Editorial: Get your piece of bike fun

Crankworx is coming to Rotorua again. Photo / Supplied

It's now just days until the world's largest mountain biking festival rolls into Rotorua and with any international event like this, its success relies on local people getting behind it.

To get an event of the stature of Crankworx to Rotorua is a victory in itself. Our hats should come off to the small, but dedicated group of locals who managed to bring the event here in the first place.

People like our deputy mayor Dave Donaldson, Mountain Bike Rotorua's Tak Mutu and Skyline Rotorua's Bruce Thomasen, just to name a few.

Then there is the hard work and skill of the team from Empire of Dirt, a local company which has designed and built trails the elite riders from around the world will tackle during the five days of extreme competition.

Not to mention the hundreds of local volunteers who will be marshalling events, manning car parks, drink stations and the like to help everything run smoothly.

From Wednesday to Sunday next week many of the world's top riders, their support crews, fans and sponsors will descend on the Skyline Rotorua Gravity Park. They will be followed by media from around the world reporting back from the event.

But, it is not all about the bikes and their riders, there is plenty of fun and entertainment on offer so everyone can pick up on the vibe of the event. A number of free concerts will be held in the Village Green attracting some of the Rotorua and New Zealand's top performers. The Friday will see Jamie McDell, the Hipstamatics, Savage and The Peacekeepers perform. Saturday will see Rotorua's Open Arms and Strangely Arousing take to the stage with big-hitters ManaLion, The Black Seeds and P-Money.

There is also lots on offer for kids wanting to get involved with the Kidsworx Zone, which offers opportunities for them to meet their heroes and take part in special kids-only events.

However, the missing component is you. While plenty of people will be coming to watch the event from out of town, it is the local component that will make or break Crankworx Rotorua.

Grab yourself a ticket and head out to Skyline to see your piece of the action. Even if you have no interest in mountain biking these events are something to behold.

The competitors are certifiably mental and the action is fast-paced and intense, so prepare for back flips, jumps and the inevitable epic crashes.