Boarders go off-road
International snowboarding stars have experienced off-site challenges in the Cardrona Valley at the MINI Off-Road Challenge with Burton High Fives competitors swapping riding gear for a fleet of Countryman four-wheel-drives. More at home flying down slopes, they were tested through timed course laps that pitted their teamwork against the clock and each other. “This is one of five MINI-presented Burton snowboarding events around the globe, but the only one at which competitors drive MINIs as part of the competition,” says Simonne Mearns, the brand’s marketing manager. After a safety briefing, the six Burton High Fives teams made up of 10 riders were set loose on the muddy track with challenge points counting towards overall team totals. High Fives competitors were due to take to the slopes at Cardrona for the slope-style finals on September 18 and halfpipe finals on the 19th. The team with the most points at the end of the week will walk away with US$70,000. First-place finishers in the men’s and women’s halfpipe and slope-style each take home US$2,500.
