The spaceshuttle MMXII has finally landed up on Crap Sogn Gion in LAAX thisweekend and brought the full pallet of weather from outer space including sunshine, clouds, wind and snow. After a great kick-off yesterday with the Junior Slopestyle, conditions changed for today and heavy wind and bad visibility forced the organizers to postpone the Men’s Slopestyle pre-qualification to tomorrow. The Junior Halfpipe contest ran today as scheduled.

51 groms under 14 years representing 14 countries were competing in the Junior Halfpipe event today. The youngest participant was 5 year old Siria Poltera, a LAAX local, who received a lot of support from the crowd. Happy winners of today are 14 year old Zoe Kalapos and 14 year old Kyle Mack.

Clearly dominating on the girls side was US rider Zoe Kalapos who impressed judges most with a frontside air, backside tailgrab, frontside 540, backside mute, frontside 360 Indy and finishing off with a Cab 360. Zoe said the following after herwin: “I am really happy to be here and to win today. Conditions weren’t easy with the fresh snow in the pipe, but I am very stoked!” In 2nd place Katie Ormerod (GBR) who claimed her 2nd podium spot within two days, followed by Swiss rider Ramona Petrig in 3rd.

On the boys side two riders were pushing the riding level clearly. In the end it was 14 year old Kyle Mack (USA) who took home the prestigious title and the top spot, claiming his 2nd podium spot whithin two days after his 3rd rank at the Junior Slopestyle event yesterday. Kyle’s winning run included a sensational frontside 1080 tail, a Haakon Flip 720, followed by a frontside 900 Indy and a backside 540 mute finishing off with a Crippler. Kyle had this to say: “It feels amazing! I’m really stoked! It’s a lot of fun being at the BEO and it was such a great day!” Seamus O’Connor (IRE) – also no stranger to the BEO as he competed here in LAAX several times already – end up 2nd followed by Stian Kleivdal (NOR), yesterday’s Slopestyle winner.

This was it for the youngest riders at the 13th Burton European Open. Once again lots of talent was witnessed. From tomorrow onwards the adults are taking over the BEO.