BURLINGTON, VT (December 16, 2010) — Burton Snowboards and car manufacturer MINI are proud to announce a global partnership that focuses on Burton-run events, including the Burton Global Open Series (BGOS), one of snowboarding’s most progressive competition series that takes place in four countries and awards riders with an overall championship title.

As the presenting sponsor, MINI will play a key role in the BGOS, starting with the Burton European Open (BEO) next month in Laax, Switzerland. Along with a variety of other onsite activities like MINI test drives, MINI will provide athlete and VIP shuttle services at the BEO in the new MINI Countryman. The partnership between Burton and MINI also includes two awards that MINI will present to competitors at the US Open, the final BGOS event of the season. In addition to the Burton purse of $50,000 cash, the male and female rider with the most BGOS points for the 2010/2011 series will each receive a new MINI Countryman.

MINI has also created a special rider award that’s in line with the carmaker’s ‘Creative Use of Space’ philosophy. The ‘Creative Use of Space’ award will be an additional cash prize given to one male and one female rider who have shown creativity and progression throughout the BGOS series. Below is a list of upcoming BGOS events, all presented by MINI.

European Open – January 8-15, 2011 – Laax, Switzerland Canadian Open – February 1-6, 2011 – Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, Alberta US Open – March 7-13, 2011 – Stratton Mountain Resort, USA For more information on the Burton Global Open Series, head to opensnowboarding.com.