Crankworx: Q & A with event director Tak Mutu

Crankworx event director Tak Mutu, 32, is counting down the days ahead of this year's festival. Photo/Stephen Parker

It's just days until the world's best mountain bikers will be zooming and flying through the air at Crankworx Rotorua. Ruth Dacey caught up with event director Tak Mutu for a quick-fire, bike-inspired Q & A.

What event at Crankworx are you most looking forward to watching?

Visually it has to be the Slopestyle - the best riders in the world riding some of the biggest jumps in mountain biking competition. It's where we get our biggest crowds, we're talking about 15,000 people hanging out - the atmosphere is just off the scale.

But I'm also very excited about the new school events that are happening [2017 Professionals Rotorua National Schools MTB Championships]. It's something that we really wanted to make happen. It's great that school kids can come down to Crankworx and not just watch the action, now they can participate, get in there and compete. They'll be mingling amongst the world's best and can ride their bikes alongside them, that's pretty cool. We're having three fields - the cross country, and cross country relay and downhill.

It's massive for Crankworx and will see a few hundred bikers entered. Registrations to this event have skyrocketed.

Which riders are you excited to see in action?

Of course it's great to see the international stars and big names floating around but for me it's all about our local riders. The calibre from Rotorua is really high, we've got top world athletes. I think we'll certainly see some local names challenging to take out lots of the individual titles. Keegan Wright is one to watch and hopeful he can hit some strong results this year, not just here in Rotorua but throughout the season. I also want to see New Zealand riders in general just dominate the podiums - they are up there with the best in the world so there is no reason why they can't.

What can first-time spectators of Crankworx expect?

I'd love to break that 20,000-mark of people through the gates. There really is an event for everyone to enjoy and for those who've never been before try out our free locals day next Wednesday. Favourite Crankworx moment to date?

Back in 2015 the weather had been torrential before the premiere Slopestyle event - none of the organisers thought it could go ahead. I was so determined to make it happen though - I even had a friend fly up in a helicopter over Mount Ngongotaha and give me updates with the weather patterns. I decided to make a call and go ahead with it at midday, it was still chucking it down but just a few minutes before deadline the blue skies came. It was incredible, at the last second I had leaf blowers out there on the course and people drying jumps and a miracle happened - it went ahead. I'll never forget that.

How often do you ride on your bike?

I started riding around in the Whakarewarewa Forest since I was 8 years old and it's a passion I will always have no matter what. In winter I find I go around three or four times a week but summer it's more difficult to get as many rides in because I'm so busy. Also my priorities have changed since the birth of my daughter, Maia, a year ago. Her name means to be brave and bold and she certainly is that. I'm not complaining though as she already has a keen eye for speed - I can't get her off her little trike!

Crankworx Rotorua will be hosted for the third year and has an extended programme of events for 2017, running nine days from March 25 to April 2, a full four days longer than previous years.

Crankworx by the numbers:
18 Crankworx Rotorua events
320 volunteers (including two schools involved, Toi-o-homai and School of Tourism)
1500 crew lunches made over the week
10,000 estimated Crankworx bike tyres on the course
13,750 international room nights (1528 international visitors staying for an average of nine nights.)
4.7 million online viewers (2016)