Mountain bikers, fans get cranked for Crankworx
In 2004, Crankworx started out as a three-day mountain bike event in Whistler. Since then, it’s grown into an international circuit that culminates in a 10-day festival in the resort. Attracting as many as 130,000 visitors, Crankworx is now being called Whistler’s biggest annual sports event. Crankworx ends Sunday.
11 THE CHEESIEST WINS
Although it’s called the Great Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival, it’s really more of a cheese chasing event: Sane adults run after 11-pound wheels of aged farmhouse cheese as it rolls down a hill to the finish line.
21 and 15 ROYALTY GETS CROWNED
The King and Queen of Crankworx is a season-long challenge that’s been called the most difficult challenge in mountain biking. The crown is awarded on the basis of tabulated results from 21 events for men, 15 for women.
350 VOLUNTEERS WITH BENEFITS
An event such as Crankworx wouldn’t be possible without the work of 350 volunteers. They’ll put in 4,777 hours of work and consume an estimated 48.4 litres of coffee, 1,265 lunches, and 8,000 energy bars.
700 and 1,200 CHAIN REACTION
A total of 700 youngsters and 1,200 adults — the latter evenly split between professionals and amateurs — will compete in 22 events during the event.
30,000 GETTING ALL CRANKED UP
Combining elements of dirt jumping and North-Shore style mountain biking, the Red Bull Joyride is the season-ending event in the Crankworx Slopestyle Series that attracts upwards of 30,000 to Boneyard in Whistler Mountain Bike Park.