www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/aussie-builds-worlds-largest-skateboard-park-20130920-2u40l.html



An Australian entrepreneur is building what he claims is the world???s biggest skateboard park in Guangzhou, China, which is about two hours drive from Hong Kong and situated right in China???s centre of development.
The 17,000 square metre park ??? about as big as four football fields ??? is being built on the grounds of a conglomerate of universities, the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, in the extreme sports area.
It???s likely demand for the park???s facilities ??? which are free to use ??? will be high. The mega centre is home to 10 universities, more than 160,000 students and 20,000 staff, many of which are in walking distance of the facility.

Australian Brad Shaw, who runs a local business called Sk8scapes, is managing the development, in conjunction with his Chinese partner, Eddie Liao, through their joint venture B&E Actionsports. The business will take over day-to-day management of the park once construction is complete.

???There are 20-storey dormitory apartment buildings as far as the eye can see around the construction site,??? says Shaw, who has been building skate parks around the world for 35 years.
When the skate park is finished, slated for later this year, it will be the main action sports hub in southern China....

(read more on the link...)

Hi Simondo good article i have just come back from Guangzhou and it has a population of 10 million which is small in China standards, watch this space you will soon see Surf Wave Parks in China (Shanghai) as surfing is an untouched market in china and the big players see a big opportunity there. The China government pushing Hainan an island hard to attract surfers. From what i have researched it looks like a good surf area with nice climate.

I saw the skate park in Shanghai a month or so ago it is massive but no one using it, I thought about having a crack then thought about the consequences of breaking and arm or leg then having to spend time in a hospital there!!!!

You say the skate parks were empty Blair, do you think there wave pool idea will take off? Or would :t be a good surf holiday for tourists? Shame about the Aussie sKate industry. I know to Aussie companies and all there gear is made in china

Blair - good to have you back! Was it free entry or do you have to pay? I gave up skating yrs ago for exactly those reasons! I have a mate who used to live over there and he used to get some good waves on occasion but not as consistent as the might east coast of NSW.....from memory I think they had a WQS comp there a few yrs back.

This skatepark we are building in Guangzhou is pretty big, it will be a big opportunity to build Actionsports in China, skateboarding is growing there but they lack good skateparks. As well as programs to teach. Parents think these sports are dangerous and a scared their only child will get hurt. They focus 100% on study. Being in a huge university these students have more fee time and will hopefully use the skatepark. We will have a large retails area with caf??`s and a skateboard museum and other art house`s. We will host large events there as well.
I have surf in the island of Hainan in Southern China and had good waves on some good pointbreaks. However surf in generally small .Water is clean and warm though.

Regard
Brad Shaw
B&E Actionsports China

Thanks Brad for that....so is it free entry and y ou will make yr cash on the sales of equip, coaching and a cafe? There is no doubt that you have chosen a fairly large demographic to operate it. I wish you well on your adventure - feel free to post some pics of the building works etc. we love pics in the green room!!!

The company I work for is doing conceptual designs and infrastructure planning for Hainan.
The Chinese Government is looking at building a maritime city that has a focus on boating and all water sports. There will be a focus on transport by boat as well.
There is planned to be marinas and a new city linked to all things maritime for not only locals but to attract overseas tourists and investors.
May not come off but plans are definitely underway. Could be an opportunity for surf schools, 666 schools etc for someone more motivated than me.
ET.

Mac loves doing business in Asia and also loves his new sport of 666ing and he is on what is most probably the fastest stock board around (no excuses now Mac) so maybe he should head over there n set something up.....

Ted, park should be finished in a few months, will post pics when its complete.I have been working on this project for 6 years, so its been a long process. Doing business in china can be a big challenge. We will are offering naming rights to this skatepark and other sponsorship opportunities. The skatepark also has a indoor area in a veladrome as well as a bmx racing track and worlds biggest climbing wall .
Blair , what`s story about wave park in Shanghai.