Crankworx Rotorua 2020

A crazy week wraps up the first stop of the Crankworx 2020 tour. From a beautiful spot, Rotorua, surrounded by world-class biking trails, hot spring, and thermal waters and kind locals, on the North Island of New Zealand.

I took a direct flight on a late Saturday night from Vancouver and arrived to Rotorua in the afternoon of Monday, the 2nd. Passing Hobbiton movie sets, green hills, happy sheep and interesting rock formations on the way, I arrived in Rotorua.

I’m already familiar with a vibrance of Crankworx, from Whistler, being one of the biggest events of the year in our town. But with a kind kiwi hospitality, openness, and care for media and athletes, this was one of my favorite Crankworx weeks so far. Rotorua is very special and I’m nothing but a happy kid, thinking back to last week and everything that went down.
I covered Adrien Loron’s journey to the top, as he competed in Speed and Style, AirDH, Dual Slalom, and Pumptrack! What a week.

I got to meet many inspiring athletes and photographers while pushing myself both physically and creatively and watching others push this crazy sport! I love this, could do it every week!

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After a week like that, there was only one thing left to do. Go surf.

Two hours west of Rotorua, there’s a place that I definitely left behind to quickly. This whole trip went by way too fast, but our time in Raglan was short. We arrived in the afternoon, checked in to a jungle house and went for a sunset surf session.

The guys showed me the famous Raglan nightlife, and I fell in love instantly. What a spot, Woah! There’s something about these hippie towns that just gets me hooked right away.

One quick surf session for the sunrise and I was already late to the airport. Checked my bag in, without any shower and still a bunch of zinc on my face, but that’s okay. Life in the fast lane, like our friend, likes to say.

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If you are taking a vacation soon, I’d like to invite you to take advantage of this – 65$ off Airbnb discount for your next trip! Enjoy it for me as well.

☽ Follow me on Instagram – @alenkaamali – to see more of my adventures ☽

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More about Alenka

“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!

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