Crankworx Whistler: 'Super Sunday' For This Year's Red Bull Joyride

Jul 5, 2016
by Official Crankworx  
Crankworx Whistler 2016
Brandon Semenuk Crankworx Les Gets Best Trick. Photo by Sean St. Denis

Brandon Semenuk at the Crankworx Les Gets, will be the one to watch in Whistler. Photo: Sean St. Denis


Whistler, B.C. - The 14th Annual Crankworx Whistler launches this August 12-21 with a new pump track locale, a big change for Red Bull Joyride and two new enduro races among the main expansion plans.

For the first time in the history of the event, the Slopestyle competition, Red Bull Joyride, is officially scheduled for Sunday with the riders already referring to it as their 'Super Bowl' - “Call it Super Sunday, call it Slopestyle Sunday, whatever label you put on it, it’s the best way to end the World Tour," says Darren Kinnaird, Crankworx General Manager. "Slopestyle is always the marquee event of Crankworx, and Whistler is where it all began. This places Red Bull Joyride in its rightful place and a time slot where it’s truly the high note of our season"

"We want to make sure parents can bring their kids out to watch without making it a late night, and the midday time makes it easier for fans from around the world to be able to tune in and watch. It's win-win for everyone."

Torquato Testa Redbull Joyride Crankworx 2015. Photo by Scott Robarts .

Joyride is the pinnacle. Last year, Torquato Testa (seen above) burst onto the scene at Red Bull Joyride and he continues to play among the FMB's top 20 athletes. Photo: Scott Robarts


The young groms who come out to watch and ride in Crankworx are really integral fans, as anyone who watched or participated in the inaugural Crankworx Les Gets Kidsworx events can attest. The kids packed the town square every day, becoming the festival's life blood. Ensuring event times fall within a range the kids can easily participate in, and expanding Kidsworx overall, will be a big focus in Whistler this year as the tour's home base looks to match and exceed the enthusiasm of the other two world tour stops.

As such, one of the two new enduros has been made a Kidsworx event: the Kidsworx Enduro. Designed for strong seven to 15-year-old riders, it will reside amongst a packed Kidsworx line up, including a downhill race, cross country race, time trials, the Village Crit, a dirt pump track race and wooden pump track coaching - not to mention a scavenger hunt.

“Kidsworx is a great way to introduce young riders to mountain biking and get those who are already heavily involved in the sport out competing in the same venue where their heroes are on course. We always have professional riders stopping in to hand out awards and sign autographs, and Cam McCaul loves to come down and call their races. So it’s a really fun vibe,” says Leila Phillipson, Kidsworx coordinator.

Luke Vaughn Luma age 6 at Kidsworx Fat Tire Crit during Crankworx in Whistler British Columbia. Photo by clint trahan crankworx

Luke Vaughn Luma, age 6, takes centre stage at the Kidsworx Fat Tire Crit during Crankworx in 2015. Photo: Clint Trahan


The second new enduro this year is the SRAM Canadian Open Challenger Enduro presented by CamelBak. Designed to give those who didn’t land a spot in Whistler’s Enduro World Series stop - the SRAM Canadian Open Enduro presented by Specialized - it’s a chance to compete in an elite-level course and in a shorter, more relaxed format.

The transition stages are an opportunity to chat with new friends here Paulo Valle of the United States chats with Chad Hendren of Canada during the SRAM Canadian Open Enduro Crankworx Whistler 2015. Photo by Scott Robarts .

The transition stages always a great opportunity to chat with new friends. Here Paulo Valle, of the United States, chats with Chad Hendren, of Canada, during the SRAM Canadian Open Enduro at Crankworx Whistler in 2015. The new Challenge Enduro will focus heavily on mixing the social with Whistler's intense downhills. Photo: Scott Robarts


For spectators, a number of changes beyond Red Bull Joyride’s new time slot will give the pilgrimage to the mecca of mountain biking new shine. Traditionally staged in Whistler Olympic Plaza, the Ultimate Pump Track Challenge presented by Rock Shox will move up to Base 2 on Blackcomb Mountain, where more fans will have a clear view of the action and a licensed beer garden will be set up.

The Ultimate Experience Passes for Crankworx Whistler are on sale now, with packages starting at $109 for a prime viewing location - get your tickets early as they go fast!

Registration is now open for all sports events. Those hoping to compete at Crankworx can still register for the following:
• Garbanzo DH
• SRAM Canadian Open Challenger Enduro presented by CamelBak
• Fox Air DH
• The Whip It Qualifier
• Giant Dual Slalom
• Canadian Open XC
• Canadian Open DH presented by iXS
• Kidsworx Enduro
• Kidsworx DH Race – B-Line
• AirDH Kidsworx Invitational
• Kidsworx XC

Visit Crankworx.com for registration, passes, Kidsworx information and all other schedule details.


