On the first night in Yanghuo whilst shopping for numchucks in the market, the UK Stack Pack were approached by a group of college girls with an invitation to join their celebrations at a local English speaking college. Naturally, reluctant to let down the ladies the offer was accepted, and in return pass on the years of English language and cultural knowledge.

Over the next few days they returned to the college helping the students with evening classes teaching spelling, grammer and pronounciation. The bond that was formed ultimately resulted in a stacking session. On our last evening before departing for Hong Kong the UK Stack Pack were invited back to the college to make a special guest appearance to stack as a gift to the students. The results were immense, by the end of the session we had a new fan base but more importantly even more potential Chinese champions.

Lindsey Novom, first heard about the UK Stack Pack back home, Mequon, WI, USA.She is now in Shanghai for 4 months teaching English at a school. When she heard that Paul and Tim were going to Shanghai, she made sure that she was there with her cups out to show off her up-stack.

Here is a picture with her cups and another with Paul sporting his fresh haircut.

Once leaving Beijing we made our way by train to Xi’an which is host to the famous Terracotta Army. But had they heard of Sport Stacking? Our next public appearance brought us to the restaurant of our hostel. Our Great Wall appearance had us worried that many backpackers, as well as locals were alien to the delights of this wonderful sport. Here in the restuarant the backpackers and local staff alike could be educated. An ecclectic mix of Chinese, Americans, Canadians, British, Russians and Scandinavians wowed in awe at the UK Stack Pack executing the 3-3-3, 3-6-3 and the cycle stack. Chants of ‘magic’ once again roared around the walls of the restuarant.

It was a great occassion, our stacking was bringing people together as one.

Above is a picture of us with Jennifer, Bristol, who was really interested to learn about sport stacking.

Our second stacking experience of Beijing took us to the remote surroundings of the Great Wall of China. As one of the wonders of the world and an institution of Chinese and world history, this seemed like a perfect stage for old and new to merge. After a 2.5 hour bus journey and 2 hour hike to a remote area of the Great Wall, the cups were off! Although a very different audience from the streets of Beijing, the main tourists were from Europe and Israel, the response was the same, “What is this magical sport?”

It appears in Europe, Sport Stacking has a long way to go to touch the lives that football and golf has. We have experience back home in England that Sport Stacking was an unknown quantity but it appears that the trip across Europe may be needed after the world tour.

We found a cheap restaurant from our hostel. It was a modest, yet friendly place with a perfect mixture of indoor/outdoor place settings. A place where hungry eaters could mingle with the hustle and bustle of Beijing for ridiculously cheap prices.
So much was the integration that the mothers would happily take their young children outside of the restaurant to urinate on the side walk. The sound of caged crickets hanging from the neighbours front doors was distinct but somehow felt natural. It was clear from the start that this not only a raw place but a perfect place to start stacking.

After dining with a couple of charming girls from Belgium, Paul revealed the cups to the unsuspecting public. We warmed the crowd up with some 3-3-3 action before enticing them to the table with some very impressive 3-6-3 action but this was only the beginning. As the crowd flocked in their tens, Paul whipped out the cycle stack and the sound of Chinese gasping in awe was clearly heard.

It became evident that Sport Stacking was an unknown quantity in China as the ‘ohhhs’ and ‘ahhhs’ turned to chants of ‘magic’. Not content with standing in the shadows, one by one the locals stepped forward. Our mission was in its first week of China but we could already see the potential of great things to come.

(From left) Tim, Saskia, Paul, Freya.

(From left) Paul, Freya, Tim.

The day has finally arrived and the world tour has begun.

It was an emotional farewell at Heathrow Airport but with the strength and determination that these two young courageous men have, it is a challenge most welcomed.

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