The Shanghai leg of the 2025 FISE World Series and urban sports carnival, which kicked off at the West Bund on Xuhui Riverside on Oct 16, wrapped up on Oct 19. Over 700 urban athletes from 34 countries and regions gathered along the Huangpu River during the event to compete in top-tier showdowns. The newly added events and the rise of China's young talents were the highlights of this year's competition.

This year's FISE Shanghai featured six competition categories and 13 premium events, including two UCI World Cup events, with more than 30 champions crowned across several sports such as BMX freestyle, skateboarding, scootering, roller skating, and climbing, one of this year's new events.

Founded in 1997 by France's Hurricane Group, the tournament has earned global acclaim over the last 28 years. As the world's largest urban sports event, it spans 12 cities and attracts over a million spectators. The FISE World Series debuted in Shanghai's West Bund in 2024, drawing over 50,000 attendees and generating a direct economic impact of 180 million yuan ($25.3 million), showcasing the potential of the emerging sporting events.

"Climbing made its Shanghai debut at the 2025 FISE World Series, bringing vertical thrills and raw intensity to the event for the very first time in China," Herve Andre-Benoit, CEO and founder of Hurricane Group, said. "The speed climbing competition will showcase elite athletes racing against the clock on a custom-built wall, introducing a whole new high-adrenaline dimension to the event."

To make urban sports more accessible, the 2025 FISE climbing open challenge was open to the public, with a 14-meter climbing wall welcoming challengers at any time. Another new addition at this year's event was the Spine Ramp, an iconic structure closely linked to the legendary night sessions of FISE Montpellier.

"Developed exclusively by our team, the Spine Ramp is named for its resemblance to the Chinese character 'ren' (person)," Andre-Benoit explained. "Only top-tier athletes could fully showcase their skills on it. What's more, Shanghai's Spine Ramp is an 'original among originals'—with ramps on both sides and an arched section added in the middle, providing athletes with more space to showcase their moves freely."

Additionally, events such as Roller Street, Scootering Park, and BMX Street made their first appearances at the 2025 FISE Shanghai.

The rising young forces on the FISE arena also infused the event with greater vitality.

In the junior division, Liu Haoran, the 2024 FISE Shanghai BMX Freestyle junior champion hailed as "the best in his age group globally", claimed the gold medal in this year's competition. "The moment I step off the podium, I'm no longer a champion but at the start of a new journey," Liu said. "Only by staying humble and grounded can I have the chance to improve."

For Andre-Benoit, young athletes like Liu are a source of inspiration. "This 13-year-old Chinese boy is a pride for all of us in the extreme sports community," Andre-Benoit said. "After nearly 30 years, this once-niche sport has entered the mainstream. Now, it's up to this generation to promote the extreme sports lifestyle through their performances in major competitions and daily interactions," he added.

Alex Jumelin, a legendary French BMX Flatland athlete with over 30 years of experience, expressed amazement at China's "reserve of young talent" in extreme sports.

"I never expected to see so many young talented riders here. It's amazing and very positive, bringing a bright future for our sport in China," Jumelin said. "I just hope parents will remember that their kids should have fun with it—I don't know how they train, but from what I see on their bikes, it's incredible."