June 1, 2011 (Whistler, BC) – The world’s best mountain bikers have already inked Kokanee Crankworx 2011 into their competition calendars, what about you? While you are at it, get next year’s dates, August 10-19, 2012 into that calendar as well.

For mountain bikers of all ages and competitive backgrounds, event registration for the eighth annual Kokanee Crankworx is officially open. The world’s biggest freeride mountain bike festival offers the largest prize purse ever, over $164,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded through July 15 to 24, 2011. Ten days of non-stop action will attract hundreds of athletes from Red Bull’s elite athletes to amateurs looking to rub shoulders with the world’s best riders.

Registration for Kokanee Crankworx 2011 can now be found online at here.

“We have raised the prize money in every event and in every category,” says Darren Kinnaird, Kokanee Crankworx General Manager. “Every year Kokanee Crankworx athletes step it up and for 2011 we are stepping it up big time.”

The schedule has changed with the Garbanzo Downhill and Canadian Open DH trading dates. The Canadian Open DH will take place on Sunday, July 17 while the Garbanzo Downhill will run on Tuesday, July 19. “Based on athlete and team manager feedback, we decided to swap the Canadian Open DH to the Sunday and kick off Kokanee Crankworx with a great variety of racing from the Fat Tire Crit to Dual Slalom to the raucous Canadian Open DH,” says Kinnaird.

With a field of over 650 athletes and over 1,300 competitor starts accounted for at Kokanee Crankworx 2010, early registration is encouraged for 2011. Athletes cannot register for the Teva Trick Showdown or the Red Bull Joyride event, as these events are invitational formats with 25 of the top professional freeride athletes competing.

Event and Registration Details
The registration event pages for Kokanee Crankworx can be accessed here.

Amateur registration fees are $55 plus HST and professional registration fees are $65 plus HST. Register online prior to July 14, 2011 and save a $10 on-site surcharge. The Athlete Centre will be open from 12-5pm July 15 and then from 9am-3pm for the balance of Kokanee Crankworx.

On-site registration will be available space permitting, as some events have caps on registration. No day-of registration will be offered, only check-in for pre-registered competitors. Advance registration is strongly recommended. For special Kokanee Crankworx accommodation offers, including rooms from $99 at Aava Whistler Hotel; check out here for more info or to book.

Stay tuned to crankworx.com for upcoming news and connect through Facebook.com/crankworx or Twitter.com/crankworx.

The eighth annual Kokanee Crankworx is presented by Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Kokanee Crankworx is the biggest annual event held in Whistler and is also the largest freeride mountain bike festival in the world. Each year the best amateur and professional freeride, downhill and slopestyle mountain bike athletes gather for a nine-day, non-stop barrage of competition and celebration. Whistler has the world’s most diverse offering of mountain biking terrain, including 150 miles of single-track trails, 5,000 vertical feet of lift-accessed downhill runs in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, jump parks and 20+ miles of paved Valley Trail.