"Crankworx" is a four-stop tour of slopestyle mountain biking events, the premier event of which is held each summer at Whistler-Blackcomb in Whistler, British Columbia at Whistler Mountain Bike Park.[1]
A reasonable indication of the risk of serious injury inherent to downhill-type and stunt-jump-based mountain biking can be gleaned from the Athlete Waiver form for the event.[2]
Since its inception in 2004, Crankworx has become one of Whistler's largest annual promotionals. The event has recently spawned sister events in France and New Zealand. It has been called the Super Bowl of the sport, and is the biggest annual gathering of the mountain biking community.[3]
Festival with the Jump Jam ramps in the foreground at Crankworx 2006
A central aspect of Crankworx is a series of village-wide promotional displays and activities pertaining to extreme-style mountain biking. Many events happen throughout the week including demonstrations of bicycle tricks, music, and other entertainment. There is also a collection of manufacturers' booths, and the festival serves as a cycling industry gathering. Prominent display-type advertising, for a very wide variety of products, is present throughout all events. The festival has attracted sponsors including Bud Light, CLIF Bar, Monster Energy, Volkswagen, Dose.ca, SRAM Corporation, Norco, Giant Bicycles, Redbull, the Kona Bicycle Company, and various other corporate entities.
Competitions[]
Photographers atop the Garibaldi Lift Company during the Slopestyle Competition at Crankworx 2006
The events held in 2009 were: Dual slalom, Monster Energy Garbonzo Downhill, Quon Memorial X/C Race, Womenzworx, Air Downhill, VW Trick Showdown, Giant Slalom, Kidsworx, Canadian Open Enduro, Trailsworx, Canadian Cheese Rolling Championships, Monster Energy Slopestyle, and the Canadian Open Downhill presented by Kona.