An international mountain bike festival will receive government funding to secure events in the South Island and Rotorua, offering significant economic, social and cultural benefits to Aotearoa.

Crankworx will receive up to $8.1M from the government’s major events fund to support the delivery of six Crankworx mountain bike events including the November 2022 final to Rotorua and the return of Rotorua hosting the first stop on the tour from 2023–2027.

The funding secures the future of up to 24 Summer Series events, hosted across the South Island, after a successful launch last year.

Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash said he was thrilled to be able to support the future of Crankworx global events in New Zealand.

“This is one of the most important mountain bike festivals in the world with a huge international following, so it’s great to continue to host it,” Stuart said.

“We’ve held Crankworx events for the past seven years, and they have all been highly successful, attracting international visitors while incentivising the development of and upgrades to mountain bike and event-related infrastructure.

“The cumulative economic impact of the 2015-2021 events has been independently assessed at over $25.9 million, which doesn’t include the ongoing economic benefit of international visitors who spend and travel beyond the event, as well as the lasting awareness and hype generated for Rotorua.

“As we welcome back our international visitors, it’s the perfect time to broaden our commitment to the mountain bike festival. This funding will support extended Summer Series events, which help to distribute social and economic benefits across our South Island communities, in particular to Central Otago, Queenstown, and Wānaka.”

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) awarded more than $30,000 to Crankworx at a council meeting on June 30 from its events fund. 

Last year's Crankworx Summer Series saw events take place over a fortnight at four locations, starting in Alexandra (Super D), Queenstown (Downhill and Pump Track), Cardrona (Air Downhill) and Wānaka: Dual Slalom.

Tourism Central Otago general manger Dylan Rushbrook said his organisation was “right in the middle of conversations” regarding what the summer series would look like in Central, Queenstown and Wānaka for 2023.

“The announcement from the Minister’s office helps with that longer term planning as it gives certainty to event partners knowing that NZ Major Events will support bringing the Crankworx Summer Series to this region for 2024-2027.

“From a Central Otago perspective we know events like the Crankworx Summer Series raise our profile as a biking destination, but more significantly they inspire our communities to be active and show pathways for local athletes to the world stage. Just look at how well local riders performed against the pros last year at Matangi MTB Park.”

Crankworx is the world’s biggest and most influential mountain bike festival, dubbed by Bike Magazine as “the Super Bowl of the mountain biking world”.

Stay tuned to The Central App, we’ll bring you announcements about Crankworx as they are made, which is looking likely to be next month.