Freeride mountain biking will enter a new era in 2024 as women prepare to compete in the first ever Women’s Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship (SWC). Representing the pinnacle of the Slopestyle discipline, the introduction of a women’s category to the SWC is indicative of the level to which the sport has been elevated through years of development. Seeking to maximize the potential of women in freeride mountain biking, the SWC women’s category will provide equal opportunity access to the highest level of the sport featured across the Crankworx World Tour.
Launching in 2024, the SWC will host a women’s category to provide access to FMB Diamond Level courses and equal opportunity for the continued growth of women in freeride mountain biking.
Since 2015, Crankworx has set out to create gender equality through equal prize money, shared podiums, and equal opportunity for men and women, knowing that Slopestyle would be the most challenging to integrate. Through the development of women’s Speed and Style and, more recently, Women’s Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour Slopestyle events, the road has been paved for women to compete at the highest level of the sport. After witnessing the women compete at the Crankworx Summer Series in SilverStar this past summer, it became clear to us that they are ready.
Darren Kinnaird, Crankworx Managing Director
In 2024, each SWC women’s category event will host six riders, with qualified riders consisting of the six highest ranked riders on the FMB Women’s World Tour Ranking, with a minimum of 500 points, six weeks before an SWC event.
As of 2025, each SWC women’s category event will host six riders, with the top two female riders from the SWC ranking of the previous year prequalifying for all current season SWC events and the remaining four riders qualifying as the next highest ranked on the FMB Women’s World Tour Ranking, with a minimum of 500 points, six weeks before an SWC event.
Equal prize money will be awarded across the SWC women’s and SWC men’s categories, with more than $500,000 CAD to be given out during the 2024 Crankworx World Tour and SWC season.
The Triple Crown of Slopestyle, awarded to any rider who wins three Crankworx slopestyle events in a single season, will be up for grabs to SWC competitors in both the women’s and men’s categories, with a value of $25,000 CAD per crown.
Having the [Slopestyle] World Championships and Triple Crown [of Slopestyle] for women promotes inclusivity and equality in our sport.
Shealan Reno
Winners in both the women’s and men’s categories of Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler are granted lifetime entry to Crankworx Slopestyle events.
A place will be held on the start list at the first SWC event of the year for both the Female and Male Red Bull Rookie of the Year award winners of the previous season, which is set to be Patricia Druwen and Jake Atkinson at the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza during Crankworx Rotorua 2024.
I’m super motivated. The jumps are so much bigger and then you have to learn to do your tricks on them at the same time as well. I’m so stoked about having a Women’s Slopestyle competition at Crankworx.
Patricia Druwen
Broadcasts will be available live and on demand on Red Bull TV from the 2024 Crankworx World Tour and will feature both the SWC women’s and SWC men’s categories.
“It’s about time, I’m stoked to have women on the big stage next to the men,” said Kathi Kuypers on the addition of the SWC women’s category. On the events being broadcast globally, Harriet Burbidge-Smith shared that “the fact that we are on broadcast and everything at the same level as the guys is really insane and super motivating.”
The 2024 SWC will once again feature on the four-stop Crankworx World Tour, visiting the following world-class mountain biking destinations:
- Rotorua, New Zealand – March 16-24
- Cairns, Australia – May 22-26
- Innsbruck, Austria – June 12-23
- Whistler, Canada – July 19 – 28
More details on the 2024 Crankworx World Tour.
An updated FMBA Rulebook is to be released December 2023 reflecting these changes.
About 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.
Official website: crankworx.com
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