Local up and coming star Connor Mahuika one to watch at Crankworx

Local Connor Mahuika is one to watch in this year's Crankworx Rotorua. Photo/Clint Trahan

Connor Mahuika has created quite the name for himself in the local biking community.

The 17-year-old rider, in his last year at Western Heights High School, won over the home crowd during the Pump Track Challenge on Mt Ngongotaha at his first Crankworx Rotorua appearance last year.

The then unknown rider ended up fourth overall in the men's elite division, beating mountain bikers from all over the world (out of 35 riders), after taking part on a borrowed bike.
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Connor said he was shocked to do as well as he did during the festival - considering he only properly started honing his skills two years earlier.

"I was pretty shocked about the attention I got and how well I did," Connor said. "I was definitely lifted by the home crowd, they were all chanting my name at a few points - it was unbelievable. It was crazy to think I was out there competing at such a high level."

After his star performance, bike brands Ilabb and 100 Percent jumped at the chance to show him their support, offering him free merchandise and product as well as some mentoring in the future.

Since then he has also gained support from Wide Open NZ, Crown Kiwi enterprises, Vans New Zealand, Velosolutions NZ and Agroventures.

Connor started riding when he was 8 and was inspired to enter Crankworx Rotorua after watching the action during the inaugural event.

"I started out at the skate park, my brothers did it and got me into it," he said. "I tried a bit of the BMX racing when I was younger but didn't really like it, and just stuck with the freestyle type of thing. And when Crankworx rolled into town I just wanted to be out there myself."

The "freestyle type of thing" sees him and his friends trying new tricks at the skate park most weeks, or at his place of work one day a week - Agroventures, Rotorua.

The avid two-wheeler is entered in four events in this year's Crankworx - today's Air DH, and also Whip-Off, Speed and Style and Pump Track later in the week. He will ride a slope bike for his first three events and a hard tail jump bike for his last.

"I can't wait to get involved in the action. This is such a big event and you get such a huge adrenaline rush competing," he said. "The crowd is sick. I'll try my best in all the events. Hopefully I will avoid injury and end up on the podium at some point."

Preparation has seen Connor stay in the Rotorua area while picking up the best trick award at the New Zealand dirt track nationals in December.

He took home the top prize with a double back flip - a trick he mastered by practising on an airbag at Agroventures.

"It's very scary to perform and definitely not a trick I pull out a lot," he said. "You really have to build yourself up to it. Agroventures were great because they really encouraged me to push myself and give it a go and luckily if things went wrong I had a soft landing."

Connor said he would love to try his hand at slopestyle riding which features the Red Bull-style of riding with huge jumps and huge tricks.

"That is the end goal for sure," he said. "I want to be able to travel the world doing the sport I love."

For all the 2017 Crankworx Rotorua events here: