Shi Ruifang competes in the China qualifier. Photo: Courtesy of Shi Ruifang

Darting on straights, pumping over rollers, and acrobatic dirt jumps combine to create an atmosphere crackling with excitement at the world's largest pump track in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. 

After five thrilling rounds of competition, China's Shi Ruifang was crowned the women's champion at the UCI Pump Track World Championships China Qualifier on July 29.

Such triumphant rides have not only allowed Shi to secure her ticket to the world championship finals in Neuquén, Argentina in November, but have also made her dream come true.

As one of the competitions recognized by the world's cycling governing body UCI, the Pump Track World Championships is a global pump track racing series in which riders fight for a spot in the world Final that promise elite bicycle motocross(BMX) racers and mountain bike (MTB) world champions on a level playing field. A top four finish in a qualifier in the female or male category guarantees competitors a place in the world Finals.

Deqing county, southeast China's Zhejiang Province became the first city in the Chinese mainland to host a pump track world qualifier in April. Following the success in Deqing, the newly built Shenyang International Pump Track Park brought the extreme sport showcase back to China in July. 

Covering an area of almost 20,000 square meters, it is the largest and most comprehensive Pump Track project in the world. With several rookie and beginner tracks, a UCI World Championships track, two massive Jump Lines, a huge asphalt bowl, and a skate park, this venue caters to every rider's wildest dreams.

Swiss two-time world pump track champion Christa von Niederhäusern was also invited to Shenyang for an exhibition ride. 

Shi told the Global Times that victory in the Shenyang qualifier revived her cycling career and she will strive for national glory at the Finals.

Regret in retirement

Hailing from Yuxi, southwest China's Yunnan province, Shi was scouted for the city's professional cycling team for her outstanding physique at the age of 13 and started training as a road cyclist. 

She soon emerged as a breakout star in the city's team with her impressive performance and was promoted to the provincial team, winning three consecutive road race championships in provincial competitions from 2013. Gold medals won by Shi in domestic events are over 20.

"I love road racing and have always dreamed of qualifying for the national team and represent China on the international stage," Shi told the Global Times.

However, a move to the Jilin provincial team derailed her cycling career. Frequent coaching changes and disputes over payment saw her athletic performance stall, which forced her to retire prematurely. 

"The biggest regret I have in my retirement is that I didn't make it to the national team. It would  have been possible were circumstances different, but that's life," said Shi.

A fire still burns in her heart and she is yet to abandon her beloved bicycle. She has maintained a training regimen while taking up a new role as a BMX coach at a local club. 

BMX racing made its debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and BMX Freestyle became an Olympic medal event at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Being included in the Olympics has raised the profile of BMX racing and more children across China have taken up the sport.

"With the support of local authorities, we see the development of domestic BMX events. The quality of the events is getting better. I was moved to tears when I saw children as young as four starting to practice pumping on the track," Shi noted.

"The number of female pump track cyclist in China is still low. But I'm bullish about the prospects of the sport's development in China as more children are engaged in it."

Accessible to anyone

Pump tracks are basically smaller, tighter, looped BMX tracks. The beauty of pump track riding is its accessibility to people of all ages and all proficinency levels. You can do it on almost any kind of bike, from dirt jump bikes to BMXs. Don't be surprised if you see a 2-year-old shredding the wavy track on a balance bike.

The rider's goal while riding on the pump track racing is to complete the circuit of turns, berms, and multiple-rollers as fast as possible against adversaries. The key is to generate speed and maximize your downhill momentum when flow through the rollers without pedaling. 

"I love the pump track as it pushes me to the limit. It takes a killer combination of strength, stamina, and finely-honed skills to win," said Shi. "It's more than a sport. I like the way it challenges me and spurs me on to be a better version of myself."

Shi heard of the Shenyang qualifier about a month before the event. Fired up by the opportunity to represent China in an international competition, she was determined to give it a go.

"The biggest challenge for me is patience. It's different from road racing. A single move in how you navigate a turn or tackle a roller may take a year to master. Developing these skills requires a lot of practice. But as I said to my student riders, 'every failure puts you one step closer to success,'" she said.

The victory in Shenyang pumped up her confidence and exposed areas that needed to be improved upon when compared to elite cyclists.

"I need to improve my skills on back-tire rolling over the roller and maintain speed on different types of tracks. I will do my best to gear up for the Final," Shi said.

Just a few months out, the showdown in Argentina offers Shi a golden opportunity to realize her dream of striving for national glory on the international stage.