Crankworx is a renowned freeride and freestyle mountain biking event that takes place every year in a variety of resorts. In 2016, the European leg of the tour will be held in Les Gets, within the Portes du Soleil region in south-eastern France, between 15th and 19th of June. If you or your teenage children are big mountain biking fans, this would undoubtedly be an exciting addition to your summer holiday!
Including downhill races, pump track races, dual speed and slalom, and whip-offs, Crankworx is where the world’s top riders battle it out for the main prize. Not only will it get the family’s adrenaline racing, but you will also have the opportunity to explore the beautiful, lush surroundings if you stay a few extra days before or after the competition.
Here is some practical information to help you make up your mind.
Recommended read: Rock the Pistes Festival at Les Gets
Crankworx Royalty
Being named King or Queen of the Crankworx World Tour is no mean feat – in fact, it is mountain biking’s most difficult competition. Multidisciplinary and season-long, the challenge lasts the whole season and draws on a number of different events. 21 men’s events and 15 women’s events all contribute to the final result, which draws together all aspects of a biker’s skill set. The man and woman with the most points by the end of Crankworx are ‘crowned’ King and Queen respectively.
The reigning King is Bernard Kerr (25), from Great Britain, and the Queen is Anneke Beerten (33), from the Netherlands.
If one of your children is old enough to already be dreaming of taking their mountain biking hobby to the next level, there really is not better inspiration than watching all the pros that compete at Crankworx every year.
Crankworx: 2004-2013 Highlights
There have been plenty of memorable moments that have occurred during Crankworx’s first decade, between 2004 and 2013. Below is a quick summary of the events most mountain biking aficionados are still talking about:
- 2004 – Paul Basagoitia’s rise to the top: Basagoitia was a newcomer when he decided to borrow a friend’s bike in order to compete in Crankworx’s first ever slopestyle event. Despite his inexperience, he went on to win the event, surprising everyone and attracting plenty of sponsors and opportunities his way.
- 2005 – The 360 gamble that paid off: To the crowd’s surprise and excitement, Darren ‘Bearclaw’ Berrecloth decided to launch himself off the slopestyle event’s ladder bridge by spinning 360° over a 60-foot road gap and nailing the landing.
- 2009 – An Olympic medallist joins the event: Anne Caroline Chausson is renowned for winning a gold medal in BMX at the 2008 Beijing games. In 2009, however, she returned to the tracks and won three different Crankworx events that year, showcasing her strengths as a cross-disciplined athlete.
- 2011 – The beginning of a local hero: Brandon Semenuk became notorious when he won the Red Bull Joyride Slopestyle event in his hometown of Whistler, Canada. That same year, he won the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour. He has remained Crankworx Whistler’s crowd favourite ever since.
With all these amazing accomplishments on record, there is no doubt that 2016 will add a couple of remarkable events to the list. Make sure you’re there to witness it!
Where to Get Your Tickets
Have you made up your mind about visiting Crankworx’s Les Gets leg? Or, rather, have your children convinced you this is their ideal holiday highlight? Whichever one it is, getting tickets for the event is really easy.
Crankworx’s official website offers you two different packages, depending on whether you want just accommodation or accommodation and access to everything mountain biking related. The former includes a four nights’ stay at an apartment from €46/person or a hotel from €120/person. The latter includes a three-day MTB lift pass for Les Gets/Morzine and a four nights’ stay at an apartment from €103/person or a hotel from €177/person.
Prices shown here are made on the following basis: a studio apartment for four people or a double-room occupancy in a two-star hotel. If you have different requirements, you can make your enquiries here.
How to Get to Crankworx Les Gets
There are two international airports near Les Gets, but Geneva Airport is the closest one to the resort. Multiple flights travel between London and Geneva daily, and the journey lasts a mere 1 hour and 35 minutes non-stop. Average prices for a return trip start from £65.
Once you’ve landed, the best way to reach Les Gets is by booking one of the speedy Geneva airport transfers available. The drive is just over an hour and not only will you get to enjoy the stunning views outside the car windows, but you will get to forget about your potentially cumbersome luggage after a tiring day of travelling.
There are no public transport options available between Geneva Airport and Les Gets.
Where to Stay:
These are some of the accommodation options you’ll have access to with your Crankworx ticket:
Paméo 4: n°2 – A central apartment with two bedrooms, it has a well-equipped kitchen including a fridge and an oven, a comfortable living room, and a small balcony where you can sit down with a cup of tea on a warm summer afternoon.
Corzolet n°4 – A first floor apartment within a pretty, wood-panelled chalet, it has two decent-sized rooms and a roomy living room/kitchen area. It is very close to amenities and a lovely walk away from the nearby lake.
Chouettes – Ideal for a family who needs more space, this four-bedroom chalet is surrounded by stunning scenery and has all the facilities that you need to self-cater your holiday. The kitchen has lots of room for you to hang around in the evenings after a hearty dinner and there is a pretty terrace where from where you can see the sun go down.
