The Burton European Open presented by MINI is now under way in the snowboard loving resort of LAAX, Switzerland. This year’s event features four milestones: It is the 15th Burton European Open, 10th edition in LAAX (SUI), a revised Juniors’ format and a brand new Slopestyle course! The last two days action included both the qualifications for Men’s and Women’s Pipe and Slopestyle and the completion of the revised Junior event format.
The new junior format allows the world’s most talented boys and girls to ride alongside the über pros and proved a big hit with the kids. It also means that the top two boys and girls in both pipe and slopestyle win the chance to ride in the Semi Finals later this week.
“It was so special to ride with the pro riders” said the 14-year-old French ripper Thalie Larochaix, who won both the girl’s Pipe and Slopestyle. In the former she was joined on the podium by Berenice Wicki and Spaniard Paula Bocanegra, while the Norwegian Hanne Kjoll Eilertsen inched Paula Bocanegra into third place in Slopestyle.
For the boys Toby Miller of the USA put down an incredible run in the pipe, scoring an unbeatable 96 to take the top spot on the podium. His run in yesterday’s bluebird conditions included a crippler, backside 5, front 9 and backside 9. He also managed to squeeze a few powder runs in today to finish off what he described as the “perfect day!”
14-year-old American Brock Crouch took first place in Slopestyle: “I’m super stoked” he said after receiving his prize at the base of the mountain. “The level was high and everyone was pushing the limits”. Joining him on the podium were Drayden Gardner in second place, and Swiss rider Victor Ivanov in third. 
Results Juniors:
Halfpipe Girls
1. Thalie Larochaix, FRA, Roxy, 94,20
2. Berenice Wicki, SUI, Zimtstern, 80,70
3. Paula Macia Bocanegra, ESP, Burton, 76,30
Halfpipe Boys
1. Toby Miller, USA, Red Bull, 96,00
2. Cameron Chaney , USA, Poc, 81,20
3. Drayden Gardner, USA, Flow, 80,80
Slopestyle Girls
1. Thalie Larochaix, FRA, Roxy, 77,33
2. Hanne Kjoll Eilertsen, NOR, Roxy, 72,50
3. Paula Macia Bocanegra, ESP, Burton, 63,83
Slopestyle Boys
1. Brock Crouch, USA, Red Bull, 92,00
2. Drayden Gardner, USA, Flow, 88,00
3. Victor Ivanov, SUI, Mavericks, 79,17
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