Writer Jordan Colinoff uses the Asian X Games and a Chinese street skater named Li Zhixin to make the case that skateboarding is growing in China for a story on GlobalPost.com.
The publicity generated by the X Games and the potential market for sponsor companies are leading to a huge push to attract young Chinese to skateboarding. In addition to the big event in Shanghai, the X Games also goes on an eight-stop road show throughout China. . . Surprisingly, the sport, seeped in a rebel history, has found little resistance from the authoritarian Chinese government. In 2005, officials even allowed American skateboarder Danny Way to make history by becoming the first person to jump over the Great Wall on his board. Perhaps the government sees the potential market value of the sport, or maybe it’s just getting to be too strong a sub-culture to fight.
We’re guessing it’s more the former. If The Party can handle Tiananmen Square we’re pretty sure they stop skateboarding if they wanted to, but then if they’re going to make the world’s skateboards and clothing, they might as well let their people roll.
[Link: GlobalPost.com]
I really liked this article! Good to hear people are picking up boards in the Middle Kingdom!!
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