Edd Ballinger pins it on Gunna Gotta in New Zealand's Whakarewarewa Forest during the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro in February of 2014. PHOTO/Mead Norton
Registration for the first two events of the inaugural Crankworx Rotorua opens at 9am on Thursday and those lucky enough to secure a spot can expect to ride with the best.
Athletes interested in racing the Toa Enduro Rotorua, sponsored by Giant Bicycles, and the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by
iXS this March can sign up online through the Enduro World Series (EWS) and Crankworx websites respectively.
According to the Enduro Mountain Bike Association, interest in the EWS among the factory teams has grown exponentially for this third season of the series with a record number signing on to race.
Crankworx Rotorua director Takurua Mutu said last year's EWS stop in Chile sold out in three minutes and Rotorua is expecting an equally quick response.
"This is going to be an epic event, so we want to make sure all athletes competing for an open entry spot are ready when registration opens," he said.
All of the elite EWS racers from 2014 have registered, including EWS World Champions Jared Graves and Tracy Moseley.
Sidelined by injury for most of last season, Jerome Clementz, 2013 EWS champion, is signed up to race, as is Fabien Barel, who returned from breaking his back to win the last round of the 2014 series in Italy.
Several World Cup downhill racers, who are not regular competitors in the Enduro World Series, are also vying for a podium spot.
Sam Hill, Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar, Troy Brosnan, Brook MacDonald, and Sam Blenkinsop have all registered for this first EWS race of 2015.
The window to secure a spot for the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS is not expected to be as tight, but it too will sell out quickly.
"What makes Crankworx special is the opportunity for the amateur athlete to ride on the same track, in the same race, on the same day as the world's top professionals. We are encouraging those who want to race to register quickly," Mr Mutu said.
Selection and sign-up for the other four competitive Crankworx Rotorua events also gets underway this week.
