Long life riding with Ride snowboards: Laax Open featuring Dario Burch

Snow

The Laax Open. A new format with a creative slopestyle course, the longest tube ever built and almost five days of competition. What can we expect? Nothing but good snowboarding.

As the phoenix rises from ashes to become more beautiful and powerful, the Laax Open has raised from the old Burton European Open to remind us why stylish contests still matter to snowboarding. Big names and a huge number of young guns are lined up for a week full of events, fun and good times.

Europe has finally tasted the first proper powder turns of the season — a belated gift from the snow gods. Beyond nipple-deep days, the month of January was eagerly awaited because of the main contest of the season: The Laax Open. A new format with a creative slopestyle course, the longest tube ever built and almost five days of competition. What can we expect? Nothing but good snowboarding.
Many masters of style have been invited from all over the globe to compete for the big check and the glory. Besides the home heroes’ riding, the new generation’s game is pretty strong — all the kids have showed solid skills destroying the slope course.

 

Interview with Dario Burch

Coming in hot, Dario represents the new generation of Swiss machines. We met him after the slopestyle semi-finals on Thursday.

How did it feel to compete with big names among your heats?
Back in the days of the Burton European Open, only the best riders were invited. But this year, for the first time, I have reached the semifinals. Riding with the big guys was not the easiest. To be honest, I was feeling a little nervous before the runs. What I have learned while riding with them is that at the end they are human beings who can feel the contest pressure as well.

Big contests require a lot of hard work and preparation. When did you first start training for the Laax Open?
I spent the whole past summer in Saas-Fee riding hard. Besides time recovering from a little injury during October and November, I stayed in Stubai for more training sessions. Also, before the contest I perfected my riding in the P60.

Tricks and their execution are the essential part of the competitive side. How do you set the figures to throw?
It depends on my personal feeling with the course. Once I feel comfortable with it, tricks almost come in naturally. On kickers and rails, I have my wish-list. For example, during the first run, I have landed my first Frontside12 in a competition. Riding such an important contest in Switzerland makes it even more special.

You have been filming and training over the past months. Where did you feel most satisfed with your riding?
I really like filming because you can essentially do whatever comes up in your mind. It gives me more freedom to try new lines and to ride with my friends. On the other side, if I spent all of my days filming, the high-pressure side of contest would be missing a bit. For the moment, I am more than satisfied with the balance I have found between the two approaches.

3 pros as a rider to attend snowboard contests:
• Landing your runs
• Meeting worldwide riders
• Afterparties

If you could change the slopestyle course…
…I would add some more metal and creative obstacles

 

Shame on you if you did not attend the best contest of the season. 

Cheers Ale & Nicki

Picures: Nicole Antognini
Text: Alessandro Pellanda
Location: Laax, Switzerland
Thanks to: Ride snowboards, Laax resort and the whole team organizing the Laax Open