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 in Calgary 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, head to the Burton Global Open Series website.