Athletes announced for Crankworx Rotorua

(Photo by Clint Trahan/ShutterDreams)

The invites are out for the first Slopestyle event of the Crankworx World Tour, launching the quest to secure the Triple Crown of Slopestyle in its inaugural year.

The coveted Triple Crown has been created to recognise the perfect trifecta of athletic performance with a win at every round of the Crankworx Slopestyle Series in Rotorua, New Zealand, Whistler, Canada and Les Deux Alpes, France. Only 20 top athletes, and three alternates, will have the opportunity to compete for the new title.

Crankworx World Tour general manager Darren Kinnaird said the Triple Crown of Slopestyle wasn't something Crankworx expected to see won every year.

"This is the pinnacle of where we think the sport can go. Is it possible to do? We don't know, but we're more than happy to provide the platform for the athletes to reach new heights."

Crankworx Rotorua marks a turning point for gravity mountain biking. As the first round of the Crankworx World Tour, Rotorua launches the opening round for every one of the Crankworx Series titles and the race to be named King or Queen of the Crankworx World Tour.

There are four new Crankworx Series titles: the Crankworx Downhill (DH) Championships, the Pump Track Challenge Series, Speed & Style World Championships and the Crankworx Slopestyle Championships.

Riders will collect points in each discipline at the three stops on the tour and the rider with the most points overall will win the series title. Those points will also count towards being named the King or Queen of the Crankworx World Tour. (More information: Crankworx.com)

The introduction of the World Tour concept, has created one of the best race rosters seen at a Crankworx Festival. Registration for the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS includes more top athletes than any other DH race in Crankworx history. Former World Champions Greg Minnar (RSA), Gee Atherton (GBR) along with previous Kings of Crankworx Steve Smith (CAN) and Mick Hannah (AUS) are all confirmed for the race.

The women will be out in full force as well as they compete for the first time with equal podium prize money up for grabs. Former World Champion Rachel Atherton will go head to head with reigning Queen of Crankworx Casey Brown and 2013 Queen of Crankworx Jill Kintner. And as the opening round of the Enduro World Series, the Giant Toa Enduro will see the world's best enduro racers and top downhillers sign on to one of the most competitive line ups in this young sport.

Crankworx Rotorua director Takurua Mutu said these races were going to be a pivotal start to the year launching the Crankworx Series.

"Kiwi fans have an opportunity to see the full spectrum of gravity mountain biking with the world's best professional riders all competing in New Zealand's mountain biking mecca of Rotorua."

The professional athletes currently invited or registered to compete at Crankworx Rotorua include:

Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle (full invitation list)
Antoine Bizet (FRA), Thomas Genon (BEL), Yannick Granieri (FRA), Tomas Lemoine (FRA), Tyler McCaul (USA), Kelly McGarry (NZL), Anthony Messere (CAN), Logan Peat (CAN), Sam Pilgrim (GBR), Louis Reboul (FRA), Sam Reynolds (GBR), Brett Rheeder (CAN), Nicholi Rogatkin (USA), Brandon Semenuk (CAN), Martin Soderstrom (SWE), Carson Storch (USA), Anton Thelander (SWE), Greg Watts (USA), Tomas Zejda (CZE), Cam Zink (USA) Alternates: Paul Genovese (CAN), Simon Pages (FRA), Mitch Chubey (CAN)

Official Oceania Whip-Off (Confirmed Riders) Loic Bruni, Brendan Fairclough, Finn Iles (World Champion), Eliot Jackson, Bernard Kerr, Eddie Masters, Tyler McCaul, Kelly McGarry, Kyle Strait, Cam Zink

Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by RockShox
Women: Anneke Beerten, Anne Caro Chausson, Tracey Hannah, Jill Kintner
Men: Sam Blenkinsop, Brendan Fairclough, Mick Hannah, Tomas Lemoine, Adrien Loron, Brook MacDonald, Kyle Strait, Matt Walker, Joost Wichman
Full list of riders to be released shortly.

Mons Royale Dual Speed and Style:
Ryan Howard, Tomas Lemoine, Conor MacFarlane, Martin Soderstrom, Kyle Strait, Greg Watts, Cam Zink
Full list of invited riders to be released shortly.

Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS:
Women: Rachel Atherton, Tracey Hannah, Jill Kintner, Casey Brown, Emilie Siegenthaler

Men: Gee Atherton, Sam Blenkinsop, George Brannigan, Troy Brosnan, Loic Bruni, Brendan Fairclough, Sam Hill, Brook MacDonald, Eddie Masters, Greg Minnaar (RSA), Steve Smith, Mick Hannah

Giant Toa Enduro:
Women: Tracy Moseley, Anne Caro Chausson, Cecile Ravanel, Anneke Beerten, Rosara Joseph
Men: Fabien Barel, Sam Blenkinsop, Troy Brosnan, Jerome Clementz, Jared Graves, Sam Hill, Justin Leov, Greg Minnaar, Wyn Masters, Damien Oton, Nicolas Vouilloz

Stay tuned for more Crankworx Rotorua announcements to come. Crankworx Rotorua runs March 25-29, 2015 in Rotorua, New Zealand and marks the first stop on the Crankworx World Tour. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.co.nz/crankworx.