Talking to the free wheelin’ Québécois of south China

“My friend was doing the funky chicken,” says J.F. Boulianne, 24, mounting the front wheel of his bike and scuffing it backwards to demonstrate. “I was like that’s so cool, I have to learn. I told my father about it but he bought me a mountain bike because he thought I could go further and faster. So I got a job and saved up the money myself. Then I got started.”

Jason Plourde, 24, tells me he began skateboarding but gravitated to BMX riding. “When I first saw BMX flatland it just looked super cool. Once I got a bike I practiced tricks everyday instead of doing my homework.”

I admit I’m still a tad confused. I’m not so much interested in how they came to become riders, rather, I’m intrigued to find out how a bunch of ragbag French Canadians came to be riding here in Shenzhen.

It turns out, like many expat communities, one courageous pioneer carved a path and the rest eagerly followed.

“Jean Gagnon, was here ten years ago,” explains Jason. “He came here when the (Happy Valley theme) park opened. He started doing shows and inviting friends to China. I came out here about three years ago.”

“And I was in Brazil avoiding the Canadian winter about a year and a half ago,” says J.F. “Jason invited me. So I came.”

I admit that I’ve walk past the guys many times as they performed their impressive array of tricks in front of the OCT Wal-Mart but I had previously imagined they were English teachers (not an unrealistic assumption in China) indulging their hobby. I had no idea they were professionals. I inquire about their jobs, performing at the Happy Valley Park.

“It’s the best job on the planet!” exclaims Jason boldly. “We perform three times a day, 2.30, 3.30 and 5.00 with a show at 1.30 thrown in on the weekends. And the rest of the time we’re free to ride. You know we practice a lot. We always need to progress.”

I ask them if Shenzhen is any good for riding.

“Most of the time the cops will just watch us, we don’t get much trouble. Some people watch us for ages, their mad impressed,” replies Jason.

“And the weathers good most of the year round,” adds J.F. “But you need a good surface. That’s why we practice here in front of Wal-Mart. The floor is not too smooth, not too bumpy; it’s pretty flat as you can see.”

I’m surprised, I inform the riders, as I’d always thought they rode in front of a busy supermarket so as to insure a good audience.

Jason nods his head. “This is important too. If people see us they may get involved. You know the more people who take up BMX, the more competitions there’ll be, the more sponsorship there’ll be. It’s a good thing that people can see us and have a try if they want.”

The pair admit however, that the locals are not very motivated and unwilling to give BMX flatland a go. But their enthusiasm and commitment to their sport is undaunted. “We want to see BMX get big in China!” Jason declares.

Perhaps they’re a little ahead of the development curve but China is changing at a phenomenal speed, with new ideas and trends catching on all the time. At any rate, these BMX pioneers plan to stay in Shenzhen for a long time as they can “save money” and “meet Chinese girls” as well as being well located for international competitions in Japan.