The multi-stop mountain biking festival will have top international riders going head to head with some of the best local riders, who are expected to shake things up on their home trails.
Riders will explore the varied terrain of Central Otago, Queenstown and Wanaka.
Alexandra’s new Matangi Station Mountain Bike Park will be the starting point for the inaugural festival, riders dropping in for the Super D event on Saturday and Sunday.
It was these trails on the station that attracted the Crankworx team and about 100 riders are expected.
Local talent, such as Sam Sole, Matt Scoles, who podiumed at the Junior Downhill worlds in 2009, and Bradley Harris, who features on Pinkbike Academy (a mountain biking reality show where participants compete for a pro contract), all learned their skills on the trails, and are among the local invited riders racing in the Matangi Station MOB team.
The Crankworx Summer Series will give local up-and-coming riders the chance to mix, mingle and drop in with some of the world’s best mountain bikers at locations across Central Otago, Queenstown and Wanaka over the next four weeks.
The community has embraced this opportunity and well-known local mountain biker Phil Oliver has been employed to help with the operational requirements of the event, and local suppliers, accommodation and facilities are being used wherever possible.
The Crankworx crew were working to government guidelines, which unfortunately means that there can be no spectator race village or designated audience viewpoints set up. Despite no direct audience this year, footage will be shared through the Crankworx distribution channels and invited athletes’ channels, reaching more than 765,000 on Instagram.
The road trip continues through to Queenstown, with downhill and pump track events from December 3 to 5.
The trails of Cardrona Bike Park follow with Air DH on November 9, before closing out the festival in Wanaka at Bike Glendhu with the Dual Slalom on Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12.
