This month’s Shanghai welcomes back the KIA X Games Asia, and with it, the attention of rebellious children and fearless adults turns once again to the KIC Jiangwan Sports Centre where the event will be held. The best in the business will travel to Shanghai and shred it up against each other in pursuit of prize money, medals, and the adoration of their fans. But if like most people, your invitation to participate got lost in the mail then there are other rails you can grind to get your fill of extreme sports in Shanghai.

Before you set out to find the raddest rails, gnarliest gaps, and most balls out big airs to skate on you have to get the basics in order. When it comes to buying extreme sports paraphernalia, you could do a lot worse than heading to Fly Streetwear and Skate, Shanghai’s original skate shop. They’ve got everything you could ever need at this place for pros and beginners alike.

The sports at the X Games were born on the streets, and while many people choose to skate, bike, and blade in designated skate parks there is remains a group of athletes who are committed to their sports urban roots. And when you talk about street skating there really is only one location on everyone’s lips – Love Park, located not far from the Shanghai Concert Hall. It’s a Mecca for the city’s urban athletes.

Slim Pickins, probably not his real name, was on his inline skates there when we met him. “Yeah the inline scene in Shanghai is small to say the least. So I’m usually just a skater but it’s kinda nice to change it up once in a while if you know what I mean.” He continued “This place is great; I’m not a fan of the skate parks in Shanghai really and prefer to find places to skate in the city. It’s more intense and free that way.”

If you don’t fancy skating street style, then you can always head over to the SMP Skatepark, which happens to be largest one in the world. Previously the park was a bit of effort to get involving an expensive taxi ride or long walk but the Expo has given the skaters of Shanghai a gift in the form of the newly opened line 10. The park is now only a five minute walk from Xinjiangwancheng metro stop.

Manager of the park, Chen Jie says, “It’s the biggest park in the world; we have the largest vert ramp in the world and the largest bowl in the world. Everything is bigger in China and that’s what the owner thought about when he built it.” And it’s pretty reasonable to get you adrenaline fix over at SMP as well with prices starting at RMB 15 during the week and RMB 25 at the weekend.

“We have over nine hundred members of the park and we often get over two hundred visitors over a weekend.” He continued, “So if you are new to the city and want to get involved in extreme sports there is plenty of opportunity for you to meet the cities BMXers, inliners, and skateboarders.”

Harry Gray, a regular at the park sung its praises, but has concerns about its upkeep. “The park is great I suppose. The bowl is scary as hell. But it doesn’t seem like there has been much care taken over it,” he says. “There are cracks in the ramps and the stadium is a little over grown. It’s a shame because it’s a blast to skate on.”

But remember guys, cool kids wear lids.

KIA X Games Asia, 27-30 May, KIC Jiangwan Sports Centre, 346 Guohe Lu. Web: www.kiaxgamesasia.com

Fly Streetwear and Skate, 704 Changle Lu, near Fumin Lu.

SMP Skatepark, 2100 Songhu Lu, near Guohao Lu. Web: www.smpskatepark.com