The Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge lit up Skyline Rotorua as fans packed into the arena under the night sky. The energy in the crowd was electric, especially as Kiwi athletes took to the track in this chainless head-to-head showdown. No stranger to the Crankworx World Tour Jackson Frew won his first ever Pump Track gold medal, while his female counterpart Laura Smulders is a brand-new face to the Crankworx family.
Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge
As Round 2 of the 2025 Crankworx Pump Track Series, the stakes were high, with riders pushing their limits on the technical and fast course. In the women’s final, Dutch racers Manon Veenstra and Laura Smulders battled to the wire. Smulders edged out her fellow Dutchie Veenstra in a nail-biting finish, winning gold by just 0.007 seconds. The small final saw New Zealand’s Sacha Earnest go head-to-head against reigning Pump Track World Champion and winner of the Crankworx Summer Series Christchurch Pump Track event, Sabina Košárková of the Czech Republic. Košárková took the bronze, cementing her leading position in the 2025 Pump Track Series standings.
On the men’s side, Jackson Frew, the 2024 King of Crankworx runner-up, clinched his first-ever Crankworx Pump Track gold medal. The Australian racer delivered a flawless performance in the finals, outpacing local hero and former King of Crankworx Tuhoto-Ariki Pene. Despite clocking the fastest run of the event earlier in the night, Pene finished 0.067 seconds behind Frew in the finals, settling for silver. The bronze medal match featured Kiwi speedster Tyler Waite and Aussie Bailey Meares, who was returning to competition after an extended injury break last year. Meares managed to edge out Waite by +0.106 seconds in a nail-biting second run.
A significant upset came in the quarterfinals when Australian rider Ryan Gilchrist, the defending King of Crankworx and winner of Round 1 of the 2025 Pump Track Series, crashed out, allowing his teammate Tyler Waite to advance.
Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge – Top 5:
- Laura Smulders (NED) // Jackson Frew (AUS)
- Manon Veenstra (NED) // Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (NZL)
- Sabina Košárková (CZE) // Bailey Meares (AUS)
- Sacha Earnest (NZL) // Tyler Waite (NZL)
- Caroline Buchanan (AUS) // Ryan Gilchrist (AUS)
Full results: click here
With two rounds complete, the battle for the 2025 Crankworx Pump Track Champion title is heating up. Today’s second place pushed Tuhoto-Ariki Pene into the top spot of the leaderboard, surpassing long-term rival Ryan Gilchrist. Sabina Košárková defended her placement from Crankworx Summer Series Christchurch, followed by Jordy Scott who . Catch up on the full breakdown of standings online.
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
Media: facebook, instagram, twitter, youtube, flickr