Crankworx Rotorua Kicks Off with High-Speed Racing and Whip-Off Action
The 12th edition of Crankworx Rotorua kicked off at Skyline Rotorua with no time lost, as some of the world’s best mountain bikers dropped straight into competition. Day one of five delivered a packed schedule, featuring the Crankworx Rotorua Air DH presented by Rotorua Canopy Tours in the morning before riders had a chance to check out the track for the Specialized Kārearea Downhill, which will heat up tomorrow with Seeding. With the New Zealand National Downhill Championships held at the same time, this Seeding run will double as their race National Champs race run for Aotearoa riders.
As the sun dipped behind the hills and Lake Rotorua lit up the skyline, the action continued with the Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships, bringing a stylish close to the festival’s opening day. With more action and a packed events line-up still to come, Crankworx once again brings the heat to Rotorua from March 11-15.
Crankworx Rotorua Air DH Presented by Rotorua Canopy Tours
Set on Skyline Rotorua’s Mr. Black trail, the Air DH challenges athletes with 32 jumpable features, demanding both pedaling power and strategic line choices to keep momentum while chasing the fastest time.
In the women’s race, Sabina Košárková delivered a standout performance to take the win in 2:03.574, earning valuable points in the Queen of Crankworx standings. The victory marks her first Air DH win, a milestone achievement after beginning her Crankworx journey in Christchurch last year. With the result, Košárková now sits just six points behind current Queen standings leader Jenna Hastings, tightening the battle early in the season.
Matilda Melton impressed in her first-ever Crankworx Rotorua appearance, claiming second place and her first Crankworx Elite podium. With entries in both the Specialized Kārearea Downhill and Dual Slalom later this week, Melton is a rider to watch as the festival progresses. Rounding out the podium was Anna Newkirk, who made a strong return to the Crankworx World Tour after a two-year hiatus, finishing third.
Top 5 – Women
- Sabina KOŠÁRKOVÁ (CZE) – 2:03.574
- Matilda MELTON (USA) – 2:05.116
- Anna NEWKIRK (USA) – 2:05.751
- Martha GILL (GBR) – 2:07.717
- Kate HASTINGS (NZL) – 2:07.745
On the men’s side, Ryan Gilchrist continued his dominance on the Air DH course, securing his third consecutive victory in Rotorua after previous wins in 2023 and 2024. Gilchrist clocked a blazing 1:51.237, reinforcing his reputation as one of the fastest multi-discipline riders on the circuit.
Joining him on the podium was teammate Richie Rude in second, repeating his strong performance from 2024. Tegan Cruz finished just 0.028 seconds behind Rude, claiming third and keeping himself firmly in the King of Crankworx conversation.
Top 5 – Men:
- Ryan GILCHRIST (AUS) – 1:51.237
- Richie RUDE (USA) – 1:54.562
- Tegan CRUZ (CAN) – 1:54.600
- Sam BLENKINSOP (NZL) – 1:55.088
- Tyler WAITE (NZL) – 1:55.886
Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships
As evening settled over Skyline Rotorua, the Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships lit up the arena with one of Crankworx’s most crowd-pleasing competitions.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Rotorua, the event challenges riders to throw their bikes as sideways as possible mid-air before snapping them back into position for a smooth landing. The jam-format competition kept the crowd roaring as riders pushed the limits of style and amplitude.
After an intense final round, Erice Van Leuven (NZL) returns to the top podium after spending most of last year recovering from injury. Close behind her were Indy Deavoll (NZL) and Janelle Soukup (USA) who closed out last season winning the Crankworx Whistler Official Whip-Off World Championships.
On the men’s side, Andy Lehmann (GBR) secured the top spot, improving on last year’s silver medal. Right behind him, U17 rider Chase Riggs (USA) landed second in his very first Crankworx Whip-Off competition, with Kade Edwards (GBR) rounding out the podium after a night of jaw-dropping whips and massive airtime.
Looking Ahead
Crankworx Rotorua has only just begun, with a full line-up of racing and festivities still to come. Fans on site can catch the full schedule of events while soaking up the festival atmosphere across Skyline Rotorua.
Thursday: Seeding for the Specialized Kārearea Downhill, with finals set for Saturday.
Friday: The Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by The Rock will bring high-speed head-to-head Elite racing under the lights.
Saturday: The Specialized Kārearea Downhill Finals headline the day, alongside the return of Rotorua Roulette, the invitational best trick contest where athletes battle head-to-head for cold hard cash.
Sunday: The festival concludes with two major finals – the Crankworx Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza, the second stop of the Slopestyle Super League, followed by the Elite finals of the Crankworx Rotorua Dual Slalom, delivering tight shoulder-to-shoulder racing in front of the Rotorua crowd.
Beyond the elite competition, fans can enjoy Kidsworx action, amateur racing, live music, and the vibrant expo area, celebrating the heart of mountain bike culture.
Festival passes are still available online: https://www.crankworx.com/rotorua/passes/
For those unable to attend in person, fans can follow the action on @crankworx and @crankworxnz. The Specialized Kārearea Downhill and Crankworx Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza finals will be broadcast live on the Crankworx YouTube channel, Pinkbike, and locally on TVNZ+.