Pro mountain bikers say Crankworx in Cairns will be an epic spectator event

A supreme sports event is set to bring the world’s best mountain bikers to Cairns for the first time, putting FNQ firmly on the adventure sports map. Read what it means for the region.

EXCITEMENT is building among riders ahead of Crankworx, the world’s ultimate mountain biking festival, which will be held in Cairns for the first time in October.

Some of the world’s best mountain biking athletes have been supervising the Smithfield course build, with one calling it “a massive step above anything that’s been built in Australia before”.

“This is probably one of the more progressive competition sites that’s been built in the world because it is the latest and greatest,” Remy Morton, director of Flux Trail, said.

Remy Morton from Flux Trail, Tom Hey from Elevate trail building, project manager Rhys Jones and Glen Jacobs from World Trail have been busy building mega jumps for the Crankworx competition. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It’s going to be one for the history books of Australian mountain biking, which is pretty exciting.”

Mr Morton, who will be competing at Crankworx, said the event was likely to put Cairns in the minds of mountain biking enthusiasts across the nation.

“I hear a lot from all the riders and it’s definitely the biggest thing that’s happened for mountain biking in Australia,” he said.

“Having trails in Queensland is insane because it’s a place riders don’t usually come to, they usually go to Tassie or Victoria.”

Remy Morton performs during the submission video shooting for consideration for Red Bull Rampage 2022. Picture: Logan Gallagher/Red Bull Content Pool.

The four-day Crankworx will be held at the new Smithfield mountain biking course, behind James Cook University, from October 5.

Track designer Tom Hey, managing director of Elevate Trail Building, said the track would contain elements that have never been seen before.

“We’re aiming to build something really unique,” Mr Hey said.

“It’s going to be special to see what the athletes do. Some of the unique features on the course include a big dirt half-pipe, which is pretty ambitious. Riders will get big air, boosting up to seven metres and doing some pretty cool tricks.”

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, World Trail director Glen Jacobs and Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen among mega jumps that the Crankworx competition will use. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns mountain biker Glen Jacobs, owner of World Trail and the first Australian to be inducted into the mountain biking hall of fame, said FNQ lends itself to a unique and attractive destination for adventure sports athletes.

“It’s one of the only mountain bike destinations in the world that’s rainforest,” he said.

“When Crankworx visited here they saw it as something that is really unique.

“It really will put Cairns on the map. You’re so close to the reef and rainforest, only 15 minutes to an airport and accommodation is close too.”

TTNQ CEO Mark Olsen said the event would be another huge boost to the region’s tourism economy.

“More than $6m of visitor expenditure is going to come in as a result of a couple of days of intense competition and a hell of a lot of fun,” Mr Olsen said.

“More than 750 riders are going to come here, beam us into television sets all over the world and show off this region.”

A variety of Crankworx passes are on sale at crankworx.com.

Originally published as Pro mountain bikers say Crankworx in Cairns will be an epic spectator event