With all the questions in the Shoutbox over the major contests occurring this season, I thought I’d drop a line to the major organizers and find out exactly where we’re at. Some contests are going for financial reasons, others are changing due to the Olympics being next year. Check below the cut for the complete lowdown on who’s doing what and when. Thanks to Rich Hegarty, Chris Boadle and Anthony Torr for your time and info.

First up, Style Wars. Is the contest happening this year? Rich says yes. He said, “I have only just confirmed it to be going ahead as there is fuck all money out there for sponsorship but the show has to go on – even if I lose money running it this year.” The contest is scheduled for August 24th to 28th at Falls Creek. That’s all the detail available on Style Wars at the moment, but there will be more soon.

Second, The Burton Open. Is it happening? Yes, but not in Australia. Burton have combined the Australian and NZ Open this year as there is a lot of pressure on athletes and organizers timetables in the lead up to the Vancouver Olympics. Chris Boadle, Marketing Manager for Burton Australia said, “We are so pumped to have been able to bring the Open series to Australia and the opportunity for Aus riders to put it to the best of them. Although the 2009 Open series will have only one southern hemisphere event in 2009 at Cardrona, NZ, Burton Australia again has a solid events schedule on our shores at both NSW and Victorian resorts which include the Cattleman’s rail jam and Boost Sno Sho. The decision to hold only one southern Hemisphere Open event  was not based on the current economic condition but on producing the best Open offering down south. Let it snow!” The New Zealand Open is scheduled to happen on August 11th to 15th.

Then, The Boost SnoSho. This one is definitely still happening – in fact, Tory at Boost tells me that Boost has canceled other marketing initiatives to put more into this event. It will be at Perisher again on August 27th to 29th with the main event on Saturday evening and a concert afterwards. There will be a full seating area around event site, an imported lighting system from U.S. so the front valley will be lit up like it’s day time. The SnoSho has a TTR 3 star ranking.

Probably one of the most anticipated events each year, the Cattleman’s Rail Jam is definitely on. It’s happening Saturday the 11th of July on the Cattlemans rail at Mt. Buller Village Square. Same place and same concept as the last few years – Australia’s best jibbers throwing down on Mt Bullers famous Cattleman’s rail. Despite the financial crisis there has been no impact on the event. Burton are investing more in this event in 2009 than ever.

This contest has been growing solidly for the last two years and Forum will once again be putting on the Battle at Baw Baw. It’s happening in late July at Mt Baw Baw rail park which has undergone another round of improvements for 2009. The exact dates are still being confirmed but I will post them here as soon as they are available. The Forum promo says, “The third annual Forum rail contest at Mt. Baw Baw. The coolest rail shreds, a bunch of the Baw Baw’s newest rail features, tricks you’ve never seen before and washed down with a good serving of cash and prizes.” Should be fun!

That’s all the info I have to date. There will be impacts on snow, skate and surf events while the world economy tries to digest the last decades over-indulgence, but as Chris Boadle at Burton said to me, “The great thing about snowboarding is that when it snows, people will ride, it’s what we do.” And it’s true – for all the worry that their is around contests, sponsorships, retail figures, exchange rates, team and media spends… at the end of the day, everyone will forget the troubles the minute there is snow on the ground – so here’s hoping for a great 2009 season! Only 55 days to go!

Resources:

Stylewars
www.stylewars.com.au
AUS – Falls Creek, Victoria – 24th to 28th August

Burton NZ Open
www.opensnowboarding.com
NZ – Cardrona Alpine Resort – 11th to 15th August

Boost SnoSho
www.boostmobile.com.au
AUS – Perisher – 27th to 29th August

Cattlemans Rail Jam
www.burton.com
AUS – Buller – 11th July

Battle at Baw Baw
www.forumsnowboards.com
AUS – Baw Baw – Late July (TBC)