Today's history-making Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza is providing a platform for women to compete in a Diamond Level Slopestyle event for the first time ever.

Male athletes, however have decided to withdraw from the competition today. The decision came on Saturday after a series of negotiations aimed at addressing rider requests around renumeration and support infrastructure.

At Crankworx Rotorua on Super Saturday, fans were treated to a  '2-for-1' special.

The day started off with the Specialized Dual Slalom before heading over to the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge.

As the rain fell on the Specialized Dual Slalom in time for the final rounds, on-site MC Philly Angus summed up: “Is it really Crankworx Rotorua without a bit of rain?”

The rain made the flat corners of the new Dual Slalom course indisputably tricky as it sustained the wet conditions throughout the rounds. Battling through these corners required extreme precision and made the difference for where the race was won or lost.

Female silver medalist Kialani Hines, who later won the Pump Track Challenge, reflected on her runs at the brand-new course.

“It was fun racing out there! It was a little scary as the track is so fast and you’re riding it as hard as you can.”

She also talked about her match-up against Martha Gill, who took home gold at the Dual Slalom.

“The finals was the hardest match up for me today," says Kialani.

"Martha and I have gone together a bunch of times, and our qualifying time was basically identical, our time was 0.002 difference, so you can’t make mistakes and you can’t hold back and I kind of did that, but it was still fun racing!”

Jordy Scott coming in third, completes the female podium of the Specialized Dual Slalom.

Jakob Jewett beat 2023 Gold medalist Jackson Frew in the final rounds by only a hairsbreadth, making this his fourth podium at this year’s Crankworx Rotorua.

On third place, Rotorua local and reigning King of Crankworx Tuhoto-Ariki Pene grabbed his spot on the podium in a duel against Lachie Stevens-McNab.

Podium Specialized Dual Slalom – Male Category

1. Jakob Jewett (CAN)

2. Jackson Frew (AUS)

3. Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (NZL)

Podium Specialized Dual Slalom – Female Category

1. Martha Gill (GBR) \

2. Kialani Hines (USA)

3. Jordy Scott (USA)

After the heavy rain showers passed in the late afternoon, spectators gathered around the freshly groomed and light-flooded Pump Track.

Whilst rain continued to sprinkle, the track held up against the wet and the athletes racing through it in the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge.

After parts of the event had been delayed due to the weather, Ryan Gilchrist and Tuhoto-Ariki Pene went head-to-head in front of a cheering crowd that resisted the wet conditions.

Ryan Gilchrist sums up the intensity of his duel against Pene.

“Fierce competitor," says Ryan.

"Just nothing but the best he brings to the table at every race. I knew I needed to bring my best, and I did rise to the occasion and I’m very very proud of how I put myself together there.”

In the small final, last year’s silver medalist Niels Bensink prevailed over Tegan Cruz on the challenging track that has been described as “very technical” by this year’s victor Ryan Gilchrist.

Podium Rotorua Pump Track Challenge – Male Category

1. Ryan Gilchrist (AUS)

2. Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (NZL)

3. Niels Bensink (NED)

Podium Rotorua Pump Track Challenge – Female Category

1. Kialani Hines (USA)

2. Shania Rawson (NZL)

3. Jordy Scott (USA)

Full results at: https://www.crankworx.com/results

Looking at the current King and Queen of Crankworx standings, it becomes evident that some riders have had a truly amazing week of racing at Crankworx Rotorua.

Currently leading the Queen of Crankworx standings is Martha Gill, closely followed by Rotorua local Shania Rawson.

While the leaderboard has changed throughout the week, so have some riders’ goals for this year’s Crankworx World Tour.

“Over the week my plans have definitely changed. Which means, yeah, you’ll see me at every stop, I hope”, says Shania Rawson.

Shania has competed in five events over the past seven days, in three of which she grabbed the silver medal.

On the men’s side, the reigning King of Crankworx is currently holding on to his throne, thanks to great results across all of this year’s Crankworx Rotorua events so far.

Ranking second at the moment is today’s Pump Track victor Ryan Gilchrist, followed by Jakob Jewett.

Top 3 – King of Crankworx Standings

1. Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (NZL) 2. Ryan Gilchrist (AUS) 3. Jakob Jewett (CAN)

Top 3 – Queen of Crankworx Standings

1. Martha Gill (GBR) 2. Shania Rawson (NZL) 3. Jordy Scott (USA) The current King & Queen of Crankworx Standings can be found here.

Full schedule: www.crankworx.com/schedule/#rotorua Photos for media use: Pump Track // Dual Slalom VNR: Pump Track // Dual Slalom