He adds that skating has also improved his personality. "I was a bit aloof and arrogant, but now I have become more polite, warmhearted and more willing to make friends," says Wang. "I feel that all skaters are my 'homies', which is part of the skating spirit."

Liu Jiaming, 23, a Shenzhen-based skater, agrees. "I think it allows me to stay different from my schoolmates," he adds. "I hope I can maintain my uniqueness."

The young daredevil fell in love with skateboarding when he was 11, mainly because he appreciated the boldness of skaters and enjoyed the strong sense of fulfillment after mastering a new trick. In 2011, at 15, he became the youngest professional skateboarder in China after he won his first championship-the semiprofessional section of the Nike City Jam Series.

"Never yield to a challenge is something I've learned from skateboarding," says Liu.

He also takes the same attitude when encountering difficulties in other fields. In 2013, when he first met his idol, US skater Chris Cole, he struggled with his English. However, when they met a second time, he was fluent thanks to a year of intensive studying.