Crankworx B.C. kicks off in a month with the three-round event taking in the best B.C has to offer in terms of riding locations, as well as some serious local talent.
Overseas riders have been added to the mass of British Columbian native talent for the 2021 edition of Crankworx B.C, heading to Sun Peaks in a month’s time, before heading to Golden and Kicking Horse for round two, with the series rounding out in SilverStar Mountain Resort.
Check out the full press release below.
King and Queen Contenders (and those keen to disrupt)
- Georgia Astle (CAN)
- Danielle Beecroft (AUS)
- Casey Brown (CAN)
- Harriet Burbidge-Smith (AUS)
- Amy Ertel (CAN)
- Micayla Gatto (CAN)
- Bailey Goldstone (CAN)
- Robin Goomes (NZL)
- Jill Kintner (USA)
- Angie Marino (USA)
- Camila Nogueira (ARG)
- Rachel Pageau (CAN)
- Vaea Verbeeck (CAN)
- Niels Bensink (NED)
- George Brannigan (NZL)
- Joe Breeden (GBR)
- Fabien Cousinie (FRA)
- Jackson Frew (AUS)
- Mick Hannah (AUS)
- Peter Kaiser (AUT)
- Bernard Kerr (GBR)
- Adrien Loron (FRA)
- Kirk McDowall (CAN)
- Garret Mechem (USA)
- Tomas Slavik (CZE)
- Bas van Steenbergen (CAN)
- Keegan Wright (NZL)
Slopestyle’s Elite (final list will be determined August 23 based on FMB World Tour rankings)
- Alex Alanko (SWE)
- Timothé Bringer (FRA)
- Diego Caverzasi (ITA)
- Paul Couderc (FRA)
- Erik Fedko (GER)
- Max Fredriksson (SWE)
- Thomas Genon (BEL)
- David Godziek (POL)
- Lucas Huppert (SUI)
- Tom Isted (GBR)
- Emil Johansson (SWE)
- Lukas Knopf (GER)
- Tomas Lemoine (FRA)
- Nicholi Rogatkin (USA)
- Torquato Testa (ITA)
- Jakub Vencl (CZE)
- David Lieb (USA)
“So stoked to come back in Canada,” said Tomas Lemoine, who’s currently in the lead in the King of Crankworx standings. “I wish there were Crankworx every months during the season ahaha. I feel good on the bike lately, riding a lot and getting ready! Excited to see a new location, some new courses and obviously spend a week of good times and competition with all riders!”
“I’m so excited!” said Harriet Burbidge-Smith. “It’s been two seasons missed due to injury and COVID, so I haven’t been back to Canada in a long time – I feel ready physically, but mostly I am just so stoked to ride a bunch of different spots with my friends!” And on being in the lead for the Queen of Crankworx title coming out of Innsbruck? “It’s a cool feeling, I am just living out my dream at the moment! What was supposed to be a 3 week trip has turned into a 7 month trip and I am just loving being on my bike and feel confident in my riding.”
Athletes will be competing in the following. Events marked with an asterisk will be live on Red Bull TV.
Stop 1 (September 22-24) – Sun Peaks Resort:
- Specialized Dual Slalom Sun Peaks*
- Crankworx Downhill Sun Peaks*
- Crankworx Air DH Sun Peaks
Stop 2 (September 26-27) – Golden and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort:
- Mt7 Psychosis
- CLIF Speed & Style Kicking Horse*
Stop 3 (September 30-October 2) – SilverStar Mountain Resort:
- Specialized Dual Slalom SilverStar
- Crankworx Air DH SilverStar
- RockShox Pump Track Challenge SilverStar*
- Title Slopestyle @ SilverStar Bike Park*
In addition to the new Slopestyle course being built by Brett Rheeder and Matt MacDuff at SilverStar, a highlight is sure to be the return of Mt7 Psychosis to Crankworx competition. The race was resurrected during the CLIF Crankworx Summer Series in 2020 after a 12-year hiatus. It challenges the brave to charge down 1200 vertical meters of rough and rocky singletrack, including an infamous, mind-bendingly steep entrance, and one equally notorious “choking on glass” (credit to Tyler Morland in Seasons) hike-a-bike section.
“This has been a goal of ours since we got to bring Psychosis back last year,” said Crankworx Managing Director Darren Kinnaird. Psychosis challengers over the years include Sam Hill, Claire Buchar, Stevie Smith and Chris Kovarik. Last year, Andréane Lanthier Nadeau and Henry Fitzgerald added their names to the history books, both taking the win and setting new course records in the 11+ minute race.
“To be able to share this experience with our international racers in 2021 is going to be something special. We had a rider briefing at the top of Mount 7 before the race in 2020, talking about the history and explaining the terrain, and you could have cut the anticipation and nervous energy with a knife. This race is a part of our sport’s history. To be able to carry it forward into the present is an honour. It’s a great addition to the roster and I can’t wait to see it all come together in B.C. in September.”
The countdown is on, with five weeks ‘til go time.
Coverage of Crankworx B.C. will include live racing and competition on Red Bull TV, event highlights, behind-the-scenes action, and more.
Crankworx B.C. will be the second of three stops on the Crankworx World Tour in 2021.
- June 16-20: Crankworx Innsbruck
- Sept 22-October 2: Crankworx British Columbia
- November 1-7: Crankworx Rotorua
