Action from the Slopestyle event at Crankworx Rotorua 2022. Video / Supplied
The last day of Crankworx Rotorua was far from smooth sailing.
There was mud, rain and lots of rescheduled riding during the last day of the final stop of the Crankworx World Tour, with riders working around the weather to train and compete.
Ever a popular event for spectators, theSlopestyle event was held late yesterday afternoon, taken out by Emil Johansson from Sweden.
Emil Johansson from Sweden during the Slopestyle event at Crankworx Rotorua on Sunday. Photo / Supplied
Before the event, German mountain biker Erik Fedko said it had been a rough week battling with the weather conditions.
"It was super rainy and windy, so we had one day of practice."
Normally, riders would have five days, he said.
Wet weather disrupted Crankworx Rotorua training and event schedules. Photo / Laura Smith
The worst part was sitting it out and trying to relax, he said. It was good to be able to "get it [practice] done", but it kept having to be pushed back.
He said the general feeling was that the weather would clear by the time of the event.
Fedko was one of more than 250 riders taking part in the event, which began on November 5. There were 325 volunteers on-site over the course of the week.
Crankworx Rotorua event director Ariki Tibble said it had been 20 months since it delivered the last full-scale local event, and it was hard to find the words to express how it felt to have so many international manuhiri back in their midst.
Erik Fedko performs during Slopestyle Training at Crankworx in Rotorua. Photo / Graeme Murray / Red Bull Content Pool
"Hosting visitors is part of our DNA, it brings out the best in us, and we feel more whole when we are doing it.
"It has been amazing to have Crankworx Rotorua back, and we can't wait to reset the calendar in March as we return to our original position as the first stop on the Crankworx World Tour for 2023."
Crankworx Rotorua event director Ariki Tibble on the last day of the 2022 event. Photo / Laura Smith
The event also offered an opportunity for local vendors, and FTP Vegan Eats owner Kaya Sparke said it was great to be back. It was the third time she had been at the event with the food truck.
"It's honestly so good, this is one of our most favourite events. It's just such a good vibe and atmosphere."
She said it was also nice to be somewhere for a long period of time, not needing to pack up and leave.
"The customers are just so polite, so amazing. We really love it."
There were 58 sponsors, food vendors and expo sites at the event.
