BEO 2015 X MINI
the champions Clark & Podladtchikov
From January 29th to February 1st 2015 Europe’s leading freestyle destination LAAX was again the hub for the most important snowboard event in the European mountains - the 16th Burton European Open - once again presented by MINI.
A field of approximately 100 riders from around the globe were competing to earn their share of the $160.000 prize purse. This years motto was all about island dreams taking the Waikiki Beach spirtit to the mountains. 'Get Lei'd in Laax' was a more specific wordplay carried out by T-shirts given out to the crowd.
As another visual candy to round up the whole event MINI invited the American artist Geoff McFetridge to create unique signage for the slopes all around the LAAX resort during the BEO. This „MINI in the MOUNTAINS“ open-air art exhibit was viewable by visitors throughout the event.
After a hard two days battle and fighting heavy weather conditions 31-year-old Kelly Clark and 26-year-old Iouri Podladtchikov became the Halfpipe Champions at the 2015 BEO. The winningest halfpipe snowboarder ever, Kelly Clark (USA), took first place honors and a record sixth BEO win, Clark’s run included a frontside air, backside 540 mute, frontside 720 indy, Cab 720 indy, crippler stalefish and a method air.
For the men it was a anyone’s game as managed through intermittent snow showers, while Arthur Longo (FRA), Christian Haller (SUI), Tim-Kevin Ravnjak (SLO) and the rest of the boys all gave him a run for his money, no one could beat Switzerland’s own Iouri (iPod) Podladtchikov who held his first run throughout the final, with the score of a 90.25. Complete with a method air, frontside 900 tail grab, backside 900 mute, frontside 1080 tail grab, Cab double cork 1080 indy and a frontside double cork 1080 truckdriver, iPod went massive and went away with his third BEO title.
The Slopestyle was dominated by 24-year-old Christy Prior and 21-year-old Stale Sandbech who became the Slopestyle Champs. The men lined up after the ladies, and they were ready to throw down for the title. Stale Sandbech (NOR) and Mark McMorris (CAN) went head to head. While McMorris held on to his first run score of an 85.60, Sandbech came back with a flawless last run, scoring a 91.40. Sandbech’s run included a frontside 540 nosetap to Cab 540, frontside blunt 270 out, double crippler indy, backside 1260 mute, Cab 1260 melon and a frontside 1080 indy, landing him his first BEO Slopestyle win. “I wanted to be on the podium so bad and I knew it would be hard with so many good riders,” said Sandbech.