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Here are the 5 riders you need to look out for at Crankworx Rotorua 2018
It's almost time to light the blue touch paper on the first big mountain bike festival of the year. But who’s going make it their own? Join us as we preview the action and make some bold predictions.
TheCrankworx World Tour is where ordinary human beings perform the extraordinary and launch into the realm of the unimaginable. In 2018, Crankworx brings their feats of two-wheeled magic to four stops around the world.
Come along for the ride as the Crankworx World Tour travels to Rotorua, New Zealand (March 17-25), Innsbruck, Austria (June 13-17) and Les Gets, France (June 20-24), before bringing it home to Whistler, Canada for the 15th year of Crankworx competition (August 10-19).
Crankworx Les Gets
© Fraser Britton
The Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship competition continues to be the feature MTB event of each of the week-long festivals – and you can watch all the action live right here and over on Red Bull TV.
Crankworx is the event where all slopestyle riders want to hit their potential. But slopestyle isn't the only showcase in town. Riders from just about every discipline in mountain biking will battle it out among the Redwoods. The RockShox Pump Track, Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style and Rotorua Downhill races will be shown live on Crankworx.com, so you won't have to miss a thing.
Scroll down to learn about the riders to watch in Rotorua.
1. Matt Jones
Matt Jones muddied but ready
© Fred Murray
Country: United Kingdom
Discipline: Slopestyle
5 min
Matt Jones: Frames of Mind
Matt Jones unveils unique tricks in his new edit with a visual twist that brings one of Red Bull’s most iconic stills techniques to life.
Crankworx Event/s: Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style Rotorua, Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships
Career Highlights: 1st at Farm Jam 2014, 2016, 2018, New Zealand; 1st at Sam Pilgrim Big Air Invitational 2015, UK; 3rd at DMR Dirt Wars 2016 at the NASS festival, UK; 2nd (Freeride) at FMB World Tour 2015 – Bike Days, Switzerland; 2nd at White Style 2015, Austria.
Philosophy: Grab life by the horns.
2. Brook Macdonald
Brook MacDonald in the flesh
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
Country: New Zealand
Discipline: Downhill
2 min
Skyline Bike Park with Bruni, Macdonald and Iles
Brook Macdonald, Finn Iles and Loic Bruni prepare for Crankworx by riding with the locals at Skyline
Crankworx Event/s: Crankworx Rotorua Downhill
Career Highlights: 15 UCI MTB World Cup podiums including 1 World Cup win in Val d’Isere, France, in 2012; 2009 Junior Downhill World Champion; 1 Crankworx Rotorua Downhill podium.
Philosophy: Take the bad with the good and live life to the full.
3. Loïc Bruni
Loïc Bruni
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Country: France
Discipline: Downhill
1 min
Loïc Bruni - Night Chase
Watch Loïc Bruni tackle a trail under lights in Cannes
Crankworx Event/s: Crankworx Rotorua Downhill
Career Highlights: 2 time UCI MTB World Champion in 2015, 2017; 15 UCI MTB World Cup podiums including 1 World Cup win in Cairns, Australia, in 2016; 2012 Junior Downhill World Champion; 2 Crankworx Rotorua Downhill wins.
Philosophy: To have fun and smile always
4. Jill Kintner
Jill Kintner relaxing in Pietermaritzburg
© Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Content Pool
Country: United States
Discipline: Downhill
Crankworx Event/s: RockShox Rotorua Pump Track Challenge,Crankworx Rotorua Downhill
Career Highlights: BMX Olympic bronze medallist in 2008; 3-time Queen of Crankworx; 31 Crankworx event wins; UCI 4X World Champion in 2005, 2006, 2007; UCI 4X World Cup Champion in 2007; 15 UCI 4X World Cup wins; 5 UCI World Cup Downhill podiums.
Philosophy: The more you know the less you need.
5. Finn Isles
Finn Iles
© Scott Serfas / Red Bull Content Pool
Country: Canada
Discipline: Downhill
2 min
Finn Iles
Watch as rising star Finn Iles shreds trail for 100 seconds of exhilarating action.
Crankworx Event/s:RockShox Rotorua Pump Track Challenge,Crankworx Rotorua Downhill
Career Highlights: 2016 Junior Downhill World Champion; 9 UCI Junior World Cup Downhill wins; 4 Crankworx Junior Downhill wins.
Philosophy: If you dream it, you can do it.
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