ProfileZhang Jinkun,1990year6month9dayof birth in Qingdao, is a well-known Chinese trials and mountain bike rider. He holds the national record for a1meter47lateral hop on a trials bike.2009He participated in the National Trials Bike Championship in2012; was the runner-up at the Shanghai International Extreme Sports Masters in2014; and achievedBIUfourth place at the World Trials Masters in ;2015He competed in the Tianmen Mountain Downhill Race in Zhangjiajie in999, tackling the grade“ladder track, earning him the nickname” "Ladder Dancer";2017InX-Box, during the Carabao Ride & Run event, he performed a standing jump of1.32meters;2017In4, he was the only Chinese trials bike rider invited to attend the Sea Otter Classic bike festival in the United States.
Can you briefly introduce the sport of mountain biking? What’s its appeal?
What I showcased at the Banff Festival was the mountain bikeenduroseries, where I incorporate trials bike moves into mountain biking, bringing them to life—so it looks both like mountain biking and features some technical tricks. It’s a sport that stays fun, always offering new challenges and a variety of ways to ride. When you’re happy, you can go trail riding in the mountains; when you’re down, you can cruise under the neon lights; when you want to challenge yourself, you can leap over rocks on the mountain. Depending on your mood, you can express different feelings through your ride.
When did you first get into this sport?
I started in the2000I got in touch with cycling as a sport when I was10years old. By "got in touch," I don’t mean my dad bought me a bicycle to play with, but rather that this bicycle had a certain level of professionalism. At the time, I could understand that it was an independent sport, not just a means of transportation. From that day on, I rode my bike through the mountains, and I consider that day as my first day.
What was it like when you started riding?
When you get on the bike and let the wheels replace your feet, the speed is much faster than walking, and you feel the wind rushing past your face while watching the scenery on both sides change rapidly. For a child, it’s like having a magical wheel of wind.
What kind of changes did it bring to you personally?
The longer I rode, the more it changed me. For example, physically — I call them the marks the bicycle left on me. My back, calves, arms, and finger joints all have injuries. There were also changes to my posture; I’ve gotten used to the feeling of standing on the bike.
With so many injuries on your body, does that mean this sport is somewhat dangerous?
Not at all. I’m naturally curious, and I really wanted to find out what two wheels could become. In the process of exploring, you get injured — that’s due to my personal nature, not because the sport is dangerous.
Is this sport difficult for beginners? Do you have any advice for them?
Bicycles are actually very common in China, and many people can ride them, so you could say the foundation is quite good. But as they continue riding, many never actually get exposed to real mountain biking. There are actually many types of bikes — some are for road riding, some for mountains, some for jumping, and some for tricks. For beginners, the first step is to choose a type of bike that suits their characteristics. So, helping beginners understand what this sport really is — that’s the hardest hurdle.
Do you have any recent plans or goals?
For the near future, this year on6Month5, I’m going to the United States forMountain Game,a global mountain sports festival.
And long-term plans?What about that?
I’d like to compare the bicycle to a form of art. Art requires immersion. Within my means, I want to immerse myself in it abroad, to truly internalize bicycle culture. I want to bring this culture back to China, to give more people a real feel for mountain biking and to get more people involved in this sport. I’m already doing that — I compete, I appear on TV shows, and I do sharing events like today at Banff. Ultimately, the goal is to show everyone the true charm of this sport through my experiences.I liken bicycles to a form of art. Art requires cultivation. Within my means, I want to immerse myself in it abroad, to truly let the cycling culture seep into my very being. I want to bring this culture back to China, to give more people a real feel for mountain biking, and to encourage more people to take up this sport. That’s what I’m doing now — participating in races, appearing on TV shows, and sharing experiences like today at Banff. Ultimately, my goal is to showcase the true charm of this sport through my own journey.
What do you think of today’s Banff Festival event?
It was absolutely fantastic. Because bringing outdoor sports into an urban environment — in a place as bustling as Sanlitun — and showing city dwellers what outdoor sports feel like creates a completely different world. It brings one world into another. Here, the charm of the sports presented creates a kind of chemical reaction with the urban background behind it. During the sharing sessions, people feel inspired to try some kind of sport, and today’s performances and talks covered many types — rock climbing, trampolining, longboarding, and more — giving everyone lots of options and all the information you might want to know.