Sunday, March 13, 2016, Rotorua, New Zealand — The New Zealand fans were going wild as the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS unfolded Sunday afternoon with three top Kiwi riders making a play for a solid home-crowd podium, until Frenchman Loic BRUNI showed up. The victor during the inaugural Crankworx Rotorua downhill last year, Bruni managed two of the Crankworx DH wins in 2015. Standing on the sidelines following his race, he looked at a packed crowd and noted he was thrilled the fans returned for the final day of the festival, after a huge crowd took in the…
Author: Tomas
March 12, 2016, Rotorua, New Zealand — The man who wrote the book on Slopestyle penned himself a new first, Saturday, as the inaugural winner of the Kelly McGarry Memorial Trophy at Crankworx Rotorua. Brandon SEMENUK’s effortless performance bested even Nicholi ROGATKIN’s groundbreaking 1080, dubbed “The Twister”, on an afternoon no one in the bike community will soon forget. Brandon Semenuk The competition opened with all 18 riders, friends and kids who looked up to Slopestyle’s gentle giant, McGarry, executing a train in his honour, riding back-to-back down the course that will be his legacy. McGarry was both the designer…
Friday, March 11, Rotorua, New Zealand – After many near wins, Tomas LEMOINE (FRA) finally has his first Crankworx gold medal, and five-time pump track queen Jill KINTNER (USA) her redemption, after an epic Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by RockShox at Crankworx Rotorua Friday night. Tomas Lemoine: I’m pretty stoked because I’ve wanted this win for so long. I’m always like third, fourth and this time I won. So I’m pretty stoked. It’s like living a dream. A rider from the local pump track, 16-year-old Mahuika spent almost as much time waving to the crowd and smiling for his…
Thursday, March 10, Rotorua, New Zealand – Speed definitely blew style right out of the water in New Zealand, during the Mons Royale Dual Speed and Style at Crankworx Rotorua Thursday, although the first female winner ever awarded in the sport brought her own flare to the track. Tomas Slavik Thursday evening’s race saw Jill KINTNER (USA) top Casey BROWN (CAN) in the inaugural Dual Speed & Style women’s finals; however, it was fourcross dominator Tomas Slavik’s victorious return to Crankworx, which really stole the show. Tomas Slavik: I wasn’t expecting that I could win the race with just speed.…
It’s always incredible to come back to New Zealand. Every summer is better than the one before it and you wonder where it can go next…but Queenstown always has something new going on! Skyline gondola and bike park have a new jump trail and with Crankworx around the corner, there are so many killer riders in town to shred with. Paul and I had a blast making our new edit and hope you all love it…If you get the chance get on a bike/boat/plane or car and get down here ASAP!! – Bernard Kerr, Pivot Factory Racing on the Pivot…
March 9, 2016, Rotorua, New Zealand — Fast trails and a good-time vibe left athletes smiling as they pulled in from a pedal-heavy GIANT Toa Enduro at Crankworx Rotorua, and the whip cranked the crowd into a frenzy to cap the night. Ryan “R-Dog” Howard Coming into the enduro, GIANT rider Josh CARLSON (AUS) was running strong, however, New Zealand’s Matt Walker proved the unexpected victor late, sealing the deal on the final stage, after placing eighth the year before and following fellow Kiwi, Carl Jones, in the cumulative standings for much of the race. Matt Walker: I was hoping…
Munich, March 7th 2016: The FMB Diamond Series is back! As we speak the top FMB athletes are jet setting across the globe to New Zealand for the initial FMB Diamond Series stop at Crankworx Rotorua. This season, the FMB Diamond Series ranking will be made up of five events: all four Diamond stops and, the best result from a Gold event, taking place before the last Diamond stop. The top eight athletes from 2015 are pre-qualified for the Diamond Series and the season finale will return to the home of slopestyle, Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler. Supporters can…
Anyone lucky enough to interact with Kelly McGarry was instantly struck by his good natured personality and ability to make you feel like an old friend within minutes of meeting him. We at ODI were fortunate to have been able to work with Kelly over the past few years and were ecstatic when Kelly approached us about doing an edit with his beloved dog Tui. After his tragic passing we were torn on what to do with this footage. Upon consulting those closest to him we decided that it was best to release this edit both as a fitting tribute…
WTB will be unveiling a new 650b tire named the Horizon 650 x 47c Road Plus TCS beneath Hunter and Soulcraft bicycles during day one of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS). Referred to as “Road Plus” by WTB, the Horizon 650 x 47c tire measures the same overall diameter as a 700 x 30mm road tire and is intended to be used with endurance road and gravel applications. This builds upon the same school of thought as WTB’s 27.5+ system, where an oversized 27.5” tire equates to the same height and diameter as a traditional 29” mountain bike…
WHISTLER, B.C., Feb. 29, 2016 – Crankworx is taking its signature photography show, Deep Summer, on the road for the first time ever. Immediately following the Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle, the Deep Summer Rotorua Photo Challenge debuts in New Zealand, for the climax of the five-day festival, running Wednesday, Mar. 9 to Sunday, Mar. 13. Staged in the arena of Skyline Rotorua Gravity Park, this staple cultural component of Crankworx carries the crescendo of the marquee slopestyle event on for several more hours as the photographers vie for a $5000 prize pot. Deep Summer is the essence of our culture. Mountain…
TAIPEI CYCLE SHOW, TAIWAN – March 2, 2016 – WTB has expanded the versatility of their Riddler tread pattern by offering a 700c version in both 37mm and 45mm casing options. The Riddler 700c 37/45 tire features a fast rolling tread pattern consisting of a supportive, tightly spaced centerline to minimize rolling resistance while tall outer knobs provide traction while cornering. The combined speed and traction of the Riddler tread pattern makes the Riddler 700c 37/45 a capable tire across numerous riding disciplines, including cyclocross, gravel and dirt touring. Evan Smith, WTB’s tire engineer: We’ve taken a tried-and-true tread pattern…
WHISTLER, B.C., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2016 – A strong contingent of elite athletes, a new downhill race, the Deep Summer photography showcase and more Kidsworx events will see Crankworx Rotorua expand for 2016 as New Zealand welcomes the international mountain biking community. Fans can join the King and Queen of the Crankworx World Tour, Bernard KERR and Anneke BEERTEN , Mick and Tracey HANNAH, last year’s Crankworx Slopestyle Champion, Brett RHEEDER, and elite riders like Casey BROWN, Martin SÖDERSTRÖM and Loic BRUNI for the launch of the Crankworx World Tour’s second season. Loic Bruni This year marks a chance at…
Friedrichshafen, Germany – After the success of the inaugural edition of the Eurobike Media Days last year, an expanded second edition is in planning for 2016. From June 28 to 30, up to 30 manufacturers of complete bikes for the athletic market segment will meet about 200 trade press representatives from all over the world. The scenery of Kirchberg, Austria, is to provide an authentic biker’s backdrop for this unique opportunity for the press to thoroughly test the many novelties in planning for the 2017 model year. “Our idea – to offer the bicycle industry and the trade press a…
PHOENIX, AZ – FEBRUARY 16, 2016 – Just in time for the 2016 season, Pivot Cycles has unveiled the all new Phoenix DH Carbon. Driven directly by Pivot’s work with the Pivot Factory racing team, the new chassis is 2/3 of a pound lighter and yet incredibly strong and stiff. With tons of new details that make it the fastest and most technically advanced World Cup-tested downhill design available, this is the right choice for racers on the hunt for podium spots in 2016. In an video filled with great riding in Queenstown, NZ, the Pivot Factory Racing team (including…