The return of Crankworx to its home in Whistler this year also brings with it the return of the event's creative invitationals the Deep Summer Photo Challenge and Dirt Diaries Video Competition.
All combined, the two events will feature five filmmakers, five photographers and one wildcard winner chosen as part of the Pinkbike Deep Summer Wildcard Photography Search.
The idea behind these two contests is to not only give filmmakers and photographers a platform to showcase their work to thousands of spectators, "but also to communicate the sense of the sport’s community and belonging in their own creative, meaningful and entertaining way," according to a Crankworx press release.
Contestants are tasked with coming up with a story, assembling a team and turning their visions into reality, with the final projects being screened over two nights of Crankworx Whistler at the Whistler Olympic Plaza.
“After a two-year break due to the pandemic, this year's competitions both have a strong roster of amazingly talented contestants. We are very excited about the return of these events and what the filmmakers and photographers are going to bring to the table," said Deep Summer & Dirt Diaries project manager Jacquie McLean, in the release. “This year there is a great mix of men and women, who have really fantastic but different ways of storytelling. We’re going to see everything from local rider experiences to artistic inspiration and everything in between.”
The Deep Summer Photo Challenge first started in 2009 and offers six photographers the chance to shoot, edit and put together a slide show of images in just three days, with the final video slideshows being screened before fans and a panel of expert industry judges. The winning photographer will be awarded $5,000.
Contests for Deep Summer include: Heather Young, Jeremy Allen, Kaz Yamamura, Rob Perry and Trish Bromley, with the sixth spot going to the Pinkbike Wildcard Winner. More info on each contestant can be found at Crankworx' Deep Summer Photo Challenge page.
The Pinkbike Deep Summer Photographer Wildcard Search opens today. Those who want to enter the contest can do so at pinkbike.com.
Submissions for the wildcard spot will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will select a pool of five photographers to be voted on by Pinkbike readers. Finalists will be announced on Friday, June 24 and voting will run until Thursday, July 7, with the winner being announced on Friday, July 8.
Meanwhile, the Dirt Diaries Video Competition, which got its start in 2012, will see five filmmakers showcase a unique four- to six-minute glimpse into one athlete's life.
The videos, which will be produced within a nine-week time frame and screened before an audience and judges on Thursday, August 11, must include Whistler Mountain and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in a quarter of the film. Outside of that requirement, filmmakers have full creative license.
This year's filmmakers include Peter Wojnar, Blake Hansen, Max Barron, Martha Gill and Matt Tongue.
Athletes featured in the five video projects include Jake Murray, Casey Brown, Robin Goomes, Haz Nation, Gracey Hemstreet, Lucy Van Eesteren, Claire Buchar, Georgia Astle, Yoann Barelli and Steve Vanderhoek, among others.
More info on each of the contestants can be found at the Crankworx Dirt Diaries page.
All filmmakers and photographers who are interested in future editions of the Deep Summer Photo Challenge and the Dirt Diaries Video Competition are encouraged to register their interest here by August 31.
Crankworx returns to Whistler from Aug. 5 to 15.
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