Burton European Open Looks Back at Ten Years of Epic Snowboarding
Since the first event in 1999, the BEO has taken place at four different resorts in three countries. The BEO started in the Innsbruck area in Austria, then travelled a bit east to Fieberbrunn, Austria, on to Livigno, Italy and found its current home in 2005 at Laax, Switzerland.
• In ten years, 64 BEO titles have been awarded to 45 different riders from around the globe. Canadian Natasza Zurek can claim more BEO first place titles than anyone else, as she won the BEO four times, including the halfpipe event at the very first BEO in 1999, the 2003 halfpipe competition in Livigno and slopestyle wins at the 2005 and 2006 BEO in Laax. Americans Ben Watts and Luke Mitrani both have three BEO Junior titles.
• The Junior events, one of the key elements of the BEO, showcase tomorrow’s stars. Since the third BEO, young and upcoming riders have surprised many people year-after-year with their outstanding skills and success stories. Peetu Piiroinen, the 2008 Burton Global Open Series Champion, impressed judges in several BEO Junior competitions before he became the top pro he is today.
