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Crankworx annouces lineup for Deep Summer photo challenge & Dirt Diaries video competition.
Crankworx Whistler is just around the corner and with it, two of the festival’s preeminent creative competitions; the Deep Summer Photo Challenge and Dirt Diaries Video Competition presented by Swatch.
These invitational competitions will see 12 competitors, including one lucky Wildcard winner (chosen as part of the Pinkbike Deep Summer Wildcard Photographer Search), participate in the most-hyped showcases of mountain bike cinematography.
Celebrating the heart and soul of gravity-fuelled mountain biking, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop world tour, bringing together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines, and top cinematographers and photographers for some seriously creative competition.
Through the use of visual mediums in photo and video, hopeful contestants of the Deep Summer Photo Challenge and Dirt Diaries Video Competition are tasked with creating a unique, meaningful, entertaining story capturing the creative spirit of mountain biking while celebrating the industry’s community and culture.
Screened live over two nights during Crankworx Whistler, to audiences of thousands, Deep Summer and Dirt Diaries competitions are an incredible opportunity for these diverse creatives to showcase their unique prowess and be judged by brands and elites of the industry.
A crowd favourite at Crankworx Whistler every year, the Deep Summer Photo Challenge contest captures the best of Whistler’s mountain bike culture in just one weekend. Five invited photographers, plus the winner of the Pinkbike Deep Summer Wildcard Photographer Search are presented with the unique opportunity to shoot, edit and weave together an epic photo slideshow. Each slideshow will then light up the night under the stars at Whistler Olympic Plaza on Tuesday, July 25, where a massive crowd will experience Deep Summer in Whistler through six different lenses. With a total prize of $5,000, awarded to one winner, and the prestige of joining the elite ranks of past Deep Summer winners, photographers will be putting it all on the line.
“We are very excited to once again partner with the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) for the Deep Summer Photo Challenge. Through this partnership participants have the opportunity to work with the SLCC Ambassadors to gain deeper knowledge of the authentic Indigenous people, traditions and connection to the land - the unceded shared territory of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation - the land we all enjoy, where we reside, visit and ride.” Jacquie McLean, Deep Summer & Dirt Diaries Project Manager shares.
The Pinkbike Deep Summer Photographer Wildcard Search opens Thursday, June 8. Those keen and think they may have what it takes can enter the competition >> HERE.
Open to everyone, submissions for the wildcard will be reviewed, and five photographers will be selected by the panel of judges appointed by Pinkbike. Finalists will be announced Thursday, June 22, and Pinkbike readers can then vote over two weeks this summer until Friday, July 7. The winner of the Deep Summer Photographer Wildcard Search will officially be announced on Friday, July 7 and will go on to join the other contestants shooting during the first weekend of Crankworx Whistler to battle it out for the winning title.
Now in its tenth year, Dirt Diaries presented by Swatch, has been referred to in the past as “the Cannes of the two-wheeled world”. The blank canvas of the Crankworx culture beat, this competition shines the spotlight on cinematographers on the cutting edge of their game. Specially invited by Crankworx, six filmmakers share a unique four to six-minute glimpse into the mind and life of a mountain bike athlete. Each video must include the Whistler Valley and Whistler Mountain Bike Park in a quarter of their film—from there it’s free creative licence. With only ten weeks to film, edit and submit their masterpiece, competitors will see their visions become reality on the big screen before a live audience and a panel of judges at the Dirt Diaries event on Thursday, July 27, during Crankworx Whistler 2023, with the winner walking away $5,000.00 richer!
Crankworx is excited to announce the Contestants for this year’s Deep Summer Photo Challenge and Dirt Diaries presented by Swatch Video Competition:
Deep Summer Photo Challenge
Tuesday, 25 July from 8:30pm Olympic Plaza, Whistler BC - Five elite photographers invited by Crankworx, plus one wildcard, three days to shoot and creatively capture the best of Whistler’s mountain bike culture in just one weekend! Best photographic slideshow takes home $5000.
The 2023 Lineup of Contestants:
- Brendan McClennon
- Matt Bruhns
- Ronia Nash
- Sofia Warrington
- Thomas Falconer
- AND the Pinkbike Wildcard Winner!
To read the contestant’s full bios visit the Crankworx Deep Summer Photo Challenge page.
Dirt Diaries presented by Swatch Video Competition
Thursday, 27 July from 8:30 pm Olympic Plaza, Whistler BC - Six filmmakers are invited to bring us the ride of our lives, showcasing a slice of their athlete’s diary. The winners divide a $10,000 prize purse, with first place receiving $5000, second $3000, and third $2000.
The 2023 Lineup of Contestants:
- Cole Nelson
- Kelsey Toevs
- Kris Dontas
- Ohad Nir
- Ryan Kenny
- Yoann Barelli
All filmmakers and photographers interested in future editions of the Deep Summer Photo Challenge or Dirt Diaries Video Competition are encouraged to register their interest by emailing
Crankworx Whistler gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Resort Municipality of Whistler in the production of Dirt Diaries and Deep Summer.