Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Graeme Simpson: Crankworx - the wait is over

Rotorua Daily Post
29 Feb, 2020 01:14 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The wait is over.

Crankworx 2020 starts Sunday March 1.

One of the big changes this year is the Dual Slalom will be on a brand new course on the Rotohokahoka Trust block right next to the Skyline on Wednesday.

It's the work of Chris Martin and Adam King from Empire of Dirt. They also built the Dual Slalom in the Wattles next to Tarawera Rd which was the venue for the event last year.

What's the secret to a great build?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chris: "Good design, communication between Adam and I and with whoever we're contracted to. You've got to have passion for the work and also attention to detail. That's all it is."

A new Dual Slalom, how exciting?

Adam: "Out of 10? Probably 11."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chris: "We've got more gradient this year, so faster racing and a more technical track."

Adam: "It's definitely more spectator-friendly this year. Without the trees at the Wattles, you can see the whole track. This is going to be wicked."

Chris; "It's going to have an awesome atmosphere being here at Skyline. Everyone can go from one event to the other."

Crankworx Dual Slalom action. Photo / Fraser Britton Photography
Crankworx Dual Slalom action. Photo / Fraser Britton Photography

How has the big dry impacted the build?

Discover more

Crankworx Rotorua: Who's coming?

20 Feb 10:33 PM
Sport

Crankworx 2020: Rotorua on the world stage

25 Feb 05:30 PM

Graeme Simpson: Rotorua's volunteers vital to successful events

22 Feb 12:36 AM

Empowering women at Crankworx Rotorua

29 Feb 12:00 AM

Adam: 'This is definitely the driest year that we've had working at the Skyline site. It's a bit like digging in flour. It's been a lot of hard work. A lot more physical in the hot weather, a lot more time compacting and testing the track."

What's the EoD philosophy and what's next after Crankworx?

Adam: "Making dreams come true for many mountain bike clubs around the country. "We've also been getting into building asphalt pump tracks, a big thing for local Councils. We just finished a little pump track in Hillcrest in Hamilton…so, very community-driven initiatives by the councils.

"We're currently working on the Forest Loop as part of the Whakarewarewa Forest upgrade with Rotorua Lakes Council and Rotorua Trails Trust. That's a big job and Crankworx is a yearly event for us in Rotorua."

Chris: "Also a track for the Bikes in Schools programme at Rotorua Primary School."

Adam: "We've got a big A-line style jump trail to build in Arapuke in Palmerston North. They're pretty excited about and we're excited to do it. A lot of our jobs are out of town these days."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Chris: "We have got a few jobs coming up in the Bay of Plenty which we can't disclose – they are top secret."

As volunteer chairperson of MTB Events Inc, the not-for-profit company that oversees Crankwork, Dave Donaldson keeps a close watch on all new developments.

"Adam and Chris have nailed it again," he says. ""In 2020, Red Bull Media House has picked up all Crankworx live broadcasts and asked for the Dual Slalom to be added to the 4 from last year.

"Logistically, it was just too huge a job to get the OB vans etc across town to the Wattles and back, so thanks to the Rotohokahoka Trust, the team has master-minded this mega-venue with all 5 live-broadcast events arriving at the arena for Red Bull Media House to stream to their millions of followers worldwide. "For Rotorua that is incredibly exciting"

See the Crankworx website for the full programme, livestream times and online ticket sales: www.crankworx.com/festival/rotorua/

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Rotorua Daily Post

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

24 Jun 09:26 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM

Primary school Rocket League players qualify for major tournament finals in Australia.

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

24 Jun 09:26 PM
Three tests, surplus of Twenty20s as Black Caps summer fixtures announced

Three tests, surplus of Twenty20s as Black Caps summer fixtures announced

24 Jun 06:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP