Photo Epic: Toa Enduro - Crankworx Rotorua 2020

Mar 1, 2020
by Trevor Lyden  


Day one of Crankworx Rotorua 2020 started off with a bang featuring the Giant Toa Enduro presented by Camelbak. Despite taking place on trails similar to last year, the conditions were anything but the same. There hasn't been any rain here in around 54 days which made for some loose, dry riding. The athletes rode for nearly 5 hours in the warm, humid heat and left everything they had out on course. The day was filled with lots of mechanicals as this was many rider's first races on new bikes for the season. Apparently the issues didn't stop with the bikes however, and the timing system had a malfunction which resulted in the race organizers discarding the results of stage 5. At the end of the day, Eddie Masters took the win for the men with Rae Morrison leading the pack for the women.

Ed Masters on the way to taking the win.
Ed Masters on the way to taking the win.

Classic Rotorua deep woods.
Classic Rotorua deep woods.

A pre-race flyby to get the riders excited.
A pre-race flyby to get the riders excited.

Thijs Van Meurs keeping it straight in the air.
Thijs Van Meurs keeping it straight in the air.

Junior racer Brady Stone looked impressive on every stage.
Junior racer Brady Stone looked impressive on every stage.

Gareth Burgess navigating a tight and tricky corner. There were more than one riders who blew past this today.
Gareth Burgess navigating a tight and tricky corner. There were more than one rider who blew past this today.

Leanna Curtis has gone full enduro.
Leanna Curtis has gone full enduro.

Clement Holgate on stage 2.
Clement Holgate on stage 2.

Mick Hannah warming up before the World Cup season starts.
Mick Hannah warming up before the World Cup season starts.

Dan Wolfe onboard his new polygon.
Dan Wolfe onboard his new polygon.

Keegan Wright got a bit wild on course today. His still finished a respectable 4th.
Keegan Wright got a bit wild on course today. He still finished a respectable 4th.

Matt Walker looking just good on and off the bike.
Matt Walker, looking just as good on and off the bike.

Rae Morrison won every stage of the day.
Rae Morrison won every stage of the day.

Sam Blenkinsop all smiles with a big week ahead.
Sam Blenkinsop all smiles with a big week ahead.

Max Hides airing over the double at the end of stage 3.
Max Hides airing over the double at the end of stage 3.

NO CAPTION NECESSARY.
NO CAPTION NECESSARY.

Georgia Astle finished a very respectable third despite a couple slight bobbles.
Georgia Astle finished a very respectable third, despite a couple of slight bobbles.

The off-camber root section at the bottom of stage six proved to be a burial ground for a large number of riders.
The off-camber root section at the bottom of stage 6 proved to be a burial ground for a large number of riders.

Finishing the end of the course.
Finishing the end of the course.

Fact or lie
Fact or lie?

Pro mens and womens podium.
Pro mens and womens podium.

Fin
Fin

Champagne showers.
Champagne showers.


