Suzuki announces partnership with Burton Snowboards

Suzuki is a main sponsor of the Burton European Open 2008 (January 11-18, 2008), Europe’s biggest snowboard competition with up to 500 riders competing in Slopestyle and Halfpipe. The Burton European Open is a 6-Star TTR event and part of the Burton Global Open Series. The male and female winner of the Halfpipe Competition will receive the biggest portion of the US$ 125.000 prize-money and also be proud owners of a Suzuki Grand Vitara “Freeride” Edition each. The special model is equipped with Alcantara seats, special 17 inch tyres, silver-coloured accent parts, extra heater, roof rack and ski/snowboard module, “Freeride” décor and floor mats with “Freeride” logo.

Suzuki also supports grassroots events and the stars of tomorrow. It is shown by their commitment to act as main sponsor for the Burton AM Tour as well. It is a grassroots events series across Europe, which Burton hosts for the third year in a row. Suzuki will offer two Suzuki quad bikes for the female and the male winners as well.

The highlight of the partnership between Suzuki and Burton will be a design contest: consumers will be able to design their own Series 13 board. Burton Series 13 is a program that enables consumers to create their own board graphics. All contest submissions will be judged at the end of the season by a panel consisting of Burton team riders, product managers and Suzuki representatives. The best Series 13 design will not only receive his personal Series 13 board, but also a Suzuki Grand Vitara “Freeride” Edition in the design of the winning board-graphics. A dedicated website for the design-contest – www.series13.com/wayoflife will be launched by mid-November latest.

Guido Hannich, Director European Marketing of Suzuki, states the following: “Sports like snowboarding fit very well to our new Way of Life strategy and underline the sporty and emotional values of the Suzuki brand. The partnership with market leader Burton Snowboards will give a big boost to our brand awareness among the huge audience of snowboarding fans throughout Europe.”

Over the last years Suzuki has continuously supported winter sports which has now culminated in the partnership with market leader in snowboarding Burton.