Skate, spin, soar: Extreme sports festival returns to Shanghai

Credit: Ti Gong

Caption: A skater showcases speed and balance on the ramps in Shanghai last year.

The Festival International des Sports Extrêmes (FISE), the world's largest multi-discipline extreme sports event, will return to Shanghai on October 16–19.

On Wednesday, tickets for the FISE World Series stop in Shanghai went on sale globally.

FISE, which debuted in Shanghai in 2024, attracted nearly 500 athletes from 39 nations and regions, as well as tens of thousands of spectators last year.

This year's event includes competitions in outdoor activities, fashion, ACG culture, music, and food, as well as an extended city sports carnival spanning over 70,000 square meters on the West Bund in Xuhui.

The "Herringbone Ramp Carnival" will make its debut outside of Europe at the 2025 FISE Shanghai stop, with BMX, roller, scooter, and skateboard athletes racing on the iconic structure.

Credit: Ti Gong

Caption: A BMX rider competes at FISE Shanghai last year.

A new climbing open competition will also be introduced, with innovative course designs that depart from standard conventions. Night sessions will take the experience into Shanghai's evening economy, combining sports, retail, food, and entertainment.

International names who have confirmed their participation in Shanghai include Argentina's Jose Torres Gil, the freestyle BMX gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, American rider Kevin Peraza Garcia, Australian BMX medalist Natalya Diehm, and 19-year-old European champion Sasha Pardoe.

Families, young people, and sports enthusiasts can participate in interactive activities, resulting in a festival that mixes "watching, playing, shopping, and socializing."

Xuhui District officials said that the event would promote cultural and tourism integration while also enhancing Shanghai's status as an international sports consumption hub.