2024 Crankworx World Tour Is In Full Swing – Next Stop: Cairns
Crankworx Rotorua kicked off the 2024 Crankworx World Tour in March with a lot of noise, delivering an adrenaline-fuelled spectacle of world-class mountain biking. The festival, featuring captivating action, Kidsworx activations, and a historic Slopestyle event, marked the beginning to this monumental season. Next, the ultimate experience in mountain biking will touch down in hot and sunny Cairns for its unofficial Paradise Edition before heading to Europe for Crankworx Innsbruck and coming back to its birthplace Whistler in July.
Reflecting on Crankworx Rotorua’s 10th Anniversary
The 10th anniversary of Crankworx Rotorua was one for the locals with Kiwi riders dominating throughout all categories. In an impressive display, Aotearoa athletes were grabbing 14 spots across a total of 13 Pro podiums. The RockShox Taniwha Downhill kickstarted the festival in the serene Whakarewarewa forest with a triumph for local athletes, including a memorable all-Kiwi female podium. After moving to Skyline Rotorua for the remainder of the festival, the action culminated in the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza where Kiwi rider Robin Goomes made history by being the first woman to ever grab Gold at a Diamond Level Slopestyle Event.
Detailed results of all Crankworx events can be found here.
Royal Standings – King & Queen of Crankworx
As the dust settles on the first Crankworx festival of the year, the race for the King & Queen of Crankworx titles begin to take shape. Martha Gill currently leads the Queen of Crankworx standings, very closely followed by Shania Rawson and Kialani Hines. Meanwhile, Rotorua-local and 2023 King of Crankworx Tuhoto-Ariki Pene leads the men’s standings with Ryan Gilchrist and Jakob Jewett close behind. These athletes are ones to watch as they are prepared to shake things up across multiple disciplines in the upcoming Crankworx Cairns, Innsbruck and Whistler festivals.
Full King and Queen of Crankworx Standings here.
Next Stop: Crankworx Paradise Edition in Cairns
With the full lineup of events being confirmed, Crankworx Cairns is up next on the calendar, set to deliver a week packed with adrenaline, gravity-defying action and plenty of party. This year’s Party in Paradise promises awe-inspiring performances across all disciplines, as well as infectious musical highlights throughout the festival week. The program includes live performances by Australian rock bands Spiderbait, Worl Girlz and the Beddy Rays, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere at Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. With further musical and DJ peformances throughout the week, the itinerary also features a Braap Off, Mountain Bike Jam Session at the Cairns Skatepark, and the staple Crankworx Cairns Pump Track Challenge, set to take place after the hot sun has set over Queensland. Tickets for Crankworx Cairns are available here.
Athletes To Watch
While the official preliminary rider lists are yet to be published, fans can already anticipate a thrilling competition.With Caroline Buchanan, last year’s Pump Track winner and Queen of Crankworx, Martha Gill, and Shania Rawson already confirmed, the race for the coveted crown is to enter the next round at Crankworx Cairns.
The Crankworx Cairns athlete roster also boasts the world’s best Slopestyle athletes in both the men’s and women’s categories:
In addition to this remarkable lineup of international athletes, Australian fans can look forward to local favourites, including last year’s Pump Track victor Jayce Cunning, Mick Hannah, Jackson Frew, Baxter Maiwald, and Wade Turner among others in the men’s field. For the women, Harriet Burbidge-Smith, Caroline Buchanan, Ellie Smith, Cassie Voysey, and Tracey Hannah are among the confirmed Aussie athletes to dazzle the crowds at Crankworx Cairns.
With not only the Crankworx World Tour continuing for this exceptional year but also the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship moving forward as planned for Crankworx Cairns, Innsbruck and Whistler, spectators on site and tuning into the Red Bull TV live stream can once again expect unparalleled race action across a variety of disciplines, showcasing some of the world’s most outstanding mountain bike destinations.