Editorial: Tireless work blazes a trail

Frenchman Loic Bruni waits to see if his downhill time was quick enough to win the inaugural Crankworx Rotorua Downhill event.

Rotorua has ridden the crest of a high-performance mountain biking competition for the past week, and indications are it will be back better than before.

Yesterday's finale to the Crankworx Festival at the Skyline Rotorua Gravity Park capped five days of intense competition. It is the first time the world-renowned event has come to these parts, and recent reports of awestruck competitors, media and fans have lifted its success for organisers.

Fans and residents also made the most of live New Zealand music during two days of the Crankworx Bikes and Beats Festival at the Village Green this weekend. It is hard to imagine fans being unable to enjoy the distinguishable entertainment that effectively wrapped up the week-long festivities - especially when it was free.

Today, we are reporting on the impact of Crankworx for Rotorua.

There has been high praise for spectator venues and the quality of the trails.

Accommodation providers are said to have enjoyed full occupancy during the past week too.

This kind of success steers a favourable course for the next three years when Crankworx and an international contingent return to Rotorua for more competition and festivities.

Tireless hard work from Rotorua's mountain biking pioneers is paying dividends for them, their favourite pastime and the city.

To have an event with the magnitude of Crankworx come here is fine reward for those who have been blazing a trail these past years. It elevates Rotorua's destination reputation, and recognition could not be more deserving.