Burbidge-Smith and Blewitt delight crowds at opening 2024 Crankworx stop in Rotorua
The 2024 Crankworx World Tour stop in Rotorua finished on Sunday March 24 with Harriet Burbidge-Smith claiming a slopestyle second place following the elite downhill podium finish for home favourite Jess Blewitt last Sunday in New Zealand.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
Australian Burbidge-Smith ended on a high with an impressive second place at the inaugural Diamond Level Women’s Slopestyle World Championship event as home rider Robin Goomes claimed victory with a 90.75 score and Australian Caroline Buchanan finished in third place.
After their initial runs, close friends Goomes and Burbidge-Smith – who trained together in preparation for the event – opted for a ‘party train’ for their second and final run led by the Australian.
Burbidge-Smith, 27, said: “I think the first run was definitely something I knew I could do consistently, which is what I wanted to do. And I was really happy with it. So stoked! And after that, it was just like, I don’t think I had the next five points in me after this week. I had a couple of crashes and I kind of talked to Robin up top.”
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
The March 17 downhill racing kicked off a week of action at Crankworx Rotorua and, in the women’s elite race, there was plenty to cheer for the home crowd as Kiwi riders dominated proceedings.
Shania Rawson was the first home rider to get the crowd off their feet as she went fastest, but her lead didn’t last long as fellow Kiwi Blewitt produced a lightning-quick run to take the lead by almost five seconds.
Blewitt then watched on as her compatriot Eliana Hulsebosch rocketed down the track, delivering a faultless run as she finished almost six seconds clear of second place.
Blewitt, 21, said: “Honesty, I haven’t got much left in the tank so I’m just stoked to see Eliana get the win. When I first started racing there weren’t many girls competing, so it’s good to see more young riders and see how the sport has grown.”
