“Mountain biking has been an integral part of Skyline Rotorua’s story, and we will continue to actively support the promotion of our city as a world‑class mountain bike destination.
“The culture, community, and reputation our mountain bike team has built over the past 12 years have been second to none. It is a legacy we are proud of and one that will help shape the next evolution of our tourism offerings.”
He said Skyline Rotorua would provide support to the mountain biking team members to ensure their skills were retained in other areas of the business after the park’s closure.
Skyline Rotorua general manager Andrew Jensen. Photo / Supplied
Jensen said being home to world‑famous trails, including those at Skyline Rotorua and in Whakarewarewa Forest, had cemented Rotorua’s reputation as one of the world’s leading mountain biking destinations.
Passholders have been contacted directly and will receive information about how their passes will be updated.
Jensen said Skyline Rotorua was committed to keeping the destination’s appeal fresh and relevant, pointing to the recently completed rebuild of its luge tracks as an example of its ongoing investment.
Jenna Hastings rides a Skyline downhill trail at Crankworx this year. Photo / Supplied
He stayed tight-lipped about what the future developments would be but said further announcements were expected this year.
Skyline’s website announcement about the closure said design of new developments was underway, “and we look forward to telling that story when the time is right”.
The website announcement said that while the trails were to close, some features, including the Pump, Slopestyle and Dual Slalom tracks, would remain part of the landscape in the immediate future, leaving the door open for future events.
Lisa Gibbons, a Rotorua visitor from Hibiscus Coast, told the Rotorua Daily Post their keen mountain biking family would be disappointed to hear the Skyline tracks were closing.
She said they had just returned from Crankworx and she was looking forward to her children being old enough to ride the Skyline trails.
“I’m super disappointed. We have literally just been at Crankworx and going up the gondola and chair lifts, showing the kids.”
The Whip Off competition at Crankworx at Skyline Rotorua in 2017. Photo / Stephen Parker
She said Rotorua had become a world-renowned mountain biking mecca.
“The fact that you can ride Skyline and do the touristy stuff gives it a point of variety not easily found elsewhere, so it kind of feels like it will be a noticeable loss for mountain biking in New Zealand.”
What about Crankworx?
Rotorua signed a contract to host Crankworx for 10 years until 2027.
Rotorua Lakes Council has helped with funding the event.
Council chief financial officer David Jensen said the first Crankworx Rotorua event was in 2015.
The 10-year contract to host the event in Rotorua, announced in December 2016, runs to 2027.
Jensen said the council contributed $75,000 to the event from 2015 to 2018 and $150,000 in 2019. In 2020, the council approved a $100,000 increase to $250,000 a year for the years 2022 to 2027.
Mountain Bike Events’ Dave Donaldson and Mountain Bike Rotorua’s Takurua Mutu on the Crankworx course in 2020. Photo / Supplied
Mountain Bike Rotorua director Takurua Mutu told the Rotorua Daily Post his company proposed in 2012 to then Skyline Rotorua general manager, Bruce Thomasen, a bike park development utilising its gondola to create the world’s first year-round lift access mountain bike park.
As part of the inaugural Rotorua Bike Festival, they operated an initial event at Skyline Rotorua called Skyline Sprint Warrior.
“The event sold out in 24 hours and was enough to show Skyline the potential for the park.”
He said within two years they had built the bike park and lodged a bid to host a World Cup.
“Through a series of fortunate events, we ended up with something bigger and this would also become the first stop of the World Tour for the next 12 years, Crankworx Rotorua.”
Mutu said Rotorua was one of the most popular mountain bike destinations “on the planet”.
Opening of the Skyline Gravity Park by then Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick, left, and MP Todd McClay in 2014. Photo/Ben Fraser
While most of the trails and the riding takes place in the Whakarewarewa Forest, Skyline Rotorua and Crankworx Rotorua had been integral parts of promoting the city, helping bring tens of thousands of international visitors to Rotorua each year, he said.
Mutu said there was plenty for mountain bikers to look forward to with the building and rebuild plans in the Whakarewarewa Forest beginning to take shape. New trails would hopefully be ready by summer, he said.
Kirsten Van Horne in the
Crankworx Whipoff at Skyline Rotorua, New Zealand. Photo / Clint Trahan
Crankworx Rotorua event director Tuhua Mutu said he supported Skyline Rotorua’s evolution.
“We are incredibly proud of our 13-year partnership with Skyline and the world-class mountain bike park they have created, and we look forward to giving the park the best possible send-off through the 2027 event.”
Crankworx slopestyle event in 2020. Photo / Ben Fraser
Mountain Bike Events chairman and ethics officer Dave Donaldson, who was instrumental in bringing Crankworx to Rotorua, said Skyline had been an excellent partner and had been integral in showcasing the city’s culture and visitor attractions to the world.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.