Whistler Stats & Facts

Whistler

Location: Crankworx Whistler takes place in the Resort Municipality of Whistler, located in the Coast Mountain Range north of Vancouver, in a region known as the Sea to Sky. Many events during Crankworx Whistler take place within Whistler Village in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The stage for the festival’s signature event, Red Bull Joyride, is set at the base of the bike park in an area known as “The Boneyard.”

Crankworx has the the largest economic impact of all major events in Whistler.

The resort is now busier in the summer months than in winter, partially due to the growing popularity of mountain biking and Crankworx.

Crankworx Whistler is grateful to be on the shared, unceded territory of the Lil’wat People, known in their language as Lil̓wat7úl, and the Squamish People, known in their language as Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh.

History: Crankworx Whistler began in 2003 under the name Whistler Summer Gravity Fest, changing its name to Crankworx the following year. Since then, the festival has grown exponentially year after year.

Crankworx Whistler by the numbers (2019):
Days: 10
Spectators: 310,000+
Red Bull Joyride spectators: 35,000
Pro Athletes: 1324
Kidsworx Competitors: 946
Volunteers: 360
Events: 22

Stories:

Crankworx Whistler – for Mountain Bikers

Crankworx and Whistler are two words synonymous with the pinnacle of the sport of mountain biking. Combine the two, and you have the ultimate. Nowhere else will you find this caliber and collection of athletes, from across disciplines, together in one place. Along with athletes, the annual festival brings together industry, fans and spectators for a celebration bigger than any other on the planet. The 10 day spectacle includes races and competitions (for pros, amateurs and kids), cultural showcases, a vibrant expo throughout Whistler Village, a demo zone to check out and test new bikes and products, movie screenings, parties, and more.

Crankworx Whistler – for Non-Mountain Bikers

For lovers of the outdoors looking to explore a different side of Whistler, visiting the famed resort during Crankworx offers an opportunity to experience a unique and awe-inspiring branch of mountain culture that’s growing rapidly. Whistler is home to the world’s biggest bike park, and is arguably the planet’s most iconic riding destination. During the festival, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and surrounding trails in the Whistler Valley are at their most vibrant, teeming with pro riders, those testing the waters for the first time, and everyone in between. The energy and welcoming spirit of the global mountain bike community is sure to entice visitors to get amongst the action and get a taste of what it’s all about. The 10-day festival includes races and competitions (for pros, amateurs and kids), cultural showcases, a vibrant expo throughout Whistler Village, a demo zone to check out and test new bikes and products, movie screenings, parties, and more.

Crankworx Whistler – for Locals

For those who call Whistler home, the 10 days of Crankworx is one of the most unique times of year in the resort. The festival brings the best riders in the world together with locals and visitors to celebrate all things mountain biking, and to experience the best of Whistler summer together. Whether locals are keen to race, volunteer, or soak in every moment as a spectator, from dawn to dusk (and beyond) there’s something to do every day during Crankworx. For the amateur racer, many events during Crankworx include amateur categories, giving them the opportunity to race the same tracks as their heroes. Same goes for the next gen: the CWNEXT (junior race category) gives up-and-coming racers a chance to shine on the Crankworx stage. And if riders are not quite at race pace yet? Many sponsors put on unique events during the festival, with great ways for riders of all levels to take part. This is also true for Crankworx’s youngest fans, with Kidsworx events taking place throughout the 10 days to get the littlest riders in on the action. Volunteering is a great way to get a behind-the-scenes, up-close-and-personal Crankworx experience. It also gives locals a chance to take ownership and feel some added pride as they help showcase their home (and trails) to the world as it stages the world’s largest mountain bike festival. For those simply looking to soak up as much of the action as possible, there is pro racing daily, a teeming village stroll full of the latest and greatest in mountain biking, a tech and demo area, Dirt Diaries video competition and the Deep Summer Photo Challenge, plus movie screenings and nightly parties.