Speedy Skateboarding

"I really enjoy the feeling of spinning in the air when skateboarding. Originally it was my hobby, but after a few years' tedious work as a computer programmer, it became my full-time job," said Guan Mu, a young man who joined friends in setting up Beijing's first skateboarding club in 1990.

 

 His Kicker Club now has about 5,700 members across the country.

 

 Skateboarding, originated in 1950s in the United States, but exploded in popularity during the 1960s. The activity came to China at the end of the 1980s.

 

 "At that time, a Japanese guy taught skateboarding at Beijing Sport University in Haidian. Later, the students from this university began to popularize this sport." Guan said.

 Now, whether on Beijing's streets or in a skateboarding park, people often see locals or foreigners testing themselves in the urban environment.

 

 An obviously excited Guan continued, "On weekends, students from international schools or foreigners learning Chinese at Beijing's universities come here to challenge themselves. Among the more than 200 members in Beijing, about one-tenth are foreigners. Our club, located at Fangzhuang, has Beijing's best skateboarding park. Most of the members are male between 15 and 25, but there are men over 30 and young girls who are enthusiastic about X-games."

 

Nearly every afternoon, several skilful members gather at the club, play X-games, chat about their sport and teach the new members. Sponsored by companies such as Jeanswest Clothing Company, they participate in national contests and often achieve good results. Among the sponsored, Zhang Shuo has won first-place titles in two recent annual National Skateboarding Competitions. Two or three times a year, Beijing holds citywide professional competitions. Danny Way, one of the world's best skateboarders, was invited to skate on the Juyonguan section of the Great Wall in July 2005, when the Third China National Skateboarding Competition will be held.

 

As a result of ten years' development, the club has a skate shop and a professional Web site featuring skateboarding. On the Web site, sports lovers learn more about developing their skateboarding skills, can get the latest news on nationwide skateboarding activities and competitions, and can participate in a forum for members and non-members. In the shop, clothes, shoes and high-quality, imported equipment from the United States is sold. Skateboards are priced from 260 yuan to 450 yuan.

 

"It is a pity that the development of skateboarding in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen has surpassed that of in Beijing. Shanghai is building the world's largest skateboarding park, covering an area of 270,000 square metres," Guan said.

 

Some of the skateboarding members also ride BMX bicycles at the club.

 

"Though dangerous and expensive, we have a fancy for it," Guan said.

 

Other than at the club, many BMX lovers tend to like Wangfujing Avenue. They are often admired as "fashionable, energetic and brave" by bystanders. One kind of BMX activity called "racing" will be a new item during the 2008 Olympics. Beijing, Sichuan and Guangdong have already begun to organize teams to get ready for the 2008 Olympics.

 

"Although X-games are on the rise in Beijing, they are developing a bit slowly," Guan said. "Parents in China always think their children should avoid these dangerous sports. It is also still expensive for ordinary young guys to get top-quality training. As for skateboarding and BMX, the cost of boards and bicycles is high. The players need to replace or upgrade them regularly, especially the professional players who train intensely. Also, there are too few qualified places for people to engage in X-games."

 

Beijing's embrace of X-games will likely bring even more thrills and excitement to the city.

 

For further information, visit: www.kickerclub.com.