The final stop of the Crankworx 2022 World Tour will land on Kiwi soil in Rotorua next week for nine days of skills, spills, tricks, and festival shenanigans on the pristine, newly reno'd tracks at Skyline Mountain Bike Park.
Crankworx Rotorua runs from November 5 – 13 and will bring an impressive lineup of international athletes including some of the best kiwi mountain bike riders who have been absolutely owning it on the world stage.
The Rotorua stop has come to be known as the 'Soul of Crankworx”.
Riders are fizzing to pull out all the stops as fans return to the festival for the first time since March 2020.
When asked what she is looking forward to most about competing in Rotorua, Jenna Hastings says: 'I think just the people, getting to spend time not only with the ever-growing Crankworx family but being able to race at home surrounded by family and friends and other Kiwis”.
Here's a taste of who's coming, and the Kiwis to watch for as Crankworx Rotorua gets ready to launch.
Jenna Hastings – after winning 3rd in Pump Track at Pro Level in Cairns last month and knocking crowd favourite Harriet Burbidge-Smith off the podium, this fiery 18-year-old will be returning to dominate in her hometown for Crankworx Rotorua.
In 2021, she landed herself on the podium in every race she competed in and we're sure she is ready to put on one hell of a show.
Sam Blenkinsop is a Christchurch crowd favourite with an epic career going on 18 years.
Sam's a consistent Kiwi rider, always showing up, and always putting on a show.
Sam was the overall winner at Crankworx Summer Series NZ in 2021.
Sam came second in the Crankworx Whistler Air DH race and put in a solid effort in Cairns.
Brook MacDonald – after a gnarly crash that left the Hawkes Bay local learning to walk again in 2019, Brook was back at the start gate in less than 12 months and surprised crowds with a first in the Dual Slalom at Rotorua in 2021.
Brook will be making his 2022 Crankworx debut in a range of events, ready to send it on home turf.
Robin Goomes – Robin, who grew up in the Chatham Islands, has been an instrumental force in pushing the limits of female mountain bike riding as the first woman to land an epic backflip in a Crankworx competition last year. Robin also made history throwing one-foot cans and backflip nacs in Women's Speed & Style in Innsbruck this year.
If you're looking for firsts, she's the one to watch!
Dan Butterworth - Keep an eye out for Rotorua legend Dan Butterworth on the Pump Track this year.
After securing 4th in SilverStar Pump Track at Crankworx in Canada and 4th in Pump Track at Crankworx Cairns last month, he will be out for a podium at all costs. Dan is a key player in the local Rotorua Mountain Biking community, coaching the next generation of shredders.
As the final stop on this year's World Tour, hype is high to see who will be crowned this year's King and Queen of Crankworx.
Competition is tight with just 31 points separating the top three women: Jordy Scott, Vaea Verbeeck and Caroline Buchanan.
The Battle for King is likely to play out between the top two with 13 points separating Bas van Steenbergen and Tomas Lemoine. Aussie Mick Hannah could be the dark horse currently sitting third.
The festival will also determine the winner of the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship.
Not for the faint-hearted, Slopestyle is a showcase of elite aerial acrobatics with athletes launching themselves into the heavens with tricks, jumps and speed. Erik Fedko is currently in the lead, with one fourth-place finish, and two seconds.
It has been a very consistent season for the German rider.
Hot on his tail for the win and out for the Triple Crown of Slopestyle is Emil Johansson who became the second rider in history in 2021 to win the title, after taking all three Crankworx Slopestyle wins in 2021.
With a win in Innsbruck and Whistler, the 23-year-old was in contention in Cairns.
After taking a slam on the final jump at Cairns and placing 11th, the third win required to win the Triple Crown is on the table in Rotorua, though his participation is unclear.
With seven events for pros running from November 5-13, it's going to be one heck of a wrap to the 2022 season.
Here's the full shebang of who to watch for at Crankworx Rotorua 2022:
Crankworx Rotorua Taniwha Downhill
TREK Official New Zealand Whip Off Championships presented by POC
Specialised Dual Slalom Rotorua
Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by Torpedo7
Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza
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