And just like that, the world’s biggest mountain bike festival is back for its 16th edition and it’s (almost) go time!
Crankworx and Whistler are two words synonymous with the pinnacle of the sport of mountain biking. Combine the two, and you have the ultimate. Nowhere else you will find this caliber and collection of athletes, from across disciplines, together in one place. Along with the athletes, the annual festival, brings together industry, fans, and spectators for a celebration bigger than any other on the planet.
The 10-day spectacle includes races and competitions (for pros, amateurs, and kids), cultural showcases, a vibrant expo throughout Whistler Village, a demo zone to check out and test new bikes and products, movie screenings, parties and more.
Here’s a look at where we’ve come from and what’s coming for Crankworx Whistler by the numbers:
- 16: years since Crankworx debuted in Whistler in 2004
- 10: number of days the festival spans coming from August 9-18
- 30,000: spectators on-site for the biggest event of the week: Joyride
- 1181: athletes from around the world
- 1090: Kidsworx racers
- 30: total events
- 7: new events in 2019, including the Adaptive MTB Jam Session and a women’s category in the CLIF Speed & Style
- 339: Members of the Crankworx Whistler Volunteer Crew
Want to get in on the action? Check out the spectator guide for all the information and insider tips on how to get there, where to watch and how to make the most of your time in Whistler.
Following from home? Crankworx has you covered with an extensive live webcast coverage schedule ensuring the best seats in the house. Here’s what you need to know to get amongst the goodness in 2019.
Canadian Open DH presented by iXS
Watch it LIVE on crankworx.com; Sunday, August 18th 2pm PDT
Staged on the final weekend of Crankworx; this one run take-down of Whistler’s rooty single-track brings no mercy to elite downhill experts from around the world.
Race day 1 : Saturday, August 10th 4pm PDT Race day 2 : Sunday, August 11th 8am PDT
The Canadian Open Enduro brings together the best riders on the planet to compete in this season’s sixth multi-stage race of the Enduro World Series for 2019. The event’s notoriety has prompted some athletes to call the Crankworx Whistler race the “World Champs” of enduro.
Watch it LIVE on crankworx.com; Saturday, August 17th 4:30 PDT
The marquee event of Crankworx: the Red Bull Joyride is dubbed “The Super Bowl of Mountain Biking” bringing upwards of 30,000 spectators to the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park to watch the top 14 slopestyle mountain bikers in the world. Each athlete puts together a run of tricks over a series of jumps and impressive features all visible from the top of Whistler village. The competition is the final stop of the season-long Crankworx Freeride Mountainbike Association Slopestyle World Championship, ensuring for a great show.
Watch it LIVE on crankworx.com; Wednesday, August 14th 5pm PDT
The rivalry is the name of the game. This old school format pits two competitors against one another in a side-by-side battle against the clock’s cruel hand, battling to avoid elimination. The best part? Enduro experts, downhill champions, freeride legends, and masters of style all line up to compete at the Slalom start gate to see who can bring the together the most explosive run through the course. A must watch!
Official Whip-Off World Championships
Thursday, August 15th 3:30 pm PDT
The premise? Simple. Hit the Whistler Bike Park’s most infamous jump line, Crabapple Hits, go big, and throw your bike as sideways as possible, then bring it back underneath for a smooth landing. Called ‘Christmas” for the bike-minded by Casey Brown, the invitational event brings out one of the biggest, and definitely the wildest crowd of the year as a mix of the best riders in the world battle it out for the coveted championship belt.
Watch it LIVE on crankworx.com; Friday, August 16th, 6pm PDT
“Go fast and do tricks”, is easier said than done, correct? Dirt will fly, tricks will roll, and one rider will emerge the master of speed and style held at Base 2 on Blackcomb Mountain.
Kidsworx
Kidsworx programming at Crankworx has grown to include multiple events and over 1000 young shredders. Events include:
- Kidsworx Speed & Style Invitational presented by Cliff
- Kidsworx BMX Challenge
- Kidsworx Enduro
- Kidsworx B-Line Race
- Air DH Kidsworx Invitational
- Kidsworx XC
- Kidsworx Dirt Pump Track Challenge
Details and registration for all kids events can be found here: https://www.crankworx.com/cwx-kidsworx/whistler/
Get the full schedule and details for all 12 pro and amateur sporting events happening in Whistler, August 9-18: https://www.crankworx.com/whistler/crankworx-whistler-schedule/
The Whistler Bike Park will be affected by Crankworx and will experience trail closures varying day by day. Check the signs at the bottom of the Fitz Chair for daily trail closure information for a full list of closures.
The Crankworx world tour with its three global stops , represents the pinnacle of the sport. And while the festival has gone international, each year the global mountain bike community comes home to Crankworx Whistler for the ultimate celebration of all things mountain bike. The original. The biggest. The best. The defining celebration of mountain biking. Don’t miss a chance to get in on the action and come watch the big show.