The fourth of our Five Rad Days in Rotorua got started with some serious off-bike adrenaline, as we jet-boated, bungee-swinged, sky dived (kinda) and got sent flying down a hill inside a massive, inflatable golf ball thingo! It was quite the way to start the day! We’d hoped the morning’s madness would just be warm up for an afternoon of action at the Slopestyle, but you can’t fight the weather, and rain has seen the main event pushed back to tomorrow.
Velocity Valley is where you head if you’re looking for a serious thrill off the bike. The misty morning tells the tale of a wet afternoon to come.5ooo,000 horse power! (Well, lots anyhow). Feeling the mad g-forces in the Agrojet at Velocity Valley.It’s crazy feeling taking on the faux sky dive.This is the face of pure fear. Shitting bricks on the Swoop giant swing.Just next door the Crankworx site is Ogo, Rotorua, the original downhill ball rolling crew.There’s only one way in…“What do you mean there’s rain coming… It’s Slopestyle day bru!”Probably wouldn’t look this green if it was part of a downhill track amiright?!Meanwhile, back at the Crankworx site. That moment when you realise you’re still not quite as good at jumps as Brett Rheeder…Unfortunate scenes with racing coming in on and off all day at Skyline. The crowds huddle, waiting for gaps in the rain for the Slopestyle boys to drop in.The feeling when you’re stoked on seeing pro riders and all, but the weather is kinda bumming you out!While we all waited at least we could still checkout the downhill riders in practice.Bit of Karate Kid for the trail crew. Tarp on, tarp off…Tarp on, tarp off…If you can beat them, join em?A tease of blu skies that never quite made it to us…Certainly some interesting looks going around this Crankworx… Riders being good sports with the fans as always.The rain stopped and tools were rushed to the course to fix up some muddy spots the rain had left.Everybody getting into it, even Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson!Finally the patient fans got a chance to see some riders coming though.Most riders were just getting used to the new course and conditions, but Brett Rheeder was stomping tricks on most features in his ‘warm ups’.Even straight airs somehow look rad when these guys pull them off.Thomas Lemoine pulling off a 360 on possibly the sickest looking Canyon frame we’ve seen.Defending champ Nicoli Rogatkin getting comfy with some tailwhips before the rain came again and unfortunately postponed the event which now, weather depending, will be run Sunday arvo after the downhill!The Deep Summer Photo Challenge has become a ket part of the Crankworx experience. Four photographers have three days to put together an inspiring montage of Rotorua mountain bike life. The crowds loved it, seeing their town through the lens of some incredible shooters.Eat St, the main food strip in town, was flooded with riders and mountainbike fans watching the Deep Summer slideshow.The well deserved winner for the night, Laurence Crossman-Emms alongside Rotorua local Connor Mahuika who feautred in Laurence’s presentation!No better way to finish a day at Crankworx than heading to Eat St to have a few bevs and laughs with ya mates!
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