CRANKWORX 2013 - YOUR SHIRTLESSNESS IS APPRECIATED

How I know the sport of mountain biking is taking off—more than just a group of drunken friends voluntarily took off their shirts on an overcast northwestern day, armed themselves with cardboard signage, flags, beer bongs, traffic cones, chainsaws, and bike parts, then gathered atop a massive rock to heckle not just racers, but anything or anybody worthy of a good group chanting. In the world of legitimizing a sport through the fortitude of its fans, mountain biking has finally made it, and in North America no less. When being a quality sports fan requires more than just showing up to an event to cheer with the standard issue cowbell, the fans at Crankworx have really come into their own and can arguably be compared to the diehard of the MBA or NFL.

As the athletes continue to ride faster and fly higher and further performing more complex tricks, the research and development of bike products becomes better and more streamlined, and the media coverage continues to grow from homemade You Tube videos to live webcasts and television coverage, I hope Crankworx’s display of beautiful sports fandom will seep into all facets of mountain biking. It’s about time I see a group of purple body painted people chanting mildly offensive songs in the woods at the next local downhill race!