In classic Crankworx fashion, Crankworx Summer Series Christchurch kicked off the 2025 season with a Super Saturday. The highly anticipated Redemption Downhill and Christchurch Pump Track Challenge roared into action, hosting nail-biting finals at Christchurch Adventure Park (CAP). As the opening round of the Crankworx Downhill and Pump Track Series, both events established the tone for what promises to be an electrifying year of racing.
Redemption Downhill Challenges Athletes at Round 1 of Series
Set against the backdrop of the Christchurch Port Hills, the Redemption Downhill course challenged riders with a technical upper section demanding precision and skill, followed by flowing lower portions where momentum and pedal power came into play. Riders also contended with gusty winds, which played a decisive role on the exposed jump section near the finish. With thousands of fans lining the track and the festival village buzzing, the energy was palpable as some of the world’s best downhill racers took on the course.
Jenna Hastings Dominates Women’s Field
Aotearoa rider Jenna Hastings left no room for doubt, delivering an unstoppable performance to take gold by a staggering 18.248-second margin. After spending much of last season recovering from injury, Hastings made her return known with a victory at Crankworx Whistler’s RockShox Canadian Open DH in July. Now, she’s backing it up in Christchurch with another commanding win.
My strategy was just push hard at the top and try and hold on at the bottom. And I did that. I rode how I wanted to at the top. I pushed where I wanted to. I kind of wanted to go off-line a little bit, but nothing to major, and yeah, then just dug in at the bottom, and just pedal. I almost thought about sitting down, but I knew if I sat down I was not going to stand back up. So yeah, I just powered through and just wanted to get to that finish line.
Jenna Hastings
The battle for silver saw Mille Johnset (NOR) put down a strong run, holding the hot seat until Hastings crossed the line. Louise Ferguson (GBR) managed to claw back time to finish just 0.230 seconds off Johnset despite a crash in the rock garden, securing third place.
Women’s Redemption Downhill Finals – Top 5
- Jenna Hastings (NZL) – 4:35.219
- Mille Johnset (NOR) – 4:53.467
- Louise Ferguson (GBR) – 4:53.787
- Siel Van der Velden (BEL) – 4:59.867
- Kalani Muirhead (NZL) – 5:11.665
Lachie Stevens-McNab Seals Victory in Men’s Finals
Defending his victory at the first Crankworx Downhill of the season last year at Crankworx Rotorua, Lachie Stevens-McNab (NZL) proved once again that he thrives under pressure. The Kiwi rider dropped in last, knowing he had to beat Bernard Kerr’s blistering run and he did just that, shaving over seven seconds off Kerr’s time to secure the first Downhill win of the season.
Canada’s Tegan Cruz, a potential key contender for King of Crankworx, pushed hard to grab third place, while Sam Blenkinsop (NZL) missed the podium by just 0.322 seconds.
Men’s Redemption Downhill Finals – Top 5
- Lachie Stevens-McNab (NZL) – 3:56.669
- Bernard Kerr (GBR) – 4:03.846
- Tegan Cruz (CAN) – 4:06.493
- Sam Blenkinsop (NZL) – 4:06.815
- Sam Gale (NZL) – 4:08.008
Notably, U19 rider Tyler Waite was just 0.03 seconds slower than Stevens-McNab’s time, showing that the next generation of Downhill talent is hot on the heels of the pros.
Showdown at Pump Track
The Christchurch Pump Track Challenge brought spectacular head-to-head racing to the newly built track at Christchurch Adventure Park (CAP). The track was dubbed by some athletes as ‘the best Pump Track yet’, echoed by King of Crankworx Ryan Gilchrist with: “More tracks like this, please!”. With chains off and momentum at full throttle, athletes pushed the limits in front of a packed crowd of spectators who lined the course, bringing electric energy and good vibes to the Pump Track arena. As Round 1 of the 2025 Pump Track Series, this event set the stage for the season, with athletes earning valuable points towards the overall standings.
Sabina Košárková Takes the Crown in Women’s Final
The women’s bracket saw some familiar match-ups from last season, with reigning Queen of Crankworx Martha Gill facing Jordy Scott in the semi-finals. Gill made it look effortless, but Scott fought back hard, taking both runs to advance to the final. There, she met current Pump Track World Champion Sabina Košárková, who proved why she holds that title, defeating Scott in a dominant performance. Meanwhile, in the battle for bronze, Martha Gill secured the final podium spot, edging out Crankworx newcomer Cassien Lewis (NZL).
I was a bit nervous coming here because I didn’t know what to expect, but I loved it!
Sabina Košárková
Sabina Košárková and most of the other top riders on today’s start list will attend Round 2 of the 2025 Pump Track Series at Crankworx Rotorua in March.
Women’s Pump Track Challenge – Top 5
- Sabina Košárková (CZE)
- Jordy Scott (USA)
- Martha Gill (GBR)
- Cassien Lewis (NZL)
- Winnifred Goldsbury (NZL)
The King is Back
On the men’s side, the finals delivered a heavyweight showdown we’ve seen numerous times before – reigning King of Crankworx Ryan Gilchrist vs. Rotorua’s own Tuhoto-Ariki Pene. Both riders fought hard, but Gilchrist proved untouchable on this track, winning both runs and securing the first Pump Track gold of the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, Tyler Waite continued his triumphant day, following up his U19 Downhill victory with a bronze medal in the Pump Track Challenge. He edged out fellow kiwi rider Daniel Butterworth in a tight battle. Of the top 14 male riders in the finals, 11 were Kiwis, proving that New Zealand’s Pump Track talent is stronger than ever.
Men’s Pump Track Challenge – Top 5
- Ryan Gilchrist (AUS)
- Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (NZL)
- Tyler Waite (NZL)
- Daniel Butterworth (NZL)
- Logan Clarke (NZL)
As the Pump Track Challenge wraps up, the sun sets on another thrilling day at Crankworx Summer Series in Ōtautahi Christchurch. But the excitement is far from over. With Day 3 of Crankworx Summer Series Christchurch in the books, all eyes now turn to tomorrow’s historic FMB Gold Cup Slopestyle event – the first of its kind in New Zealand. Expect huge tricks, fierce competition, and a stacked lineup of top riders including Lucas Huppert, Jake Atkinson, Kaidan Ingersoll, Shealen Reno, and Patricia Druwen. Catch it live on crankworx.com, follow @crankworxsummerseries for behind-the-scenes action, or grab your last-minute passes to witness history in person!
Full results: crankworx.com/results/
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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