MINI Creative Use of Space in Progress

The Creative Use of Space competition, created to celebrate the partnership between the British car manufacturer owned by the Germans from BMW and the snowboard brand Burton, has now moved on to the next phase. So far, there have been six snowboarders nominated for the award, as the second stage of voting has kicked off.

From now on, MINI fans can rate the most creative runs of the Burton Canadian Open online. The BGOS Judges panel nominated Caden Michnal (USA), Eric Beauchemin (USA) and Scotty James (Australia) as best male riders and Cilka Sadar (Slovenia), Silvia Mittermuller (Germany) and again Ty Walker (USA).

MINI fans can watch their creative runs as web clips on Facebook. Anyone wishing to participate in the vote can do so via the MINI Facebook site. They can select their favorite by using the “Like” option. After the election at the Canadian Open, the most creative runs at the Burton US Open (March 7-13 at Stratton, Vermont) are up for voting. The global online voting starts in April.

The award includes prize money of US $50,000 that will be shared equally between the best male and female champion, who will each receive a new MINI Countryman.

In addition, among all Facebook voters, MINI will raffle off a trip for four people to one of the forthcoming BGOS events in New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada or the USA – flight, accommodations and lift passes included.

On site at the Burton US Open in March, interested spectators will have a chance to test-drive the MINI Countryman. MINI shuttles will be ferrying there the athletes to their events.

"Among the snowboarders themselves, the Creative Use of Space Award is designed to lend a further boost to creativity and the courage to develop a truly individual style. Entirely in keeping with the MINI philosophy of using space in the most ingenious way, the athletes are encouraged to fully exploit their own element," a company statement reads.