CRANKWORX INNSBRUCK COURSE DESIGNER TELLS ALL
This year, one of Austria's most famous riders helped design the courses
NEWS RELEASE (Courtesy of Crankworx)
Innsbruck, May 15, 2024 – The Crankworx World Tour will return to the Tyrolean Alps in Austria for the eighth time to host Crankworx Innsbruck, from June 12th through June 16th. The festival will bring together some of the world’s best mountain bikers as well as local talent, up-and-coming riders, and what will likely be a huge crowd of spectators who will gather to witness the action in person.
No stranger to the festival is Clemens Kaudela, who has helped shape the landscape of mountain biking in Austria. The 33-year-old, who is consistently pushing limits into the seemingly impossible, will lend a hand to the Crankworx Innsbruck course-building team.
As the excitement builds for Crankworx Innsbruck 2024, less than four weeks away, Clemens Kaudela finds himself in a unique situation. Not only will he be a competitor at the festival, but also a shaper, tasked with crafting the very courses he will soon conquer. Kaudela recently reached new heights and once again proved that he can be labeled an Austrian Mountain Bike legend, becoming the first Austrian athlete to ever participate in the Red Bull Rampage, in 2023.
Clemens Kaudela shows off one of the Crankworx Innsbruck souvenir t-shirts between two of the big ramp jumps at the site of the Crankworx Innsbruck event.
In the following interview, Kaudela reveals his insights into the upcoming event and his dual role as a rider and trail architect:
You’ve already competed at Crankworx Innsbruck yourself. How does it feel to start in front of your home crowd and what thoughts do you have at the start?
Starting in front of a home crowd is always something very special. Of course, you know that there might be a few fans along the track that you know personally, and you always want to perform particularly well and often put a lot of pressure on yourself. But it’s all the nicer that such a big event is taking place in Austria.
You won’t just be riding at Crankworx Innsbruck in 2024, you’ll also be shaping. How did you get into shaping and how satisfied have you been with the courses so far from a shaper’s point of view?
I basically got into shaping because I always had to build my own jumps as nothing was available where I live; that’s also why I always want to improve things. I knew I could do even better and we could only push the sport more. At the same time, it was my passion from the beginning, both riding and shaping.
You know the courses in Innsbruck as a rider. Where did you see potential? How and which courses will you adapt based on your experiences as a rider?
The whole Crankworx event has a lot of courses and an incredible amount of details and has always been an outstanding event in Austria for me. It had a really cool character and always looked great. I’ve never ridden the Slopestyle course myself. This year will be the first time I will have the pleasure of riding it myself prior to the event. I’ve done a few other courses, and of course they were always really, really good and up to standard. As said, there’s always room for improvement everywhere, even with my own tracks that I’ve already built like Nines & Co. That’s my basic attitude, and of course, we’ll try to use the riders’ input that I’m already diligently collecting to tweak the details towards perfection.
What makes the courses in Innsbruck special compared to other stops? Can you judge that?
On the one hand, there’s the panorama, which makes it special, but I would also say that the local topography always determines the character of a track and the slope here is insanely cool. Iconic from the first year! The Whip-Off also has an amazing panorama in the evening, so everyone is eager to put on a good show and get one of these cool shots of themselves. That’s simply what makes Innsbruck so special.
Crankworx Innsbruck starts in four weeks. Why should people definitely not miss the only European touchdown of the Crankworx World Tour?
It’s a must-attend event, it’s the biggest stage in Austria for an event of this caliber and in this epic venue. Reason enough why Crankworx Innsbruck is a must for every biker. You can meet your idols and maybe get an autograph, and there’s definitely guaranteed to be some cool action.
One last question: what do you wish for this year’s Crankworx Innsbruck?
I wish for good weather and hopefully not much wind because everything else will follow. If the weather is good, then the atmosphere is good, the riding is good, the crowd likes it, and that’s what I want.
As Clemens Kaudela gears up for Crankworx Innsbruck 2024, his passion for the sport and dedication to push its limits shine through. Whether he’s shredding the trails or shaping them for others to conquer, Kaudela’s impact on the world of Freeride Mountain Biking is undeniable, and his presence at Crankworx is sure to elevate the event to new heights.
Being visibly stoked for the event in June, Kaudela adds: “I’m really looking forward to shaping the track in Innsbruck, and I hope it’s going to be really cool. See you in Innsbruck in a few weeks!”
It’s less than four weeks today until the eighth edition of the festival goes underway in the picturesque setting in Innsbruck, Tyrol, in the heart of the Austrian Alps. An incredible lineup of athletes, racing and Kidsworx events promise an opportunity to create unforgettable memories. From Speed & Style, the Crankworx Pump Track Challenge presented by Raiffeisen Club Tirol, and the Specialized Dual Slalom, to the arguably most scenic Whip-Off Championships as well as the fan favorite, the Thule Slopestyle, this action-packed schedule holds something in store for everyone.
Festival passes are available at discounted Early Bird rates – only valid until June 2nd! https://www.crankworx.com/innsbruck/passes/
About the Crankworx World Tour
Crankworx is the ultimate experience in mountain biking. Born in Whistler, B.C. in 2004, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop international festival series. The Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines. Crankworx World Tour festivals also host races for amateurs, CWNEXT categories for next gen athletes, Kidsworx contests for young riders, participatory events and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations. For additional information, visit crankworx.com.
