Zheng Haohao stood at the edge of the concrete bowl, took a deep breath, and then dropped in.
What followed was pure flow, capped by a smooth 540-degree spin and a clean landing.
The crowd erupted.
"I'm thrilled, and honestly a little surprised by my own performance," said the 13-year-old after taking third place in the women's park final at a recent major skateboarding event.
"I used to be afraid of the 540, because you have to rotate in the air. I'm glad that I finally found the courage to get past it."
Zheng's passion for skateboarding began six years ago, when she received a board as a birthday gift from her mother at age seven.
At nine, she competed in the women's park event at the 2021 National Games.
Her career highlight came at age 11, when she represented her country at a major international sporting event, achieving a remarkable milestone for her age.
Thanks to pioneers like Zheng, skateboarding has gained increased popularity among a new generation since its Olympic inclusion.
Despite being labeled a prodigy, Zheng said her journey has been anything but easy.
There were tough days when she would cry after practice because she just couldn't land her tricks.
"Talent alone isn't enough," she said. "What really matters is who works harder, plays smarter and loves the sport more."
Zheng said she skates out of love, not obligation.
"As long as you stay passionate, no matter how many times you fail, you'll always believe that, maybe, the next one will land. You just have to keep trying," she said.
For her, the appeal lies in the thrill of pushing her own limits.
"That sense of freedom when you're in the air — you can't get it anywhere else," she said.
Zheng also loves the social aspect. The sport has helped her build friendships with skaters from around the world.
"We may be rivals on the course," she said, "but off it, skateboarding brings us together as friends."
When she first started, Zheng was often the only girl at the skatepark. However, she noticed the sport is now attracting an ever-increasing number of girls, many of whom tried it after seeing her compete internationally.
"I'm really happy to do my little bit for Chinese skateboarding. It gives me a sense of pride to inspire more kids, especially girls," she said.
Zheng's idols are some accomplished athletes.
"Their fighting spirit inspires me," she said. "I want to be like them someday — winning a major title."
She recalled her mother's playful encouragement: "One of my idols has a nickname — 'the Frog Princess', so, I guess that makes you the 'Tadpole Princess'."
She said her love for skateboarding won't end. After retiring, her dream is to become a female judge at international bowl events.
"That would be awesome — because, so far, I've never seen one," she said.
Yu Jinmo, also 13, fell in love with the sport for a simpler reason: "It's just so cool."
At age six, she was walking past a square where an older boy was skateboarding and she was instantly drawn to it. Her parents took her to a club.
In 2022, Yu earned a spot on the Sichuan provincial team and claimed a gold at the National Roller Skating Championships.
At the 2026 Asian Championships, she finished second in the game of skate competition.
Yu enjoys trying new tricks — especially ones that no one else has done.
"As long as a move looks cool, I will definitely give it a shot," she said.
Yu has suffered multiple injuries. The worst was when she missed a rail, fell, and landed on her chin, requiring an ambulance.
That, however, hasn't kept her off her board.
"If you truly love the sport, those injuries don't really matter," she said.
Yu said skateboarding has taught her a simple lesson: stick to what you love.
"My grandma used to be a little bit against me learning skateboarding, but, after seeing what I've achieved, she's now come around to support me," she said.
Wu Bowen, 19, was also into skateboarding because it looked cool. However, he didn't take it up for medals, but to escape weekend homework.
"My parents noticed my athletic talent, so they supported me," he said. "I just thought it was fun."
Wu started at around 13, which is pretty late, but just 15 months later, he took sixth place at the 2020 National Championships.
In 2025, he won gold in men's park at the national championships.
"Most of my rivals have been skating for nearly ten years, but that doesn't scare me," he said. "I can land the hardest tricks, the highest jumps, and the biggest moves — and I'm pretty consistent."
Wu said he had never performed so well and so flawlessly as he did at the recent event, despite only finishing third.
"I was so nervous in the prelims that I messed up my first run. Then I told myself: don't treat it as a competition, just enjoy it," he said. "Results matter, but what's more important is showing what you've got."
The competition was special for him, as the stands were filled with spectators.
"Every time I landed a trick, cheers erupted. That was a one-of-a-kind experience," he said.
Skateboarding gave him a concrete goal: to perform on an international stage and achieve personal excellence.
The teen noted that most Chinese athletes retire by their early 20s, but he doesn't plan to follow suit.
"The sport has a high age ceiling. Overseas, some guys are still skating in their 50s," he said. "I enjoy every bit of progress. As long as I see myself improving, I'll keep going."
While skateboarders compete for their dreams, the host city is paving the way for more to follow.
A local sports official said the city has built an international-standard roller skating and skateboarding center to promote the sport's development.
The five-day event last month welcomed 172 athletes from around the world.
"Our city may not be strong in traditional sports, but we have an edge in action sports like skateboarding," the official said.
In the city, skateboarding is a hit among students and young professionals. The city is home to more than 5,000 regular skaters and over 10 skateboard clubs.
The city has been promoting the sport in schools, neighborhoods, and malls, while adding skate spots in parks and plazas.
Training programs and youth summer camps are also underway to build a broader base, the official said.
"The goal of hosting the championships is also about using the event's exposure to boost skateboarding at both the professional and grassroots levels," he added.
The event brought not only sporting excitement, but also economic vitality, attracting over 50,000 spectators and generating over 80 million yuan in direct spending.
"I took my family out for a meal one night, and the tables around us were packed with Koreans, Filipinos — you name it," the official said. "That's proof of how the event drove up local spending."
A venue management representative said tickets for the semifinals and finals were sold out.
He said the venue will host professional teams for training and work with schools and associations to maximize its usage.
Right next to the skateboarding venue is a world-class rock climbing gym boasting 7,200 square meters of climbable surfaces.
"Under the city's development plan, the venue's surrounding area will turn into a hub for action sports," the representative said. "Hopefully, one day, we'll see a national or world champion come from here."