Sunday features the Redwoods Downhill on The Taniwha, which will celebrate a quarter century in 2019. Also known as the National DH, the trail has evolved over the years, but the heart and soul of it remains the same.
On Tuesday there's the debut of a new Dual Slalom course, built in the Wattles on the Tarawera Rd side of the Tokorangi Forest by the Empire of Dirt crew as a gift from them and Crankworx to our city.
From Wednesday, the focus shifts to Skyline and the drama continues. For the full programme and tickets to the Skyline action: www.crankworx.com/rotorua/schedule/
The week is an opportunity to soak up the spectacle and catch up with friends at the events, the expo at Skyline and over a beer.
And there are a couple of fringe events to enjoy. On Tuesday, March 20, there's a screening of The Moment, the entertaining and inspiring story about the birth of Freeride MTB in British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada.
Whistler in BC is the home of Crankworx and that may not have happened if these pioneers hadn't taken the world of mountain bikes and thrown it off a cliff.
The Moment debuted at the Whistler Film Festival in December and is on a nationwide tour presented by The Big Bike Film Night.
You didn't need to be a skater to love the defining film about the early days of skateboarding, Dogtown and Z-Boys, and you don't need to be a freerider to enjoy the entertainment, humour and craziness of The Moment.
Darcy Hennessey Turenne, who directed the film, is a former pro downhiller and is thrilled that it is showing here.
"Having it screened in and relevant to New Zealand, so far from its birthplace, is a testament to just how influential the pioneers in this film were," she says.
"The fact that there are bike parks all over the world as a result of what a handful of crazy guys were doing in the backwoods of BC is incredible, and to have the film screen in Rotorua, the freeride hub of the southern hemisphere, is very special."
One of the stars of the film, Brett Tippie, will be in town for Crankworx. He'll introduce the screening and next week's column will feature the man, himself.
The Moment screens at The Blue Baths at 7PM. Tickets: www.bigbikefilmnight.nz
Selling fast, so hurry.
Diary the following evening at the same venue for the Mountain Biker Quiz Night starting at 6.30pm with proceeds going to the Rotorua Trails Trust.
It's $100 per team (with a maximum of five players). Questions will be all things mountain biking and there'll be food and beverages available.
To enter a team and reserve your table, email karlpaterson@gmail.com.
