Influx

As if Danny Way’s leap over the Great Wall in July wasn’t proof enough, now China is building the world’s biggest skateboard park. Clearly, China wants to be the global power in extreme sports. China even has a government minister in charge of extreme sports, a position that Tony Hawk probably comes closest to occupying here in the US.

One could easily be lulled into believing the becoming an extreme sports power was the last thing on China’s mind. However, it makes sense, as thanks to the efforts of ESPN, its now a global sport that has the eyes of millions of young adults worldwide, eyes that will increasingly looking to China for the latest events.

The other point it raises is how fast China is moving. It is easy and comforting to assume that there is a linear progression to China’s development: from agrarian to industrial to information. What if industrial and information occur simultaneously, like they are? What if China’s development curve looks less like our all history books on the development of civilization and more like Moore’s Law?

This theory was proven at the recent Frankfurt auto show, where Western companies were taken aback by the progress of Chinese automakers presenting at the show.

Underestimate at your peril?

Thanks to Core 77 for the lead.