Author Info:
trevorlyden avatar

Member since May 5, 2014
58 articles

58 Comments
  • 44 0
 What's up with all those guys going bare knees?
  • 25 0
 And half face helmets. Madness!
  • 13 0
 It's the new "no gloves"
  • 11 4
 @charmingbob: no gloves is the shit and worth the risk/reward i think. No knees and half buckets? No thanks
  • 13 0
 @pargolf8: i like gloves.
  • 20 1
 @bohns1: i compare it to condoms. Yes its safer, but it doesn’t feel the same
  • 2 0
 Isn't it mandatory? :/
  • 3 0
 #Heroes!!
  • 1 0
 @pargolf8: haha good point.. I just got too many jagged rocks where i live.
  • 2 0
 Looks like most of the fast riders had knee pads on, it's mainly the half face helmets that everyone was wearing
  • 1 1
 BUT IS IT AGAINST THE LAW?
  • 26 0
 Am I the only one who feel uncomfortable seeing those riders without knee pads?
  • 2 0
 I'm just jealous they have dirt! We ride on cheese grater rock trails here. Mistakes will be punished with skin loss.
  • 1 0
 @GOrtho: tell me about it, checking in from Alicante, Spain
  • 25 3
 the Year of Ed Masters
imagine: EWS overall, WCDH overall, Championship
man o man
  • 3 3
 I’d love to see that.
  • 3 0
 ShrEdward!
  • 1 0
 Eddie! What have you done for me lately!
  • 20 0
 Not a fan of the new rounded arch on the 38. but I also don't need a 38 because I'm not Richie rude.
  • 1 0
 Larger diameter stanchions don't need the same arch design to retain and acceptable level of stiffness.
  • 13 0
 Awesome picture of Blenki! Classic, just sums him up.
  • 9 0
 No gloves, no knee pads for the Classic I’ll just ride a quick race on the way to the dairy look.
  • 12 0
 No eye protection ? I could deal with some stitches or walking with a limp but a glass eye would bum me out !
  • 7 1
 UNCAPTIONABLE. Way to go Jackson & Rose!
  • 1 0
 I'd love to read more about them, and see some vids! I showed my wife.. hint, hint. She looked at me and said, "No way in hell..."
  • 1 0
 @deadflat: use google. There are are at least a couple articles on PB, and they have made several great videos.
  • 2 0
 @deadflat: youtu.be/hui8406h-K4
Also @tandemdhnz on social media
  • 3 0
 There needs to be at least another tandem racing dh or in enduro. MTB hall of famers the Kennett Brothers race then on XC but never seen any gravity racing.
  • 3 0
 @KiwiXC: there are a few in Catalonia and one each dh and enduro in California. Add them to us in Canterbury. Perhaps it is regions starting with C. It's just a pity we can't all get to one place
  • 2 0
 U guys notice Keegan and Masters Fox 36 fork lowers?? Are these prototypes or perhaps 2021 version? They have silver decaling without the yellow accent and do not say 36 like thecurrent versions.. Also crown looks different.
  • 7 0
 Fox 38 - watch out for the launch and first ride report tomorrow Wink
  • 8 0
 And it’s got a pinch bolt to hold the axle in place.

I want to see some super slow mo huck to flat footage side by side with a 36, a Lyric, a 40, and a Boxxer. Do larger stanchions equal less flex or is most of the flex in the crown?
  • 4 0
 Looks like all the Orange forks are the newer versions. You can even see on Masters bike the new X2 poking out the side.
  • 2 4
 The only thing I am excited about with this fork is the price. Will it be stupid or returded. I am guessing no more than 200$ cheaper than a 40 which can be set to 180
  • 8 0
 @WAKIdesigns: you're in Fiji?
  • 3 0
 @WAKIdesigns: dude.. You gotta learn to let go of price with everything man.. This shit ain't ever going to get any cheaper.. You either play the bling game or just accept settling for sloppy seconds on PB buy and sell homie.
  • 1 0
 @bohns1: I have no problem with pricier than Lyrik, but this will surely cost more than Lyrik Ultimate and Pike Ultimate combined
  • 1 0
 Also there is a pinch bolt if you look closely.
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: im happy with current 36 grip 2
  • 1 0
 @bohns1: best fork that I have ever ridden. And before Trust, the most expensive single crown in Europe
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: scored a new one on the bay after winning an auction. Saved about $400
  • 1 0
 @jande: or the new, lightened, 36 ?
  • 1 0
 @gnralized: previous one had too little meat in the crown/ steerer interface already.
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns:
Maybe a redesign of the 36.
Plungers definitely doesn't looks beefier than 36.
www.pinkbike.com/news/8-bikes-of-the-giant-toa-enduro-crankworx-rotorua-2020.html

It would make sense that they produce a lightweight 36, like a step-cast, 140/150 mm 36 and a regular, touter version.
  • 1 0
 @gnralized: very hard to tell
  • 3 0
 Cool to see both Walker and Masters on the new Switchblade instead of the Firebird. Can’t wait to demo one.
  • 1 0
 any here's me still wearing goggles, gloves, kneepads and a backpack.
  • 1 0
 What is that orange thing on the wrist of the first fallen rider?
  • 1 0
 timing chip
  • 17 17
 women still getting fucked
  • 2 4
 how so
  • 13 2
 @nug12182: I guess some are... Some maybe celibate or some doing the f*cking themselves. It's difficult to say with such an intimate subject.
  • 3 0
 @Dropthedebt: well let's hope some are; for the sake of the species
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