Shanghai leg of the FISE World Series kicks off

The Shanghai leg of the FISE World Series kicks off on Wednesday in Xuhui district's West Bund. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

The Shanghai leg of the FISE World Series, a global extreme sports tour from France and in its 27th year, kicked off on Wednesday in Xuhui district's West Bund.

The event showcased six top-tier international competitions: 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.

The Shanghai leg of the FISE World Series kicks off on Wednesday in Xuhui district's West Bund. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

Nearly 560 athletes from 39 countries and regions worldwide gathered on the West Bund from Oct 16 to 20, vying for championship titles across 9 events. The initial two days were allocated for training and qualifications for each competition, while Oct 18 to 20 are scheduled for the finals.

This event boasts a lineup of star athletes, including globally renowned extreme rollerblader Julien Cudot, emerging skateboarding idol Kyonosuke Yamashita from Japan, Sun Sibei, the champion of the BMX Freestyle Women's Park event at the 2024 Olympic Qualification Series in Shanghai, B-Girl Ayumi with 20 years of breakdancing experience and the remarkable new talent in extreme scooter, Matis Neyroud.

BMX Freestyle athlete Dustin ALT, who competed in China in 2019, toured iconic landmarks such as the Bund and the Shanghai Tower alongside other international athletes. "Coming to China this time feels like stepping into a future world. I am delighted to see significant changes with each visit," he remarked.

"Although achieving the highest ranking is always a goal for me, it's more about the excitement, enjoyment, and putting on a great show for all the spectators," he added.

The venue itself is a standout feature of the event, a source of pride for designer Pascal Morrasse-Raymond.

"In recent years, the growth of extreme sports has been remarkable. I aimed to incorporate elements representing China at each venue, including structures resembling ancient towers and bridges at the skateboard venue," Morrasse-Raymond mentioned.

He incorporated elements such as trucks, boats, forklifts and pipelines into the venue design, echoing the industrial warehouses and docks that have appeared or been preserved here.

"This is the first year, the design will undoubtedly become more extravagant each year," Morrasse-Raymond expressed. A well-designed venue also aims to elevate athletes' performances, he noted. "Over the past five years, many talented newcomers have emerged in extreme sports. I eagerly anticipate their performances as they embody the future of FISE."

In addition to professional competitions, the tournament has constructed a carnival area spanning over 70,000 square meters, featuring six major themed zones encompassing over 200 brands and clubs across extreme sports, outdoor activities, trends, ACG, culinary delights and music.

This setup allows the audiences to not only watch the games, but also actively participate in the sports carnival, immersing themselves in the atmosphere of extreme sports festivals.