New category will elevate Crankworx experience for 13-18 year old athletes across Crankworx World Tour 

WHISTLER, B.C. December 16, 2019 – As a new decade of mountain bike competition starts to take shape, Crankworx is excited to announce the launch of CWNEXT, a new, youth-focused category of competition across the Crankworx World Tour.

CWNEXT will include categories for young men and women, in the following age classes: 13-14, 15-16, 17-18.

Registration opens today at 1 p.m. (PST) for CWNEXT categories in the following events at Crankworx Rotorua 2020 (March 1-8):

• 100% Dual Slalom Rotorua
• Rotorua Air DH presented by Bosch
• Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by Gull
• Rockshox Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by Torpedo7 (the first time a category other than pro will be run for this event)

CWNEXT categories will be run at all stops across the Crankworx World Tour in 2020.

Prior to CWNEXT, young athletes would either register for Kidsworx events, or a select offering of junior categories in various Crankworx disciplines. CWNEXT was created to bridge the gap between Kidsworx and Crankworx competition, bring youth racing under one umbrella, and provide a development path for young athletes. Whether riders want to improve their skills as amateur racers, or have their sights set on becoming the King or Queen of Crankworx one day, CWNEXT will provide a pro-style level competition and organization for youth participants at Crankworx.

“More and more athletes are gearing their training toward the rigors of what it takes to compete at a Crankworx World Tour stop. Athletes like current Queen of Crankworx Vaea Verbeeck are focusing on the physical and mental preparation needed to take on multiple events in different disciplines, and on different bikes, sometimes all in one day. This is inspiring the next wave,” says Crankworx World Tour General Manager Darren Kinnaird, who was leading the charge when Kidsworx was first created in 2013. “This year in Whistler we saw 16-year-old local Jakob Jewett rise to the occasion at the RockShox Ultimate Pumptrack Challenge. There are so many other young riders waiting for their moment to shine. CWNEXT will give an entire crop of athletes, who have grown up alongside the festivals, the opportunity to develop into seasoned competitors.”

“I’m really happy to hear about this new platform. It is exactly what we need and it will be so cool to see our sport growing firsthand,” says the reigning Queen of Crankworx, Vaea Verbeeck (CAN). “It makes a huge difference to have mountain biking on athletes’ radars from a young age. It never occurred to me to try riding mountain bikes until my late teens when I bumped into people who were mountain bikers. I found my love in this sport and it has brought so many positive things into my life. I wish the same for others out there.”

“The world has its eyes on Crankworx,” says David Zimberoff, Vice President of Marketing at SRAM. “The excitement, culture, environment, passion, and competitive environment all help to fuel our industry. Without continuous improvement, we’d never progress. It’s this kind of leadership with CWNEXT that truly sets Crankworx apart from other events. Kids of all ages are our future, and we have a responsibility to provide meaningful outlets for their growth and ours.”

Details of how to register for events with CWNEXT categories at Crankworx Rotorua can he found here: https://www.crankworx.com/rotorua/athlete-info/

Along with CWNEXT categories, today marks the opening of registration for all Pro and 19+ categories at Crankworx Rotorua 2020.

Release Photos: Dropbox

Festival Photos: Flickr

News: Press releases

General resources: Media kit 

About the Crankworx World Tour

Crankworx is the ultimate experience in mountain biking. Born in Whistler, B.C. in 2004, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop international festival series. The Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines. Crankworx World Tour festivals also host races for amateurs, Kidsworx contests for young riders, participatory events, and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations. For additional information, visit crankworx.com.

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Media Contact

Julia Montague | Communications Manager, Crankworx World Tour

julia@crankworx.com