The feature events of the weekend were the New Zealand Cross Country Championships in the Whakarewarewa Forest on Saturday followed by the Downhill Championships on Sunday. These were on a brand new course at Skyline Rotorua on the slopes of Mount Ngongotaha. The same venue will host Crankworx in late March.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anton Cooper won the Elite Men's Cross Country with Kate Fluker winning the women's event.
Trek World Racing's George Brannigan retained his Men's Downhill title. He was the only rider to break the 3-minute barrier on a challenging and physically sapping course. Alannah Columb won the Elite Women's title.
With the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro a sell out at 400 entries and two other weekend events, the XRACE and Bike the Lake Rotorua, accounting for another 900 entries so far, the festival is already up on last year's numbers.
"It really demonstrates the strength of the biking community in Rotorua," Mr Croft said.
The festival continues until Sunday.
The full programme is on www.rotoruabikefestival.com.