Shanghai gears up for FISE World Series

The Shanghai leg of the FISE World Series, a global extreme sports tour, will take place in Xuhui district's West Bund from Oct 16-20, transforming the area into a sports carnival spanning more than 70,000 square meters.

Six international top-tier events — the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup, UCI BMX Flat World Cup, World Skate Roller Freestyle Park World Cup, World Skate Scootering Pro Tour Street, FISE World Series Skateboard Street, and Breaking — are slated to take place at venues such as the Tank Art Center and the West Bund Dome Art Center, said the organizers during a countdown ceremony in Shanghai on Wednesday.

The Shanghai event is expected to draw over 500 professional athletes from around the globe. Herve Andre-Benoit, CEO and founder of Hurricane Group, said that, by bringing the event to Shanghai, the aim is to boost awareness and participation in extreme sports, while also nurturing the growth of these sports in the region.

"It's not just about the event. It's also about how to have hundreds of thousands of riders here in Shanghai, and more in China, within the next five to 10 years.

Andre-Benoit highlighted the importance of building infrastructure in the city, such as skate parks and academies, to facilitate learning and skills development in extreme sports.

The FISE World Series has already made its mark in 12 cities worldwide, with Andre-Benoit advocating for the growth and recognition of extreme sports on a global scale.

His vision extends to showcasing various action sports to a diverse audience, aiming to make such activities as popular as traditional sports like soccer in the future.

Beyond the competitions, the event will feature six themed areas hosting over 100 trendy lifestyle brands, 25 professional sports equipment providers, a number of extreme sports clubs, 30 food vendors and a range of interactive entertainment projects.

Chen Anda, deputy general manager of Shanghai West Bund Development, highlighted the inclusive nature of extreme sports and their ability to intertwine with music, art and popular culture trends, making the FISE event a melting pot of diverse sectors.

B-boy Shang Xiaoyu, a participant in the FISE breaking competition, sees the Shanghai leg as a significant opportunity for the development of Chinese breaking, providing a platform for local and national dancers to showcase their skills and gain experience.

Frenchman Alexandre Jumelin, known as the "godfather of BMX freestyle flat", is hoping for a spectacular showcase of talent and a celebration of extreme sports that will captivate the people of Shanghai and inspire future generations of riders.

Unlike the BMX freestyle park discipline, freestyle flat takes place on a level surface that does not include ramps or grind rails. Tricks are performed by spinning and balancing on the bike in a variety of unexpected positions.

"I hope we are going to have some strong riders, and I hope the final is going to be a big party with the best riders in the world in every category," Jumelin said.