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 to 20, transforming the area into a sports carnival spanning over 70,000 square meters.

Six international top-tier events, namely the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup, UCI BMX Flatland 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 kick off at venues such as the Tank Art Center and the West Bund Dome Art Center, said the organizers during a 999-hour-count down ceremony in Shanghai on Sept 4.

Co-organized by Hurricane Group and Shanghai West Bund Development (Group) Co Ltd, 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 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 events. 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.

"We need to build more infrastructure in the city to facilitate enthusiasts' practice. They need to have skate parks for learning. After the skate parks, we need to consider opening academies," Andre-Benoit said.

Andre-Benoit highlighted the importance of building infrastructure in the city to support enthusiasts' practice, emphasizing the need for skate parks and academies to facilitate learning and skill development in extreme sports.

The FISE World Series has made its mark in 12 cities worldwide over the years, 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 action sports as popular as traditional sports like soccer in the future.

Beyond the competitive events, the carnival field at the FISE World Series event will feature six themed areas hosting over 100 trendy brands, 25 professional sports equipment brands and 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, trends, and anime culture, making the FISE event a melting pot of diverse sectors.

B-boy Shang Xiaoyu, a participant in the FISE 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 learn from the experience.

Alexandre Jumelin, known as the Godfather of BMX Freestyle Flatland, also eagerly anticipates the event, 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.

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