The cat was out of the Freeride bag a while back but now it’s official!

WHISTLER, BC March 23, 2012 – Crankworx will jump the Atlantic Ocean this summer, land in France, and add Crankworx Les 2 Alpes Freeride Mountain Bike Festival to the summer riding schedule July 9-15, 2012.

July’s week-long Crankworx Les 2 Alpes will precede Crankworx Whistler taking place August 10-19, 2012. Crankworx Les 2 Alpes will build on Crankworx’s legendary legacy in the arena of freeride mountain biking and will be the first Crankworx event to take place outside of North America.

“Today, we are happy to confirm the worst kept secret in mountain biking, we have partnered with Ayton Concept to present Crankworx Les 2 Alpes in France. Our teams will work together to plan and execute on the ground, ensuring this freeride mountain bike festival lives up to the Crankworx name,” says Darren Kinnaird, General Manager of Crankworx Whistler. “With six events encompassing Slopestyle, Downhill and two exciting, new Dual hybrids, we believe Crankworx Les 2 Alpes will prove to be an awesome expansion for us and another world-class opportunity for the best mountain bike athletes to showcase their freeride skill and expertise.”

Photo: Nico Lafay

Co-host Ayton Concept was set to debut a freeride mountain bike festival in Les 2 Alpes called K-Mikaz Games in 2012 but after experiencing Crankworx in Whistler last summer with Les 2 Alpes’ Director of Tourism, Gilles Vanheule, discussions to partner with Crankworx at the French resort began.

“I’ve been a fan of Crankworx for years and was in Whistler for the first time with my Ayton-Giant-Les 2 Alpes Gravity MTB Team in 2004,” says Sebastien Chovet, Global Manager, Ayton Concept. “I have been back several times since and each time have been blown away by the location and level of competition. Gilles and I loved what we saw and we knew partnering with Crankworx would be a great opportunity for Les 2 Alpes.”

The level of competition will be high at Crankworx Les 2 Alpes with the IXS Slopestyle rated as a Gold level event on the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour. The invitational event will feature 35 of the world’s best slope athletes competing for a prize purse of €15 000 on a course designed by Yannick Granieri. Les 2 Alpes’ overall prize purse will be €42 000, plus prizes, to be awarded through July 9-15, 2012.

“We are happy to be able to bring Crankworx to Europe and Les 2 Alpes is a perfect venue for the legendary festival vibe and top level freeride mountain bike competition Crankworx is known for,” says Kinnaird. “Just as we have in Whistler, Les 2 Alpes will showcase will showcase the world’s best freeride athletes, expanding the range of what is possible on a mountain bike in an incredible setting.”

“Crankworx has been the highlight of summer for all types of mountain bike enthusiasts for the past eight years,” says professional mountain biker Cam McCaul. “It’s the perfect blend of recreational riding and top-level competition to create a week of fun and excitement that can’t be beat. The addition of Crankworx Les 2 Alpes to the schedule is just what we need to check out their bike park and spread the magic of Crankworx. I can’t wait!”