sandbech (NOR), among others. The women’s line-up is equally impressive, with X Games gold medalist and 2012 US Open slope style champion Jamie Anderson (USA), 2012 X Games gold medalist Enni Rukajärvi (FIN), Olympian Kjersti Ostgaard Buaas (NOR), three-time BEO Junior Jam winner Ty Walker (USA) and Cilka Sadar (SLO) all confirmed to compete.
On Thursday, February 28, the legendary Burton US Open half pipe semi-finals begin. The US Open half pipe rider list is stacked with nine Olympians, including Shaun White (USA), Louie Vito (USA), Greg Bretz (USA), Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN), Kelly Clark (USA), Elena Hight (USA), Hannah Teter (USA), and Torah Bright (AUS). Also competing are World Snowboarding Championships gold medalist Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI), Queralt Castellet (ESP), Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), Christian Haller (SUI) and 14-year-old half pipe phenom and 2013 X Games silver medalist Ayumu Hirano (JPN).
Competitors and spectators alike will be in for an amazing week in Vail where they can watch world-class, Olympic-level snowboarding competitions during the day in Golden Peak and soon to be announced top music acts by night in Solaris – all for free. The entire event is open to the public with slope style finals taking place on Friday, March 1st at 10:30 a.m. (Mountain Time) and half pipe finals going down on Saturday, March 2nd at 10:30 a.m. (Mountain Time).
If you can’t make it to Vail to experience the Burton US Open in person, check out live webcasts of the slope style semi-finals on Wednesday, February 27th, half pipe semi-finals on Thursday, February 28th, slope style finals on Friday, March 1st and half pipe finals on Saturday, March 2nd. And tune in to Universal Sports and NBCSN on Friday, March 1st and Saturday, March 2nd to watch the men’s and women’s finals live on TV.
For a full list of competitors, full broadcast and webcast schedule and more event details, head to www.burton.com/USO and follow the hashtag #BurtonUSOpen.
A big thanks to the following partners for their support of the 31st edition of the Burton US Open: MINI, Vail Resorts, Mountain Dew®, Town of Vail, Nokia, Paul Mitchell, 3M™ Thinsulate™ Insulation, GoPro, G-SHOCK, Shiseido, Matador, Clif, Transworld, Snowboarder, Analog, Anon and the World Snowboard Tour.
About Burton
In 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards out of his Vermont barn and has dedicated his life to snowboarding ever since. Burton has played a pivotal role in growing snowboarding from a backyard hobby to a world-class sport by creating groundbreaking products, supporting a team of top snowboarders and pushing resorts to allow snowboarding. Today, Burton designs and manufactures industry-leading products for snowboarding and the snowboard lifestyle, including snowboards, boots, bindings, outerwear and layering as well as year-round apparel, packs/bags and accessories. Privately held and owned by Jake and his wife, Burton President Donna Carpenter, Burton’s headquarters are in Burlington, Vermont with offices in Austria, Japan, Australia and California. For more information, visit www.burton.com. Follow our line at: facebook.com/burtonsnowboards, twitter.com/burtonsnowboard and @burtonsnowboard on Instagram.
About MINI
MINI is involved in action sports around the world through cooperation and sponsoring activities. As a partner of trend-conscious sports, MINI supports young and creative sports people and, in so doing, promotes the development of their sport. MINI has been the official presenting partner for the Burton Global Event Series since 2011.
About Vail Mountain
Celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2012-2013 season and coveted as the largest ski resort in the United States with more than 5,200 acres of skiable terrain and seven legendary Back Bowls spanning seven miles, Vail is an extraordinary winter vacation destination. Under blue skies more than 300 days each year and with more groomed terrain than anywhere on the planet, families reconnect and celebrate here from year to year and generation to generation. The vacation experience is world class, from the Vail Ski & Snowboard School to the events, activities and festivals, the shops and spas, abundant culinary experiences and luxurious accommodations. Coupled with the vision inherent in the spirit of Vail’s founders, and a modern day commitment to excellence in all aspects of guest service and operations, Vail can still credibly lay claim to being a resort like nothing on earth www.vail.com.
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