In the video, Harvey Davis, vice president at ESPN’s Events Management Group, reckons that “these [action] sports are now recognized in China as real sports, with real committees and real organizations reporting up to the top government organizations in Beijing” and concluded that as “one of the biggest things for the growth of sport in China.” With that comes, as in the case of Shanghainese BMX rider Shen Jian and his friends, a clash of interest between government organization and athletes/brands.

China has definitely been picking up actions sports in the past five years. But just because promoters established ties with the government, doesn’t mean the sports become mainstream in the country. And I think part of the image of the sports, as manifested in tattoos and piercings for most of the athletes, may be the main reason why Chinese parents would not want their children to practice in it.

In the Shen Jian story, we had a chance to talk with Chen Jie, CEO of SMP Skate Park in Shanghai. The world largest skate-park now has about 2,000 members and over ninety percent of them, according to Mr.Chen, are foreigners.

“It looks now we’re turning into a club catering exclusively to foreigners,” said Chen. “Some wealthy Chinese send their kids here to play only because they want their children to be more international, as the children could speak English with kids from other countries in the park.”

“They focus on language exchange, not the sports themselves, which again turned practitioners of extreme sports into a minority group.” Chen is cutting down on the ticket prices this June in hopes of bringing more local kids in, but he opines the results might not be fruitful.

Also in the video, PT Black commentates on sports participation in the country and why Chinese are more likely to watch than actually play sports.

Part of the reason, PT noted, comes from “a legacy of centralized sports planning” which “takes all the kids who’re good at sports out of the mainstream school system, therefore depriving their classmates of the chance to actually play with the good kids.”

Parents are the “biggest obstacle” and another reason to the lack of participation in PT’s opinion. “When the exam system is so important, parents look at any moment dedicated to sports as a moment that should have been spend studying.”

Any other reasons? This is actually what we look forward to finding out at Sports Illustrated China as the magazine is rolling out a cover feature on the topic. So more later on this.

Nightime shredding at the Nanshan Ski Resort (Photo courtesy of Mellow Parks).

Apparently Mellow Parks Construction — China’s experts for all things snowboarding — never bothered to check the calendar when they released its Magnum opus Nov. 14. For the snowboarding community both in China and around the world, the New Year comes six weeks early with the release of “Happy Niu Year,” a film documenting some of the most exciting riding in the People’s Republic to date.

“It is helping to put China on the map as far as the world snowboarding community is concerned,” said Olli Fenwick-Ross, marketing director for Mellow Parks. “People know the Nanshan Open now, but they don’t know what else is happening here. This film is reaching a broader audience, to show there are good snowboarders here in China.”

A teaser video is currently online, click here.

Heading down the hill at the Burton Qiaobo Indoor center (Photo courtesy of Mellow Parks).

The new film — which also includes video from the crew’s recent snowboarding trip to New Zealand as well as international rider’s footage shot at last year’s Nanshan Open, located just north of Beijing near Miyun — raises the bar yet again for the minds at Mellow Parks, the foundation for snowboarding in China and now the country’s most visible face of the sport.

“If Chinese kids are into snowboarding, there isn’t too much to watch in China,” said Fenwick-Ross. “They can watch international movies, but the riders, the mountains, the type of snow; it’s different in other countries. The film gives other Chinese some local boarders to look up to. There is a national pride attached.”

“Happy Niu Year” is also the latest in a string of successes that have been aimed at promoting snowboarding inside China. In January 2010, the 8th Annual Red Bull Nanshan Open will take place in Beijing, the largest snowboarding competition in Asia, with this year’s event featuring 18 international riders and six Chinese riders. That’s double the number of local snowboarder’s from last year’s competition.

The DVD currently can be found at Quiksilver, Nitro and other participating stores all over China, and is free to the public. In addition to screening “Happy Niu Year” recently in Beijing and holding a premiere in Shanghai, Mellow Parks Construction said they plan on releasing the entire video online for free starting in January. According to Fenwick-Ross, the bonus footage alone makes the whole DVD worth checking out.

Previously:

• Building Snowboarding from the Peak Down

— Zachary Franklin

So adventure sports fanatics in Shanghai will have their festival tomorrow at the SMP Skate Park. (h/t Shanghaiist)

Saturday – Nov. 8th

SMP Skate/Music Festival – SCMP Skate Park – 10am-Late (free)

Location: 2100 Songhu Road, Yangpu Distrct (Jiangwan Stadium) 淞沪路2100号，江湾体育场

SMP launched its 138,000 sq ft SMP Skatepark in October 2005, making it the biggest skatepark in the world by almost double. Located in Shanghai China, the park boasts the biggest vert ramp in the world, the biggest concrete bowl in the world, a 5000 – 7000 seat arena, plaza and beginners areas.

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