The days are growing shorter, and soon they will turn white. In January, they will be filled with confetti, streamers and candles as The Burton European Open (BEO) Snowboarding Championships, the fourth event of the Burton Global Open Series 08/09, will celebrate its 10th birthday in Laax, Switzerland.

Ever since it was born in 1998, the BEO has treated guests to world-class snowboarding competitions featuring creative themes like ‘Airlines’ and ‘Casino’, which are a part of every aspect of the event – from the slopestyle course features to the late-night parties. Guests of the 2009 BEO’s big birthday bash can expect many treats, including some of the season’s most exciting halfpipe and slopestyle competitions, legendary parties and – fingers crossed! – an epic Laax powder day or two. LAAX’s designers, shapers and managers will do their best to give the BEO the perfect birthday outfit for its big day.

From January 9-16, 2009, the globe’s top riders, amateurs and youth riders from all over the world will battle for important BGOS championship points and 6-Star TTR ranking points. Shaun White, Kevin Pearce, Nicolas Müller, Peetu Piiroinen, Jamie Anderson and Mikkel Bang plan to come celebrate with the BEO. In total, More than 400 riders will come to the birthday bash with big bags of tricks for the halfpipe and slopestyle competitions on Crap Sogn Gion at Laax. Finalists will fight for the biggest piece of the US $125,000 prize-money cake.

The BEO kicks off with the junior competition on January 9 and 10, followed by the men’s and women’s slopestyle finals on January 15 and the halfpipe finals on January 16. We can’t wait!