For immediate release
23 November, 2017

CRANKWORX PREPARES TO ENTER THE REALM OF THE EXTRAORDINARY IN 2018

Mark your calendars, rally your mates, submit your time off requests, book your flights, and start dreaming up your Crankworx Fantasy rosters – the Crankworx World Tour is getting ready to launch into the unimaginable next season.

For 2018, the defining celebration of mountain biking will once again bring together the world’s best riders in four epic riding destinations to stage the defining celebration of gravity-fed mountain biking.

Crankworx Rotorua: March 17-25 – early-bird tickets go on sale December 1

Crankworx Innsbruck: June 13-17

Crankworx Les Gets: June 20-24

Crankworx Whistler: August 10-19

Some of the biggest changes to watch for in 2018 will be the addition of Dual Slalom competitions in both Rotorua and Les Gets, the all-new Redwoods Downhill, part of the first weekend of competition at Crankworx Rotorua, slopestyle’s return to Saturday at three out of four Crankworx stops (Rotorua, Innsbruck and Whistler), expanded women’s programming at all four stops, and 15th anniversary celebrations at the final, biggest and most iconic stop on the tour, Crankworx Whistler.

“Every year, at every stop, we listen to what athletes and fans are saying, then do our best to bring our events into alignment. That’s what makes Crankworx so unique,” says Crankworx World Tour General Manager Darren Kinnaird. “We’re a small, hands-on team at the centre of a global community of mountain bikers – a community that’s growing at an exponential rate. Small tweaks can really shape the festival, and the sport. “Take the nighttime whip-off in Rotorua last year – we made the change to do it under the lights last minute because of the weather, and it blew everyone’s minds. As soon as it was done we all looked at each other and said: “We have to do that again next year.” That’s what 2018 is all about. Evolution, progression and adaptation. Dreaming big, and going bigger.

“The things our athletes are doing on mountain bikes are almost superhuman now. We want to make Crankworx a platform to showcase these heroes, reflect what’s happening in the sport, and share it all with the world.” Crankworx Rotorua event director Ariki Tibble says the team is going full gas with just 18 weeks till the first Crankworx World Tour stop. “There are so many fresh new elements of the festival which I know are going to be very popular with spectators and athletes. There is no doubt in my mind that Crankworx Rotorua 2018 is going to be special.” Adult full event passes will be available for as little as $49 (plus booking fees) while Family Passes can be purchased for as little as $99 (plus booking fees). Tickets will be available for purchase during the early bird sale in December, with prices increasing incrementally in the months leading up to the March event. Keep on top of all the latest from each location, and share the stoke with your friends, on the Facebook event pages for Crankworx Rotorua, Crankworx Innsbruck, Crankworx Les Gets, and Crankworx Whistler.

Not able to make the trek to see Crankworx live in 2018? Never fear. Crankworx will continue sending it from its festivals, to the world, through live broadcasts on crankworx.com. In 2017, 18 live webcasts covering a variety of disciplines across the Crankworx World Tour were produced, with no signs of slowing in 2018. Additionally, the quest for the Triple Crown of Slopestyle will be coming to you LIVE, and on demand, on all your devices exclusively on Red Bull TV and crankworx.com. For all the latest on everything bike related on the Red Bull Bike Channel, stay tuned to redbull.tv/bike.

In the meantime, watch for initial schedules for each location to be updated on crankworx.com in the coming weeks, and stay tuned to Crankworx social channels for all the latest on ticketing, registration, broadcast times, and all the stories as they begin to unfold. And, most importantly, get stoked. #crankworxiscoming