Crankworx Innsbruck: "It's going to be a brutal show!" - Clemens Kaudela, Rider & Shaper

Why do we say that the Thule Slopestyle in Innsbruck is the first Crankworx Slopestyle of the year? Well, only half of the opening slopestyle event in Rotorua, New Zealand, took place, meaning that only the women competed. The men? They rebelled, were unhappy with the course, the pay, the treatment of newcomers and cancelled their participation altogether. Super trickster and rider spokesperson Nicoli Rogatkin (28) commented: "It's a shame for the fans, but important for the future of the sport!" But now the trick show begins for the men in Austria.

For the eighth time, the Crankworx World Tour returns to the heart of the Tyrolean Alps to host Crankworx Innsbruck. From 12 to 16 June 2024, all eyes will be on the festival, which hosts a variety of mountain bike events and brings together the world's best athletes with local talent, newcomers and spectators who can witness the action on site.

Crankworx Innsbuck 2024: Interview with participant & shaper Clemens Kaudela

Clemens Kaudela is no stranger to the festival. The 33-year-old is a Exceptional talent, on the bike and in the excavator. Kaudela is one of the top athletes in gravity sports, was last year's First Austrian at the Red Bull Rampage and together with Brit Sam Reynolds he shaped the biggest jumps in the world at the Dark-Fest in South Africa.

Kaudela will now lend a hand to the Crankworx Innsbruck course construction team. After all, the slopestyle course has hardly changed in recent years. So while the excitement around Crankworx Innsbruck 2024 is building in less than four weeks, Clemens Kaudela finds himself in a very special situation. He will be both a participant and shaper at the festival. We spoke to him.

FREERIDE: You've already taken part in Crankworx Innsbruck yourself. How does it feel to compete in front of a home crowd and what are your thoughts going into the race?

Clemens Kaudela: Starting in front of a home crowd is always something very special. You know that you have fans at the track that you know personally, which creates pressure. In other words, I always want to do particularly well in front of a home crowd. But it's even better that such a big event is taking place in Austria. It's going to be a brutal show!

You won't just be riding at Crankworx Innsbruck 2024, you'll also be shaping. How did you get into shaping and how satisfied are you with the courses so far from a shaper's point of view?

I got into shaping because I always had to build my own jumps. There was nothing where I lived. When you're a rider yourself, you quickly realise what's good and what's not so good. My hobby became my job, my job became my passion, both riding and shaping.

You know the routes in Innsbruck as a rider. Where do you see potential for improvement?

The whole Crankworx event has many tracks and an incredible amount of detail and was always an outstanding event in Austria for me. It had a really cool character. I've never ridden the slopestyle course myself. This year will be the first time I will have the pleasure of riding it myself before the event. I've ridden a few other courses before and they were always very, very good and of a high standard. As I said, there is always room for improvement everywhere, even with my own courses that I have already built, such as Nines & Co. That is my basic attitude, and of course we will try to use the input from the drivers, which I am already diligently collecting, to perfect the details.

What is special about the routes in Innsbruck?

The panorama is amazing. The local topography, i.e. the terrain, is very important for the trails. And the terrain is almost ideal. I particularly like the Whip-Off event. Because every participant wants to put on a show and gives everything they've got to really put their bike sideways. Plus the amazing panorama - it guarantees crazy photos.

Crankworx Innsbruck starts in four weeks, why should you 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 calibre and in this epic location. Reason enough why Crankworx Innsbruck is a must for every biker. You can meet your idols and maybe get an autograph, and cool action is guaranteed in any case.

What are your hopes for this year's Crankworx Innsbruck?

I'm hoping for good weather and hopefully not too much wind, because everything else will work out. If the weather is good, then the atmosphere is good, the riding is good, the crowd likes it, and that's what I want.

About the Crankworx World Tour

Crankworx is the ultimate experience for mountain bikers. Launched in 2004 in Whistler, B.C., Canada, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-venue international festival series. The Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in a variety of disciplines in elite-level competitions.

Crankworx World Tour festivals also feature races for amateurs, CWNEXT categories for up-and-coming athletes, Kidsworx competitions for young riders, hands-on events and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations.

Festival passes for Crankworx Innsbruck are currently available at a discounted early bird price - but only until 2 June!