The 13th annual Burton European Open Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI continued today with the Men’s Slopestyle Qualification. After tough weather conditions yesterday which forced organizers to postpone the Slopestyle event to today, riders were welcomed with bluebird skies up on Ils Plauns in LAAX/Switzerland. Perfect conditions for all riders on the new Slopestyle course ensured exciting qualification runs.


The new location and drag for the Laax slopestyle... wow! © Marcel Lämmerhirt (MLP)

76 men from 11 countries had two runs, best one counted. 30 men out of today’s qualification (Top 10 riders of each session plus the next 10 best ranked riders overall) made it into Slopestyle Semi-Finals, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 29th. Outstanding rider of today with the highest score wasSwedish Niklas Mattsson, who impressed judges most with his super clean style. His best run included a frontside Bluntside 270 out on the rail, followed by a Cork frontside 540 and a Cab Underflip 540 on the Step Up Step Down Combo, backside 900 Mute and Cab 900 Double Cork on the big kickers, ending with a boardslide and backside lipslide on the MINI Creative Use of Space Obstacle.


Tim-Kevin Ravnjak © Marcel Lämmerhirt (MLP)

Men’s Slopestyle Qualification Results Session I

Tor Lundstrom (SWE), Sweet, 85.50
Emil Ulsletten (NOR), Nitro, 84.75
Nuutti Niemelä (FIN), Smith, 83.82
Ville Paumola (FIN), Quiksilver, 81.55
Stian Kleivdal (NOR), Billabong, 78.10
Ole Christian Hagen (NOR) DC Shoe Co USA, 77.85
David Hablützel (SUI), Burton, 69.45
Max Buri (SUI), Salomon, 68.73
Jan Kralj (SLO), Madness, 67.60
Merrick Joyce (USA), Oakley, 66.15
Kevin Backstrom (SWE), Nike, 65.68
Leandro Eigensatz (SUI), Salomon, 64.82

Men’s Slopestyle Qualification Results Session II

Niklas Mattson (SWE), K2, 89.37
Jan Scherrer (SUI), Nike, 82.45
Simon Gruber (ITA), Smith, 81.35
Roman Dlauhy (CZE), Burton, 80.83
Tim-Kevin Ravnjak, (SLO), Red Bull, 80.10
Christian Kröll (AUT), Voelkl, 76.77
Havard Bergheim (NOR), Ride, 72.07
Herbert Thaler (AUT), Quiksilver, 72.03
Brage Richenberg (NOR), Salomon, 71.48
Eric Beauchemin (USA), DC Shoe Co USA, 71.08
Clemens Jezler (SUI), DC Shoe Co USA, 69.77
Joachim Krogstie (NOR), Analog, 69.72
Trym Nordgaard (NOR), Quiksilver, 66.62
Ben Kilner (GBR), Oakley, 64.40
David Djité (SUI), Forum, 64.08
Jonas Boesiger (SUI), Salomon, 62.38
Even Solbraa (NOR), Sabotage SB, 62.27
Philipp Gruber (AUT), Burton, 61.55

The UK's Lewis Courtier-Jones, Max Thidling and Henry Shackleton did not progres. We're still trying to work out where Jamie Nicholls, Billy Morgan (heel injury?) and Chris Kightley stand as I can't see them on any result list. Perhaps they're straight through to later rounds.

The BEO continues tomorrow with Men’s Halfpipe Qualification and Women’s Halfpipe Qualification.

If you can’t make it to LAAX make sure to watch the live webcast from Feb. 29th – March 3rd, 2012 on www.redbull.tv.

All results and further information can be found on www.opensnowboarding.com, www.facebook.com/BurtonEuropeanOpen and www.facebook.com/BurtonEurope

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