Skyline opens its doors to Crankworx fans

Crankworx Rotorua kicks off at Skyline Rotorua this week. Photo/Clint Trahan

Excitement is building as the mountain bike world descends on Rotorua for Crankworx this week.

Following the success of the inaugural event and the popularity of Skyline Rotorua's Mountain Bike Gravity Park, Skyline Rotorua general manager Bruce Thomasen said anticipation for the festival is building.

"We are so pleased to welcome back the Crankworx community to Skyline and to host local, national and international visitors in this epic event," he said.

"As always, safety is our top priority and we ask that when you are out and about exploring the Crankworx village, please stay on the specified pathways at all times and ensure that any children in your care do the same."

"Most of our luge and mountain biking tracks will remain operational, so it's important to not walk across any of these."

During the festival, Gravity Park trails will be open to Crankworx ticket holders for two-hour ride sessions, however access will be limited at times due to racing.

These two-hour sessions are exclusive to valid Crankworx ticket holders who have also purchased a two-hour session pass or have a Gravity Park Uplift or Season Pass to ride the park.

The two-hour ride sessions can be purchased for $25, with ride times 8am - 10am, 10:30am - 12:30pm, 1pm - 3pm and 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Session and trail availability will change daily based on the Crankworx event schedule.

Riders can check out the Skyline Rotorua website and Skyline gondola terminal slider boards for daily updates on trail closures.

There will be no public access to the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill Course, Slopestyle Course, Dual Speed and Style Course or the Pump Track until racing begins.

Mr Thomasen said the wide range of activities on offer at Skyline will still be available during Crankworx, should spectators want an adrenalin hit of their own.

"Our Zoom Zipline, Luge and Skyswing will all be operational throughout the event and tickets for these can be purchased online or onsite.

"Crankworx ticket holders also have unlimited gondola access for the validity of the their ticket - so those with a multi-day pass can ride the gondola as many times they wish across the five days.

During Crankworx Rotorua, parking onsite at Skyline will be limited so spectators and visitors are encouraged to use alternative parking sites, which are as follows:

1. Rowi Street Reserve - located on Rowi Street, Western Heights. Visitors turn left onto Kea Street off Fairy Springs Road before reaching Skyline Rotorua going North (and before the Kawaha Point intersection)

2. Waikite Rugby Club - accessed from Bellvue Road. Visitors head North from town along Fairy Springs Road and turn right at Kawaha Point Road. At the end of the road visitors turn right onto Koutu Road and then first right onto Bellvue Road.

This information plus much more will be available from the Skyline Rotorua tent in the Crankworx village.