MENTIONS: @officialcrankworx / @WhistlerMountainBikePark



Author Info:
officialcrankworx avatar

Member since Jul 14, 2011
363 articles

39 Comments
  • 55 3
 What's the reasoning of having slopestyle on Sunday? Off the top of my head I can think of a few reasons it's not a good idea: easier to move an event from Saturday or Sunday due to weather delays/ unforeseeable circumstances, more people are willing to drive out on a Saturday, knowing they can relax the following day after an evening of traffic, and more people are going to party on a Saturday rather than a Sunday, meaning more money for whistler...
  • 26 3
 It means people will stay the Saturday night in the village, spending more $$, as opposed to going home. That's why.
  • 13 0
 I also agree that if it rains, which it probably will being the end of the August, the event will then be cancelled? Or moved to Monday and have no fans? This doesn't seem like the logical thing to do. Why not do it earlier in the day on Saturday to achieve your 'Mid-day' goal as you have noted?
  • 21 1
 it does seem like a steep backward having the contest on sunday........

nobody has anything left in the tank on the last day, no rain day option, and no wiggle room.

gotta wonder who signs off on changes like this.

do they really have the athletes and the sport's best interest in mind?
  • 12 0
 yea that sucks. I booked my hotel for the saturday night. I'll still be there Sunday, but I will have to leave that day. I swear they had it set for August 20th not long ago. It will make the crowd way less rowdy too. Every year it's on the saturday, people go out after and use sunday as a recovery day hahah. Seems like a bad call too with weather delays or anything issues like that... Hopefully they will change it back.
  • 3 0
 From the article: "We want to make sure parents can bring their kids out to watch without making it a late night, and the midday time makes it easier for fans from around the world to be able to tune in and watch. It's win-win for everyone."

In general it looks like they're trying to turn down the rowdiness a bit, I wonder if they're be doing the canadian open on saturday instead?
  • 4 0
 @CaptainBLT: I love BLT's. So good.
  • 2 0
 Sunday afternoon on the sea to sky is going to be a joke, Saturday is defiantly a better day. It will give deal with all the people better since some will go home then
  • 19 0
 This is a terrible idea. Literally almost everyone leaves whistler on Sunday. Check out is 11am at the hotels, then after Joyride there is going to be one huge traffic jam on the sea to sky. Good luck to anyone trying to get home. If it rains and gets delayed till Monday I'm willing to bet this will and the last "Super Sunday Slopestyle"
  • 6 0
 Rip to all of the money lost at every evening social place in whistler... people have jobs Monday.. I already had my time booked off with Saturday as slopestyle so this is actually kind of frustrating...
  • 14 0
 Well "super Sunday" just screwed us and I can't imagine how many thousands of travellers who book flights and condo or hotels based on the former schedule. This would have been acceptable had it been announced last fall! Not like this is a small event without a lot of advanced prep.....come on! This is crap not to announce this till now.
  • 3 0
 Yup, told m'y brother that he'd be fine going taking his flight Saturday night because the crankworks always been on Saturday...
  • 2 0
 Spot on. I can understand the town wanting to mellow out Saturday night a bit but such short notice is lame. I imagine that traffic on Sunday will be plentiful and dangerous. I hope somebody ran this past the RCMP.
  • 15 0
 Slopestyle on sunday is a terrible decision! No rain day?! They needed it last year... So so so so dumb.
Looks like its Coffee and Baileys for morning slopestyle...
  • 3 0
 Yeeeee dude.
  • 11 1
 Horrible horrible horrible idea, as already stated by others, our flight out is Sunday as well. No weather day? Horrible Horrible idea. Sunday matinee? what the H... what is the next new event Sunday dinner at grandma's. This blows
  • 14 1
 Fucking bullshit! I have to be at the fucking airport sunday morning!
  • 8 10
 Ahhh1st world problems
  • 4 0
 Yuuuup. Just booked the Saturday off work so I could drive up.
  • 11 2
 whilst you're debating the Sunday change I cant even debate attending from here in Aus... You guys are blessed to be in the MTB backyard.. its only a dream for most of us here to go to Whistler and ride
  • 14 0
 Last time I was there, Aussies were everywhere.
  • 4 1
 @Derekat: Agreed. It took about 2 days before I met an actual Canadian at Whistler, as all of the wait staff and people I'd met were either Aussies or Kiwis. Can't say I blame them, it is Whistler after all Smile
  • 8 1
 You have kangoroos we dont't. Shut up
  • 6 0
 One of the best parts of Crankworx is meeting the riders in the bars on Saturday night after the event. This is a highlight for a lot of the spectators. Argggg, it will still be a great event but Saturday night would have been better!
  • 4 0
 Need a extra day in the week Nofunday when you sit in gridlock trying to escape Whistler and Squamish it's too bad people have figured out how good it is up here, the highway is crazy with the weekend warriors.
  • 5 0
 Slope style Saturday is alway one of my biggest drunks of the year, why ya gotta mess with that?
  • 5 0
 I can see it being rained out.
  • 5 0
 But it's literally by birthday on Saturday. How am I gunna get lit now?
  • 3 0
 They should change the name of the Garbanzo DH to the Stevie Smith memorial DH. To honor him
  • 5 0
 Boo. I want my mom.
  • 3 0
 Crankworx this idea blows, no wiggle room for shitty conditions. And 90% of people go up on SAT.
  • 2 0
 terrible idea. crankworx needs to reconsider and put it back on the saturday
  • 2 0
 Pointless, good way to ruin a vacation
  • 2 0
 damn you organizer folks fucked up
  • 1 0
 I thought Paulo was from Costa Rica? Seemed to have been when he guided us around there...
  • 1 0
 he is
  • 2 0
 Fox Air DH will never be the same.
  • 2 1
 Good. I'll go home after the DH
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.172973
Mobile Version of Website