Crankworx Rotorua: SPANK Whip-Off and Mons Royale Dual Speed and Style

Words: Anna Beck
Photos: Tim Bardsley-Smith

A wet and soggy New Zealand Enduro World Series race followed by several days of inclement weather saw a shuffle to the Crankworx Rotorua 2017 schedule, with the Mons Royale Dual Speed and Style moved to the Friday, along with the Oceania Whip Off Championships.

Thankfully, with the extra time to dry out, crowds were aplenty and conditions were mint.

Mons Royale Dual Speed and style is a hybrid event unique to Crankworx; part dual slalom, part slopestyle it’s the ultimate test of both skill and fitness as riders are paired off on a course that features pump sections and opportunities for big air. Unlike typical race formats, points are awarded for skill in addition to getting across the line first; thus a classier rider may take the win in the run even if they finished second.

In the end Czech rider Jakub Vencl, 27, snared the win from Adrien Loron, with Mitch Ropelato rounding out the podium. Vencl was a crowd favourite with his consistent air time, but Ropelato stole the hearts of the crowd by nailing a front flip, a move he states he hasn’t attempted in five years,

Crowds come out for Whip Off Champs

As the sun began to set, the backdrop was set for the 2017 Official Oceania Whip Off Championships presented by SPANK.

Thousands of people flanked the base of Mt Ngongotaha to watch riders drop into the whip-off challenge under lights. Crowds were wowed with riders’ supreme skill, making most mortals’ trail riding skills seem completely under-par.

The premise of the Whip Off championship is simple; get in the air, then get your bike as far past 90-degrees as possible, while still still holding it up on when you land it on the down ramp. There is extra kudos for pushing the elevation and displays of bravado. The vibe of the event was electric, the whole crowd collectively gasping and cheering at near misses and wild whips.

For such a small region, it was amazing to walk around the event and hear accents from around the globe.

Alex, Sam and Josh had travelled from Napier and Auckland to spend the week at Crankworx, as they had the previous year. Quite obviously enjoying the party and the beers, they stated that this year’s Whip Off Champs was “way better, there was a way better vibe, a bit darker, under lights…with a few broken bones for us” alas, Alex and Sam were on crutches but that was no impediment to having a good time at Crankworx.

Shannon is a Rotorua local who was also enjoying the Whip Off Champs with a couple of girl friends. Having just finished work they headed up to watch the event. “Having grown up in the region mountain biking is just a part of life” and that in the Whip Off event, “Seeing all the athletes go off together at the same time is really cool. I think the vibe is better than previous years, it’s really grown”.

Heather and Kirsty were fellow Aussies in the crowd, away on holidays from family and work to Rotorua to go to Crankworx and also ride some trails. “How amazing is this?” said Heather, who was sending her husband video’s of the Whip Off champs mid-event. 

Christine and Andrew, from Vancouver, are seasoned Crankworx veterans but it is their first time to Rotorua. Christine says, “In Whistler you have to go up into the bike park and it’s during the day, so this is far more accessible having the event right here”, her partner Andrew elaborates “i’m not sure if it’s quite the same crowd as Whistler, but this is…a very solid crowd, yeah it’s good”.

With the crowd pumping, it was easy to see that everyone was a winner at the Whip Off champs. Wherever you were on the hill there was an excellent view of the athletes, the beer was flowing and the comraderie could be felt. 

For the event itself? 2016 Whip Off Champion Casey Brown once again cemented her dominance in the Whip Off event, with Katy Curd taking second and Vic Armstrong in third. In the men’s event, Reed Boggs took the top step with some next-level whips, followed by Ryan Howard and Alan Cooke and Tyler McCaul tied in third.

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