Events

Skateline Bishan Park Officially Opened! 2005 April 24

Skateline Bishan Park is officially opened! We are pleased to present Singapore's largest private outdoor skating rink, bike rental kiosk and cafe all rolled into one outlet!

Heartland SkatePark : A brief History
Skateline has in fact been managing the Bishan skate park since 2002. At the time, it was an aggressive skate park featuring wooden ramps for the local aggressive community. In a move to serve more skaters, the aging ramps were taken apart in 2003 to make way for a fully flat and open skating rink. The park immediately saw a dramatic jump in usage, from scores of aggressive skaters every weekend to hundreds of begginner skaters within weeks. The park became the most active learner venue for new inline skaters. At the time, Skateline occupied just one third of the space at the facility, sharing space with the bike rental business and a cafe. Skateline recognised that integrated operations between the skate, bike and cafe will make operations smoother and realise the full potential of the venue. In late 2004, a successful tender was made to the National Parks Board to run the entire facility (skate, bike and cafe). This allowed a redesign of the floorspace, doubling the retail space and bringing the cafe location right next to the park track. Now Skateline Bishan Park is the island's only private outdoor skating rink, and the only integrated bike/skate/cafe venue serving park goers in central Singapore.[]

Guests arrive in time for the official opening at 1pm ,with the release of Skateline's orange balloons! Guests were immediately treated to an opening demonstration of the Essboard, an on-land surfboard, by Essboard experts. This was followed by a slalom demonstration by special guests, a local slalom trio Wenlong, Ivan and Wenling. The trio demonstrated basic to advance slalom moves, graceful and sometimes seemingly impossible swirl of limbs around cones.

Guests take advantage of the special carnival prices

Shortly after the slalom demonstration, showers with thunder came at about 2pm, driving participants to seek shelter in the cafe, bike retail kiosk and skate retail shop. The rain however does not dampen the carnival mood,most guests waited the rain out, either but chatting with other guests or checking out the special offers in the skate shop. Fortunately the cloulds moved on in time for the mid-afternoon program, the urban skate, the free Inline Funstart lessons and the Safe Skating Clinic by the Skate Assist Volunteers.

Registrations abuzz for the coloring contest, free InlineFunstart lesson and Treasure Hunt.

The first round of lucky draw at 3pm saw 25 lucky guests win a pair of brand new inline skates each. By mid-afternoon juniors were sprawled around Bishan park putting their color pencils to paper in the kid's coloring contest, and scores of beginners were on the concrete learning skating for the very first time.

Instructors and Skate Assist Volunteers accompanied skaters participanting in the urbans skate for a cruise along the Kallang canal. Skaters went beyond Bishan Park along the edge of Toa Payoh all the way to Potong Pasir estate before turning back.

Skaters who were interested in inline hockey had the opporunity to try-out the game first hand, shooting pucks into nets tended by hockey players who were there to share the sport with new skaters.

At 6pm guests gathered for the prize giving for the winning entries to the kid's coloring contest and winning teams of the Treasure Hunt. Another 25 lucky winners took home a new pair of skates!

The carnival was brought to a close by the director of Skateline Felix Yeo, who in his closing speech challenges all skaters to pursue their own dreams, just like Skateline had done with the launch of Bishan Park. We look forward to seeing you in the park![]

See more pictures of the carnival here!
Photos by Skateline Instructor Faussi Lamiran

SkateAid 2005 (preliminary event info)

(preliminary information : subject to change)

Always wanted to skate on the roads? Soon you can! On 23 May, the roads of Marina South will be closed exclusively for skaters! Join Singapore's First Ever Road-Skate! For the first time ever, the entire carriageway (all vehicle lanes in both directions) will be reserved for skaters only from 7am to 9.am. Bring all your skating friends and family for this road skate!

Event Details
Date : May 23 (holiday-in-lieu after Vesak Day Sunday)
-Bib Collection / registration : from 7am
-Flag-Off Time : 7.30am Sharp, skaters can still join after flag-off until end-time. You can skate as many laps around the scenic route as you wish!

Venue : Marina South (see route map)
Start Point / Bib Collection Point : CarPark A (Planet Marina)
Route Distance : 2.5km per lap.
Who can join : Everyone! For skaters of all ages and abilities.
Protective Gear :
-Helmet Mandatory
-Wrist, elbow and knee guards strongly encouraged.
Helmet Rental Available see "Registration"

Organised by

supported by:
The Singapore Sports Council
The Central Narcotics Bureau
Inline Sports and Skating Association Singapore INSSAS
sponsored by:

Route Map

Click for full-sized map
Roads Closed For Skating:(7.00am to 9.00am)
Entire width of road, single loop along Marina Mall, Marina Way, Marina Grove, Marina Park.

