Hot Off the Press: Crankworx Coming To Rotorua, New Zealand!
Mountain biking’s defining celebration is breaking new trail and setting the course for the future of the sport. Crankworx organizers announced today that world-class riding will kick off the 2015 mountain bike season with a brand new stop on the Crankworx circuit - Crankworx Rotorua. From March 25 to 29, 2015, the festival will alight in New Zealand for five days of two-wheeled competition, spectacle and celebration.
“We could not be more excited to be bringing Crankworx to Rotorua,” says Crankworx General Manager Darren Kinnaird. “The trails in New Zealand are out-of-this-world. Adding Rotorua allows us to grow the celebration and share what Crankworx is all about - it’s a gathering of the world’s best riders from all disciplines of mountain biking. It’s mountain biking at its most raw.”
Along with its latest festival, Crankworx will be transforming many of its biggest events into stand-alone series’, including the triple crown of slopestyle, a pump track challenge series, a dual speed and style series and a four-race Crankworx downhill series (two of which will be in Whistler). The Enduro World Series will also kick off the 2015 season in Rotorua as a part of Crankworx.
“The momentum behind Crankworx is continuing to charge forward - it’s become more than a mountain bike festival. It’s become a culture,” says Kinnaird. “We’re now able to offer athletes and the world a series of events to get stoked about. The dream was to find the right home for our third Crankworx stop so that we could continue to share events that showcase the best mountain biking athletes in the world. Rotorua is beyond perfect. This is a game-changer.”
Rotorua has become known as the home of mountain biking in New Zealand. Red Bull’s magazine, The Red Bulletin, ranked Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa forest in the top eight mountain biking destinations in the world in 2013 – the only Southern Hemisphere location to feature.
![Good times in NZ]()
“We are so stoked to be bringing Crankworx to Rotorua. Where else can you watch the biggest names in the sport throw down, then ride alongside them in the same day?” says Event Director for Crankworx Rotorua and Owner of Mountain Bike Rotorua, Tak Mutu. “It’s a chance not only to showcase the trails that have brought people from all over the world to Rotorua, but also the dirt, the culture and the spirit of the people.”
Mutu, along with Deputy Mayor of Rotorua Dave Donaldson, have been in Whistler taking in the 11th year of the fest in Whistler.
“Sitting here at the foot of the trails of Whistler it is easy to see what an opportunity this is for both of us.” says Donaldson. “In terms of global exposure for mountain biking events, Crankworx is number one, so securing the third international location is a fantastic thing for Rotorua. We’re so excited about what we can bring to this festival and to the mountain biking world.”
![Good times in NZ]()
Stay tuned for details on Crankworx Rotorua in the months to come and follow the hashtag #CWXRotorua.
“We could not be more excited to be bringing Crankworx to Rotorua,” says Crankworx General Manager Darren Kinnaird. “The trails in New Zealand are out-of-this-world. Adding Rotorua allows us to grow the celebration and share what Crankworx is all about - it’s a gathering of the world’s best riders from all disciplines of mountain biking. It’s mountain biking at its most raw.”
Along with its latest festival, Crankworx will be transforming many of its biggest events into stand-alone series’, including the triple crown of slopestyle, a pump track challenge series, a dual speed and style series and a four-race Crankworx downhill series (two of which will be in Whistler). The Enduro World Series will also kick off the 2015 season in Rotorua as a part of Crankworx.
“The momentum behind Crankworx is continuing to charge forward - it’s become more than a mountain bike festival. It’s become a culture,” says Kinnaird. “We’re now able to offer athletes and the world a series of events to get stoked about. The dream was to find the right home for our third Crankworx stop so that we could continue to share events that showcase the best mountain biking athletes in the world. Rotorua is beyond perfect. This is a game-changer.”
Rotorua has become known as the home of mountain biking in New Zealand. Red Bull’s magazine, The Red Bulletin, ranked Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa forest in the top eight mountain biking destinations in the world in 2013 – the only Southern Hemisphere location to feature.
“We are so stoked to be bringing Crankworx to Rotorua. Where else can you watch the biggest names in the sport throw down, then ride alongside them in the same day?” says Event Director for Crankworx Rotorua and Owner of Mountain Bike Rotorua, Tak Mutu. “It’s a chance not only to showcase the trails that have brought people from all over the world to Rotorua, but also the dirt, the culture and the spirit of the people.”
Mutu, along with Deputy Mayor of Rotorua Dave Donaldson, have been in Whistler taking in the 11th year of the fest in Whistler.
“Sitting here at the foot of the trails of Whistler it is easy to see what an opportunity this is for both of us.” says Donaldson. “In terms of global exposure for mountain biking events, Crankworx is number one, so securing the third international location is a fantastic thing for Rotorua. We’re so excited about what we can bring to this festival and to the mountain biking world.”
Stay tuned for details on Crankworx Rotorua in the months to come and follow the hashtag #CWXRotorua.
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No offence, but buller is shit, last time I was there it was just a bomb and dhi track, no flowy jump tracks no slope style course etc, unless they've done a shit load of work and put in a flowy jumps trail a slopestyle track etc, they won't be able to host it.
I heard it from a very reliable source at Mt Buller that either next year or 2016, there will be a Crankworx event there.
@downhiller88 - I agree, but I'm just the messenger here.
In the mainstream.
Anyone interested check out my website
www.bikezest.co.nz (it doesn't get updated enough as I'm busy with work or out riding or MTB coaching).
Other wise you can contact me by email at bikezest@orcon.net.nz
Looking forward to Crankworx coming here to NZ especially since I got the chance to ride the first Crankworx Qualifier at Whistler back in 2004. Hopefully get to catch up with a few of my old contacts from Canada.
tractionbikeblog.com/2014/08/17/preview-crankworx-rotorua-2015
to the guys from nz: who's on instagram ? we should stay in touch and show them next year how we do it down here !!
my insta: kirschkiwi_nz
If you're visiting from overseas, try to get as much as you can fit in and afford. Here's just one option you might want to think about, organised by the BC Enduro Series team:
www.transnz.com/home/index.html
For interest sake lets go back ten years as you claim - 2004 WC UCI DH had 7 locations, of which 5 are different to both 2013 and 2014. And why wouldnt you keep going back to Mont Saint Anne and Fort William?
m.pinkbike.com/news/ride-more-year-round-bike-park-opens-in-rotorua-new-zealand-2014.html
Queenstown is awesome though :-)
Nothing against rotovegas, but is light years behind any mtb resorts in terms of trails development or any infrastructure to speak of..