Burton Snowboards and CODA’s Canada Olympic Park today announced that they have decided to cancel the upcoming Canadian Open Snowboarding Championships due to recent above-freezing temperatures. After careful consideration, all parties agreed that current snow conditions prevent the construction of world-class halfpipe and slopestyle venues, which are required for a Burton Open Snowboarding Championship event.
"Our first goal with any Global Open Series event is to
provide riders with the best halfpipe and slopestyle competitions possible,"
said Burton Events Director Liam Griffin. "Of course, we're disappointed that we
can't hold the Canadian Open this year. But we're also very happy about the
excitement this new edition to the Burton Global Open Series generated - both
from riders and sponsors. Support from the resort, the industry, the athletes
and everybody involved has been huge since we started working on the
event."
The inaugural Burton Canadian Open was scheduled to take place
from December 3-9, 2007 at CODA's Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Staff there
were also disappointed that this world-class event is unable to go forward this
year. "Unfortunately Mother Nature has not been cooperating with us the last
few weeks, to allow us the necessary seven to 10 days of freezing temperatures
to ensure the best possible conditions for the athletes," said Jim Younker,
acting president, CODA. "The future of this event here inCalgary is very
exciting, and a great addition to our international sports calendar that we host
here at Canada Olympic Park."
Top riders from over ten different countries were
confirmed to compete, including current Burton Global Open Series point leaders
Mason Aguirre (USA) and Elizabeth Beerman (USA) as well as four of the top five
current Swatch Ticket To Ride Tour male and female current point leaders.
Seasoned pros like Louie Vito (USA), Jussi Oksanen (FIN), Andy Finch
(USA), Scotty Lago (USA), Kelly Clark (USA) and Jamie Anderson (USA) all had
committed to compete at the event. Canadians Leanne Pelosi, Dustin Craven,
Crispin Lipscomb, TJ Schneider, Brad Martin, Sarah Conrad were also very much
looking forward to the first Burton Global Open competition on their home turf.
With the cancellation of the Canadian Open, the Burton European Open
(BEO) is now the next event in the Burton Global Open Series. Taking place in
LAAX, Switzerland from January 11-18, the European Open offers riders a generous
prize purse of US $125,000, important points towards the male and female 2008
Burton Global Open Series Championship titles and points towards the Swatch TTR
(Ticket to Ride) World Tour Ranking.
For more information on the Burton
Global Open Series, head to opensnowboarding.com
By: press release
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www.opensnowboarding.com
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