One of Canada's biggest mountain biking festivals has arrived in Ontario for the first time
CBC
It's time to dust off your bike and strap on your helmet: one of Canada's largest mountain biking festivals is being held in Ontario for the first time.
The Crankworx Summer Series Canada begins Thursday and features a series of competitions where expert riders can show off their tricks. Organizers are also offering a variety of trails for beginners to get their feet wet (in the mud).
Many local Ontarians say the event gives seasoned riders the chance to showcase their work.
"When I started riding ... we didn't have any slopestyle events or anything," said Toronto resident Keon O'Brien, who started mountain biking after visiting the Joyride 150 Indoor Bike Park in Markham as a teen.
The 20-year-old has been training for six years, often attending riding events in British Columbia.
"I have a lot of family coming out to this event," said O'Brien, who will perform at a slopestyle course on Saturday.
"It's super cool to have events back home with the hometown crowd."
The Summer Series program began in 2020 with the goal of helping Canadian athletes grow. It's modelled after the Crankworx World Tour, which takes place annually in Australia, Austria, New Zealand, and Whistler, B.C.
Christopher Coppitts, the project manager of Crankworx Summer Series Canada, said Ontario has always been on the team's radar as a host province.
"Ontario has a rich history producing some of the actual best slopestyle athletes, just with smaller hills," he said.
"That has some of them focusing their efforts more toward the trick and slopestyle discipline."
The festival is being held at Horseshoe Resort, located near Horseshoe Valley and Penetanguishene roads in Barrie.
The resort said it built courses for three main events, including an air downhill track for large jumps, a dual slalom course and a track where riders race head-to-head.
There will also be a slopestyle course where athletes perform tricks in front of a panel of judges.
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