Registration (registration opens in May)
Registration Fee : $10
all proceeds will go to The Salvation Army Youth Development Centre (YDC). Limited to 800 participants. Payment in CASH ONLY. For your convenience, you can download and pre-fill the forms before visiting the registration outlets. On-The-Spot-Registration Available.

Download Registration Form Here

Helmet Rental
Helmet rentals are available to registered participants on a first-come-first-serve basis by pre-booking only.
Rental Fee : $4 (all proceeds go to the Salvation Army YDC)
To rent, call YDC at 62916303.
Please have your full name, NRIC number, Bib exchange coupon number and mobile number ready. You can collect the helmet and make payment from the helmet rental booth on the event day. You will need to deposit your NRIC / Tertiary Matriculation Card / Driving License. Participants are welcome to call after-office hours, and leave a clear message so we can call you back to complete the booking.

Where to register:

1)The Salvation Army Youth Development Centre (YDC)
BLK 65, #01-305, Kallang Bahru, (S) 330065

2)The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters
20 Bishan St 22, (S) 579768

3)Skateline Upper Paya Lebar
296 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534930
Tel:(65)6289-4173
Tues-Fri :12noon - 8pm, Closed on Mondays
Sat & Sun : 10am - 7pm

4)Skateline Bishan Park
1350 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Bishan Park II ,Singapore 569977
(opposite Caltex petrol station)
Tel:(65)6453-3959
Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm, Closed on Mondays
Sat & Sun : 8am - 8pm

5)Skateline East Coast Park
East Coast Park Carpark E2, Singapore 440000 (near the Laggon hawker centre)
Tel:(65)6243-1912
Tues-Fri: 11am - 7pm, Closed on Mondays
Sat & Sun : 8am - 8pm

6)Skateline Queensway Shopping Centre
1 Queensway, Queensway Shopping Centre, Unit 01-42, Singapore 149053
Tel:(65)64768240
12noon to 8pm daily
Open on public holidays

Event Entry Pass: Sticker Bib
Upon registration and payment, participants will be issued an Bib Exchange Voucher. The voucher must be presented on the event day in exchange for the official event sticker-Bib, which serves as the entry pass. Only participants with the official event sticker Bib will be admitted.
Important : Lost, stolen or damaged reciepts or Sticker-Bibs will not be replaced.

Getting There
Skaters should arrive by MRT at Marina MRT station, and proceed to Carpark A (beside Planet Marina) on foot or on-skates. To be sure you are in time for the flag off and bib-exchange, you should plan to reach Marina South MRT by 7am. It takes about 15 minutes to move from the MRT station to the Start point.

Parking:
Drivers must enter Marina South and park BEFORE road closure at 7.am, roads will re-open at 9.30am. Parking is only available at Carparks listed on the route map (see route map). For the safety of skaters and to avoid congestion, drivers are discouraged from driving to this event. Drivers are encouraged to 'Park and Ride" : park at a carpark at the next nearest MRT station and arrive by MRT.

About SkateAid
SkateAid is a community project organised by the Salvation Army Youth Development Centre and Skateline. SkateAid brings together inline skaters from all over the island for a special mass-skate. For the very first time in Singapore, public roads on a scenic route will be closed for the sole enjoyment of skaters.The event serves also to highlight the growth possibilities of inline skating as a sport for friends and families, and for all ages and abilities. We also take the opportunity to spread the message of the CNB to youths: Choose to live a healthy and drug-free life with outdoor activities.

Enquiries
Jeff, Alicia, Esther : 6291 6303 (Salvation Army Youth Development Centre)
Edmund : 6488 4022 (Skateline)

SNS 2005 April 30 : Sembawang Park

IMPORTANT :
Meeting Point Changed to Sembawang MRT Station (previously Admiralty MRT Station)
Route Revised : for Intermediate and Advanced skaters only. Skaters must be able to handle long and steep down-slopes.
The first few SNS of 2005 were relatively easy. So this month, we have revised the original route to an exciting one full of slopes to cater to confident skaters!

Meeting Point & End Point : Sembawang MRT Station
Skating is not allowed within the station, gather on the steps outside the station.
Time : 8pm (don't be late!)
Estimated duration : 1.5 hours
Estimated distance : 8 km
Diffuculty Level : intermediate to advanced skaters only (long steep slopes)

Route Description:
(Revised to challenge intermediate / advanced skaters)
On leaving Sembawang MRT, we follow the MRT track Southwards along Canberra link until the cross junction between Yishun Road and Sembawang Road. From here, we turn left along Sembawang Road, which leads towards Sembawang Park. This is the first steep descent, down a long, steep, but smooth park connector track. We will pass the Eagle Club, where there's a crossing. After this is the Prisons Staff Training School, then the long enjoyable downslope continues until the entrance of Sembawang Park.

