Once again, Whistler will play host to the final stop of the Crankworx World Tour (CWT) in 2024, as the beloved mountain bike festival returns from July 19 to 28. Next year's event will feature a groundbreaking new discipline: the first women's Slopestyle World Championship (SWC) in history.
"Since 2015, Crankworx has set out to create gender equality through equal prize money, shared podiums, and equal opportunity for men and women, knowing that slopestyle would be the most challenging to integrate," said Crankworx managing director Darren Kinnaird in a press release. "Through the development of women's speed and style and, more recently, women's freeride mountain bike world tour slopestyle events, the road has been paved for women to compete at the highest level of the sport.
"After witnessing the women compete at the Crankworx Summer Series in Silver Star this past summer, it became clear to us that they are ready."
In 2024, each SWC women’s event will host the six highest ranked riders on the FMB Women’s World Tour Ranking six weeks before the contest in question. Athletes will need a minimum of 500 points to be eligible.
Equal prize money will be awarded across the SWC women’s and men’s categories, with more than $500,000 CAD to be awarded next year across various competitions.
The Triple Crown of Slopestyle, granted to any rider who wins three Crankworx slopestyle events in one season, will be up for grabs to both women and men, with a value of $25,000 CAD per crown. Emil Johansson last clinched the honour in July.
Furthermore, Red Bull Joyride champions will be granted lifetime entry to Crankworx slopestyle events.
“Having the [Slopestyle] World Championships and Triple Crown [of Slopestyle] for women promotes inclusivity and equality in our sport,” said American rider Shealan Reno in a release.
Patricia Druwen and Jake Atkinson, the incumbent Red Bull Rookies of the Year, will each have a reserved spot in next season's opening SWC contest.
"I’m super motivated," said Druwen, of Germany. "The jumps are so much bigger and then you have to learn to do your tricks on them at the same time as well. I’m so stoked about having a women’s slopestyle competition at Crankworx."
Learn more at the Crankworx website.
