Events

Upcoming Inline Events in Korea : SWIC & JARSC

Spring season in Korea is also skating season, with some of the biggest inline events in the world. The two upcoming events are a must-join for many skate enthusiasts around the globe.

Seoul World Inline Cup 2005 (SWIC)
Date : 2005 April 10
Location : Seoul, Jamsil Sports Complex

A very high profile inline marathon event which sees participation from the top inline athletes in the world. Take part in either the competitive 42 km full marathon or the 20km half marathon for fitness skaters. Skaters have to be able to complete the full marathon in 90 minutes and the half marathon in 80 minutes!
More details at official SWIC website : http://swic.munhwa.com

11th Asian Roller Skating Championships, Jeonju (JARSC)
Dates : 2005 May 10 - 14
Location : Jeonju, Korea

An FIRS sanctioned event in the cultural city of Jeonju in southwestern Korea. Jeonju is famous for Bibimbap and its world class sports facilities. JARSC includes the entire range of events : speed, hockey and artistic, held in the Jeonju skating rink. More details at official JARSC website : www.jarsc.com

If you are interested in visiting any of the above events, send an email to activities@skateline.com.sg with subject "JARSC" with your full name and mobile number. We will be sure to include you in our group when we visit the event!

Pledge Your Support! Charity Bike 'N' Blade 2005

Congratulations to the safe and successful return of the 40 cyclists and 16 skaters from Charity Bike and Blade. On 12 to 15 March, they made a journey of more than 400km journey from Singapore to Desaru and back. Organised by (Organised by the Saint Andrew's Mission Hospital (SAMH) and Avanade, The Charity Bike and Blade (BNB) is in support of the Saint Andrew's Mission Hospital (SAMH).

Below : The expedition was done over 4 days, the first day from SAMH to Mersing (150km), the second from Mersing to Desaru (150 km). After a day of rest at Desaru, the fourth day was the return trip (120km). (Map from event website)

The skate team was made up of 16 skaters, including skaters from 3 local teams (Team Hvper, Team Speed Virus(TSV), Team Skateline) and 4 foriegn skaters well known to the skate community here.It is truely a skate of solidarity amongst skaters.

Speed skaters unite! Above: Skaters wearing the yellow expedition jersey
Second Row from left : James (one of the organisers), Kok Peng, Kelvin, Jonathan, Yong Quan, Maxim, Sandy
First Row from left : Jenn, Ethel, Judy (skater's liason), Law, Kim, June, Justin, Daryl (not in picture, Kimberly)

The 400 km journey was divided into 3 legs, one leg per day. Each leg, between 120 to 150 km, was divided into 4 relays, each relay skated by one group. The 16 skaters divided themselves into 4 groups, namely the foriegn skater group, Team Speed Virus, Team Hvper and the 'junior' group, a mixture of the younger skaters from different teams. Each group will skate one relay each day, between 30 to 40 km. Due to the natural difference in average speed, skaters and cyclists moved in seperate convoys, each escorted by a front and back vehicle. The vehicles carried the team which was going to skate next and the team which had finished their leg.

The route was known to be hot, hilly, rough and busy at times. Skaters endured the full extent of the day's heat, often radiated off the sun-baked tarmac. Most skaters carried water in back-pouches and drank continuously to stay hydrated. The route snaked through forest and plantations, with continuous hills of varying gradient. Long climbs rewarded with long rolls only into another climb again. Some stretches saw heavy over-taking traffic. Often, cars and trucks horned in support, drivers waved, the mood of the motorists were generally positive. Once in a while, the skaters tore through teeth-chattering rough surfaces. The old tarmac had been weathered by rain and battered by heavy traffic. The road got progressively more difficult as the days went on,with tougher climbs and rougher roads.

Above : Skaters and riders share a light moment before a start. Riders included Class 95 DJ Rod Monteiro (first from left) and Sidney Lim (3rd from left with red gloves), S.E.Asia GM Avanade.

Above : riders standing-by for the start of a leg. The journey was accompanied by crew, including a doctor, and family of the participants. There were some accidents but injuries were quickly attended to by the doctor. Overall, the organisation was safe and well thought.

Above : the 'junior'group triumphant on the completion of their leg.
The final skate leg was completed by the 'foriegn group' (Maxim, Sandy and Jonathan). This leg was shorter and somewhat flatter because the convoy has left the hills behind and was nearing the coast. Sandy Snakenberg (Team Skateline) recalls a memorable moment during the four day journey. "We just finished our skate and arrived at the end point, everyone was sweating and absolutely thirsty. Then these children, from the families of the participants, brought glasses of ice-cold water and started giving them out to everyone......Thats sweet.". [Ed]

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Although the Charity Bike and Blade is completed, you can continue to support this expedition, as donations are open until May 31. All pledges will go to the SAMH.

