olympic training parks in China
2017-19 years
~6,000 sq. m
XSA is expanding operational horizons, going global, and heading to China to do what we love most—building amazing skateparks to the highest standards
XSA athletes many times competed at FISE contests in China, traveled to the BMX Freestyle World Championship Finals in Chengdu, and signed contracts with entertainment centers here. They know the country, its culture, and the Asian action sports scene firsthand. Many of our athletes are also our builders. And as professional riders with deep knowledge of the industry, they bring XSA’s projects to life from the inside out.
The first steps towards business relations came back in 2015, when the XSA team participated in negotiations for collaboration between Russia and Asia to create better training conditions for Chinese athletes preparing for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
By that time, we already had 9 years of experience building skateparks, honed technologies, several of our own innovations, and the same unrelenting passion we started with. This experience and passion, which we’ve carried and built upon over the years, are our unique strengths. The philosophy of our team for this project was to show China and the world what ‘Russian Quality & Skills' are all about. We wanted to show prove that Russia can create a high-quality, competitive product. And most importantly, to demonstrate that action sports culture knows no borders.
Negotiations and meetings about entering the Chinese market continued almost non-stop for the next two years, from 2015 to 2017.
It was in 2017 that we signed a cooperation agreement with the mayor of Shenzhen and launched a joint program codenamed ‘2020.’ This program included two major objectives: creating modern training conditions for Chinese action sports athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and promoting active sports in this region of China, including organizing and hosting events of various levels, opening schools, and training coaching staff.
The team faced a monumental journey, countless emotions, and challenging work ahead.
The first steps towards business relations came back in 2015, when the XSA team participated in negotiations for collaboration between Russia and Asia to create better training conditions for Chinese athletes preparing for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
By that time, we already had 9 years of experience building skateparks, honed technologies, several of our own innovations, and the same unrelenting passion we started with. This experience and passion, which we’ve carried and built upon over the years, are our unique strengths. The philosophy of our team for this project was to show China and the world what ‘Russian Quality & Skills' are all about. We wanted to show prove that Russia can create a high-quality, competitive product. And most importantly, to demonstrate that action sports culture knows no borders.
Negotiations and meetings about entering the Chinese market continued almost non-stop for the next two years, from 2015 to 2017.
It was in 2017 that we signed a cooperation agreement with the mayor of Shenzhen and launched a joint program codenamed ‘2020.’ This program included two major objectives: creating modern training conditions for Chinese action sports athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and promoting active sports in this region of China, including organizing and hosting events of various levels, opening schools, and training coaching staff.
The team faced a monumental journey, countless emotions, and challenging work ahead.
The philosophy of our team for this project was to show China and the world what ‘Russian Quality & Skills' are all about. We wanted to show prove that Russia can create a high-quality, competitive product
SKATE PARK 'Happy Valley', Chongqing
The first project in our partnership was building a BMX complex for the world’s largest amusement park chain, Happy Valley, in Chongqing.
XSA’s production base was located in the suburbs of Shenzhen. That’s where we prepared the features for the skatepark before transporting them to central China. In just 10 days, we completed the preparation of all the necessary materials, loaded them into a 17-meter truck, and set off for Chongqing.
Construction lasted a month, from 8 AM to 2 AM every day, without a single day off. The team had to endure extreme heat, torrential rain, and the unique challenges of local business practices and living conditions.
Chongqing’s highly humid climate was a significant test for us, but it also helped us improve our technical skills. For instance, we began using a new finishing material. Instead of plywood—whose durability and wear resistance typically ranges from 3 to 5 years, depending on load, climate, and usage—we switched to fiberglass. This material is more cost-effective to produce and far more reliable due to its composition. Additionally, the park’s frame was equipped with forced ventilation—we installed multiple fans to prevent excessive moisture buildup.
Another standout feature of the park was its structure. One side was monolithic, while the other was left open to allow airflow and give spectators the best possible view of performances.
The BMX park for riders at the Happy Valley amusement park in China was completed and quickly became a popular attraction. It was enjoyed by many talented athletes from around the world.
XSA’s production base was located in the suburbs of Shenzhen. That’s where we prepared the features for the skatepark before transporting them to central China. In just 10 days, we completed the preparation of all the necessary materials, loaded them into a 17-meter truck, and set off for Chongqing.
Construction lasted a month, from 8 AM to 2 AM every day, without a single day off. The team had to endure extreme heat, torrential rain, and the unique challenges of local business practices and living conditions.
Chongqing’s highly humid climate was a significant test for us, but it also helped us improve our technical skills. For instance, we began using a new finishing material. Instead of plywood—whose durability and wear resistance typically ranges from 3 to 5 years, depending on load, climate, and usage—we switched to fiberglass. This material is more cost-effective to produce and far more reliable due to its composition. Additionally, the park’s frame was equipped with forced ventilation—we installed multiple fans to prevent excessive moisture buildup.
Another standout feature of the park was its structure. One side was monolithic, while the other was left open to allow airflow and give spectators the best possible view of performances.
The BMX park for riders at the Happy Valley amusement park in China was completed and quickly became a popular attraction. It was enjoyed by many talented athletes from around the world.
olympic BMX training park & asphalt pump track, Guangdong
The next major project began in the second half of 2019 in Guangdong province. This time, the scale and goals were completely different—we flew the entire team to China to build a training base for the country’s Olympic BMX Freestyle team.
The 3,500 sq. m skatepark was divided into two zones: a training area with a foam pit, rubber landing, and quarter pipes for learning or refining tricks; and a BMX park designed for riders of all skill levels—from juniors to professionals.
Near the framed skatepark, we built an asphalt pump track, perfect for technique training, warm-ups, and beginner lessons. The track includes all the basic features: berms with 180- and 90-degree turns, S-shaped berms, and rollers.
A unique feature of this pump track was a square funbox—an original design for the time. While faceted shapes in pump tracks are no longer new, back then, it was our signature innovation. We later adopted this design for some of our other projects because it performed so well in China.
The 3,500 sq. m skatepark was divided into two zones: a training area with a foam pit, rubber landing, and quarter pipes for learning or refining tricks; and a BMX park designed for riders of all skill levels—from juniors to professionals.
Near the framed skatepark, we built an asphalt pump track, perfect for technique training, warm-ups, and beginner lessons. The track includes all the basic features: berms with 180- and 90-degree turns, S-shaped berms, and rollers.
A unique feature of this pump track was a square funbox—an original design for the time. While faceted shapes in pump tracks are no longer new, back then, it was our signature innovation. We later adopted this design for some of our other projects because it performed so well in China.
And then was COVID. The outbreak was first recorded in Wuhan in December 2019 and quickly spread worldwide, forcing entire countries to close their borders and implement emergency measures to combat the pandemic.
In China, the lockdown was the strictest and longest-lasting. Our team had to return home earlier than planned, completing only 3 of the 7 scheduled projects. The remaining 4 are still on paper, but we hope to return to the Middle Kingdom soon to show local and international athletes what we at XSA have achieved over the past five years.
In China, the lockdown was the strictest and longest-lasting. Our team had to return home earlier than planned, completing only 3 of the 7 scheduled projects. The remaining 4 are still on paper, but we hope to return to the Middle Kingdom soon to show local and international athletes what we at XSA have achieved over the past five years.
More works
This is just a small glimpse at projects XSA built in 18 years
XSA builds
olympics-grade skate parks
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