Whistler each year holds the world’s attention as it hosts the biggest biking festival in the home of mountain biking. With world renowned free to access trails surrounding the town, and the world class bike park of Whistler Blackcomb, biking here is a way of life and Crankworx it’s annual pilgrimage.
Read more to discover why Crankworx is such an amazing time to visit Whistler, and how Nita Lake Lodge puts you in the heart of the action to enjoy the festival like a pro.
19th-21st July
Rockshox Canadian Open Downhill.
Whistler Creekside
Experience one of the biggest events of the festival on opening weekend right here in Whistler Creekside. Witness some of the fastest downhill racers in the world hurtle down the famously gnarled and rooty single-track of Whistler, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of spectators and a world of fans watching from home.
The best viewing is had by either taking the Creekside Gondola with your bike and riding the trails to find a good viewing spot, or by walking from the bottom of Creekside to the timing flats to join the crowds celebrating the fastest times. With its location close to Creekside Gondola, Nita Lake Lodge is perfectly placed to head up for a viewing party.
Group A Finals
2.30-5.30pm (Streamed Live from 3.30pm)
With the Rockshox Canadian Open Downhill such a big event, there are great things to see all weekend in Creekside. With different 3 categories of racers and training to spectate, you can be sure to see plenty of action. Full schedule here.
Pro tip: bring plenty of water, snacks and sun protection as you may find yourself wanting to stay longer with all the action happening.
Fancy getting in the action in a fun and friendly way? Join the pro's and ambassadors at Liv cycling for private laps of the famous A-Line jump trail. Not for begginners, but a no-pressure way of grabbing guidance to take your riding to the next level.
Upload from our local Creekside Gondola, or if you are renting your bike in town, use our shuttle for the short drive over to Whistler Village.
More details here.
Bringing the family? Put your treasure hunting skills to the test with a scavenger hunt across the many of the famous biking and Crankworx locations. Search for clues and enjoy the atmosphere of the fesitval, accessible via bikes or on foot!
With so many events at Crankworx, there is a full schedule of air and speed to be enjoyed. Let’s have a look at some of the highlights of an incredibly packed week.
Monday's features the Specialized Dual Slalom in Whistler and Aprire networking event. Keep an eye out for U15 and U17 Finals, as well as the incredible Adaptive Finals.
Want to enter into the industry? The Aspire networking event encourages aspriational members of the biking community to get involved and put their name out there.
U15 & U17 Finals 3:45pm-6pm
Aspire 5.30pm-9pm
The wild Garbonzo Downhill Finals are worth a watch if you can find time to venmutre up the mountain. Featuring a super long 3400-foot top to bottom run, it's a battle of skill and willpower against the clock on the gnarly Whistler Bike Park trails on a 7 kilometer descent.
Tuesday is also worth keeping an eye out for the training sessions for Red Bull Joyride and Outdoor Research Air & Style viewable from skiers plaza in Whistler Village.
Garbonzo Downhill Finals 2.30-6pm
Wednesday is jam packed with Air Downhill Finals (a speed event on Whistler's famous A-Line jumps), Official Whip-Off and Dirt Diaries film screening.
If you are heading up the bike park, the Whip-Off will alwasy be a crowd favourite, featuring kings of style aiming to get as sideways as possible on the jumps.
Whistler Air Downhill Pro Finals - 3.45-5.45pm
Whip-Off - 6-7.30pm (Bike Park Pass required)
Dirt Diaries - 8.30-9.45pm (Olympic Plaza)
2 bikers, racing each other for the best combined best time. This is the theme of Thursday. Keep an eye our for the pro finals of the Specialized Dual Slalom happening today. The Ultimate Pump Track Challenge uses the same format but riders rely on reading the terrain to get speed without pedalling.
Dual Slalom Pro Finals - 1.30-3pm
Ultimate Pump Track Challenge Pro Finals - 7-8.30pm
Fridays big hitter is the finals of the Outdoor Research Speed & Style. Two riders race against each other and try to make it to the finish as quickly as possible while performing the most stylish run. If you want to see big tricks and high speeds this is worth a look.
Speed & Style Finals - 5.30-7.30pm (Skiiers Plaza)
Canadian Open Enduro + Red Bull Joyride
Be sure to check the official site for up to date schedule changes.
Keep your eyes peeled for the biggest event in mountain biking with the Redbull Joyride at Whistler Bike Park. This fantastic event is about pure style with riders throwing down the biggest tricks down a custom-built slopestyle course.
This year also brings the first ever women's category for the event, an important step and a sign of the incredible growth of the sport.
Redbull Joyride Final - Time TBD, Please check schedule for latest updates
Keep your eyes peeled for the biggest event in mountain biking with the Redbull Joyride at Whistler Bike Park. This fantastic event is about pure style with riders throwing down the biggest tricks down a custom-built slopestyle course.
This year also brings the first ever women's category for the event, an important step and a sign of the incredible growth of the sport.
Redbull Joyride Final - Time TBD, Please check schedule for latest updates
Enduro racing is a tough combination of uphill endurance, and downhill prowess. With the Whistler event being an exeptional example of the sport. With the range of trails available in Whistler, the generalist reigns supreme on the mixture of gnarled roots, flow and tech trails available for selection in the coastal resort.
Canadian Open Finals: 8.30-4.30pm Sunday 28th
Enduro racing is a tough combination of uphill endurance, and downhill prowess. With the Whistler event being an exeptional example of the sport. With the range of trails available in Whistler, the generalist reigns supreme on the mixture of gnarled roots, flow and tech trails available for selection in the coastal resort.
Canadian Open Finals: 8.30-4.30pm Sunday 28th
On the doorstep of the Westside bike trail network, and within easy reach of Creekside Gondola for bike park access, we believe there is no better way to awaken your senses than by connecting with the elements. That's why we took the best things a quintessentially Alpine lodge has to offer and filled them with pleasure.
Why stay at Nita for Crankworx?
- Easy access to the action in Creekside.
- On demand shuttle for transport to Whistler Village.
- Award-winning spa for post-biking recovery.
- Private dock with access to Nita Lake.
- Bike storage available
- Eat like an athelete at our 3 dining outlets. Focused high quality food using locally sourced ingredients.