For donations, please :

make your cheques payable to "Saint Andrew's Mission Hospital",
behind the cheque, please indicate "Charity Bike 'n' Blade",

and send it to:

Skateline Pte Ltd
Unit 02-01 Hudson Technocentre
16 New Industrial Road
Singapore 534204

For more details, visit the official website at http://www.charitybnb05.net

SNS 2005 Feb 26 : East Coast Park East-End

The February SNS was thwarted by the biggest raincloud the island has seen in almost a month. A welcome sight for sunbaked non-skaters but bad news for us skaters. The skate was officially cancelled by 6.45pm with overhead threats of lighting and warning drops. Fickle as the weather is, after shedding a couple of raindrops, the storm cloud changed its mind and moved further east to harass the inhabitants of Pasir Ris. By 7.20pm East Coast Park actually looks skate-able. At 8pm a small cosy group of skaters gathered and the SNS went on unofficially. We skated from Skateline East Coast Park branch, towards the eastern end of the park. At the Sea-Sports Centre, where most skaters consider the 'end' of East Coast Park, we cross the canal towards the coast stretch where there are some far flung BBQ pits. After these pits, the tracks curved away from the coast around a cluster of Chalets. After this chalet was the best part of the skate, a wide, freshly paved track (so new that lamp posts have yet to be erected, so it was rather dark) which ran about half a kilometre, ending at the drive-in entrance of the SAFRA Country Club. The skate took about 25 minutes at above average speed. After a brief pause we headed back to Skateline by the way we came. With only a handful of skaters, the group was quick and nimble so the whole unofficial affair ended uneventfully at about 9pm. In your next skate to the eastern end, don't forget to go beyond the Sea Sports Centre to enjoy this fresh track.[Ed]

 

Meeting Point & End Point : Skateline East Coast Park (Carpark E2, near Lagoon Hawker centre)
Time : 8pm
Estimated duration : 1.5 hours
Estimated distance : 12 km
Diffuculty Level : Beginner to Advanced

Route Description:
Join us for a skate from Skateline East Coast Park (Carpark E2) all the way to the eastern end of East Coast Park. This skate will take us beyond the Sailing Club to new tracks which have just been completed. See you there!

SNS 2005 Jan 29 : Esplanade to Orchard

Saturday Night Skate (SNS) Jan 29
Where: Esplanade to Orchard Road (and Back)

Skaters gather at Queen Elizabeth's Walk at the Esplanade. About 120 skaters! Skate Assist Volunteer (SAV) Bernard Lee briefs the skaters about the route and safety.

Off we go! A good number of SAVs and Skateline instructors were present to guide. Notice the skaters in orange!

We skated all the way up the Singapore river, past Clark Quay all the way to the back of Zouk.

After Zouk, we left the river for River Valley Road. Along the condominiums lining Irwell Bank Road, we approached Orchard from its back door.

Home run! After mid-point and rest point at the Youth Park near Orchard Cineleisure, we head back down Somerset Road towards Dhoby Gaut MRT. This time, the return trip needed a big detour because the SMU construction made the pedestrain pavements around it unpassable. We had to make a big flank over to Paradiz Centre and Selegie, Middle Road, pass Chijmes and Funan Centre before heading back to the Padang.[]

SNS BRIEFING :
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When: 29 January, 8pm. Don't be late!
All Skateline stores will be closed at 7pm for the event

Meeting Point : Esplanade, open area under the Esplanade bridge (between Queen Elizabeth walk and Esplanade Theatres on the bay)
(Also Start & End pt. )

Difficulty : Intermediate to Advanced skaters only. Skaters should be be able to stop confidently and control speed downslope safely. General urban skating obstacles like stairs, short steep slopes, sharp turns, kerbs and skating through crowds is expected. No open road skating but lots of crossings at traffic lights. If you have just started skating recently, its better to avoid this skate. On the actual day, if instructors, Skate Assist Volunteers (SAV) or skate guides feel that you are not ready for the route, they may advise you to drop out.

Duration : About 1 Hour 45 miins

Distance : About 12km

Route Description :  (route may change on actual day based on actual conditions)

From the Esplanade, we will skate pass Fullerton Hotel through the Boat Quay. We will decide which side of the riverbank to skate on the day itself depending on how crowded it is. Upon reaching the Hill Street underpass, there's a steep slope the before reaching Clarke Quay. After Clark Quay, the skate continues along the Singapore river, past Liang Court and Roberson Walk along Robertson Quay to Zouk. From the opposite bank from Zouk, we will cut through to River Valley Close onto River Valley Road. We will skate past the condomiums along Irwell Bank Road to reach Grange Road. From there, we head towards Orchard Cineliesure to reach the Youth Skate Park. We take a short break here.

On the way back, we cross Somerset Road past Cineleisure and turn right onto Orchard Road, which we follow all the way down until the Istana Park. From the back of Istana Park we cross Penang Road again and skate down Stamford Road past Park Mall, YMCA and the National Museum and Library. At the cross junction of City Hall MRT Station, we turn right towards Funan Centre, then left to Coleman street and back to the Padang and Esplanade. If Orchard road is really crowded, we will skate back along Somerset Road.