This is where the fun really begins. Opposite Sembawang Park itself, hidden among the trees, is a little-known estate of pre-war British colonial houses. The road network of the estate are largely free of cars. It snakes and loops into the secluded estate. We can skate on the wide empty roads. Here we will skate around explore the estate a little. After getting used to the environment, we will cross Admiralty East Road to the western section of the estate. This is where the BIG slopes are, we will circle around and search for a few major steep slopes for your enjoyment. After the rollercoaster rides, we will follow Canada Road, which circles the estate to the exit point at house no. 275 down a flight of stairs. Here the pre-war landscape suddenly transforms back to the present day HDB heartland. Following Montreal Road, (which is quiet enough to skate on the road itself), we will skate to Wellington Road, and then left onto Canberra Road. Right at the junction and we will be back at Sembawang MRT Station.

Danger Points
Steep long slopes along Sembawang Road which ends at road crossings
Various long steep slopes in pre-war estate. Full protective gear is strongly recommended.

Don't forget to see the general safety advisory for Saturday Night Skate here:
http://www.skateline.com.sg/events/sns/

French Freestyle Slalom Champion Whirls Through Skateline Bishan Park

Former Freestyle Slalomm champion Sebestien Laffargue wowwed skaters and park-goers with his tricks at Bishan Park on Sunday (5.30pm, April 17). Sebastien has a long string of slalom titles under his belt, most recently first place for the men's FreeStyle Slalom at the Lugdunum contest last October in Lyon (France). His name is often found on the top spots of freestyle slalom competitions across Europe from Switzerland to The Netherlands. The well travelled slalom elite has travelled many countries in Europe and Asia to showcase his skills and promote the growth of the discipline.

On this special appearance at Bishan Park made possible by vice president Eddie Chua of INSSAS, Sebastien demonstrated freestyle slalom and speed slalom moves, plus a bonus showcase of special ways of stopping, many of which are seen for the first time in Singapore. Sebastien was wearing his specialised MX brand skates, which are specifically designed for slalom. The skate has been developed over a year with direct consultation from Sebastien, who feels that current freestyle skates on the market still has technical limitations for slalom. The MX features a rare diagonal strap across the widest part of the foot, as well as very stiff boot base more akin to speed skates than fitness recreation skates. The frame mounting also caters to seven different positions for mounting for exact positioning. The MX skate or its variants are expected to debut in Singapore before the mid of this year.

Sebastien's tour of Singapore is part of promotional activities in Singapore's bid to host the slalom world cup competition here. It is understood that negotiations are still underway between the local associations and the competition organisers. Slalom enthusiasts should start practicing early while hoping for a positive outcome! [Ed]

See more of Sebastien at this profile page :
http://funky.man.free.fr/English/Slalom/Riders/France/seblaffargue.htm

and one of his most watched slalom videos here:
http://funky.man.free.fr/English/Videos/slaffarguelyon04.mpg

Skateline Bishan Park Opening Carnival

24 April Sunday 1pm-7pm
Join us for an afternoon of skate demonstrations, games and tryouts to mark the official opening of Skateline Bishan Park!

Carnival Program
1.00pm : Carnival Begins! Opening Speech, skate video presentations. Everyone is invited!
1.15pm : EzzBoard Demo & TryOut (On-land surfboard), K2 Bike TryOut
2.00pm : Slalom Skating Demo & TryOut
3.00pm-6pm : Safe Skating Clinic by Skate Assist Volunteers
3.30 pm : Lucky Draw Part 1, Coloring Competition for Juniors, Urban Skating, Inline Hockey Demo
4.30pm : Inline Hockey TryOut : Shoot pucks! Score & win prizes!
5.30pm : Treasure Hunt Begins! Join in the fun & win prizes!
6.00pm : Closing Speech & Prize presentation, Lucky Draw Part 2!
6.30pm : Refreshments for guests

Special Offers for Products and Lessons:
-Skate-All-You-Can Lesson Plan at only $89 (usual $99) One Day Only!
-FREE Open Class lessons. Skateline students can take lessons on this day without expending any of the 5 guaranteed lesson slots in their Skate All You Can Program.
-FREE Skateline membership with purchases above $10 (usual min. $50)

Special Carnival Prices for selected products

Buy an Inline FunStart Program (1-hour introduction to skating, $20) and get to buy these skates at special prices:
K2 Escape Junior : $150
K2 EXO 1.0 : $100
Purchase-For-Purchase:
spend more than $50 on a single receipt on other items and get to buy the follow items at these special prices:(while stocks last)
Assorted Hyper wheels : 50% OFF
Black Hole ABEC 5 Bearings : $20 (usual $39)
K2 Bagpack (Assorted) : $49 to $59
ERGO Helmets : $20 (usual $49)
Prowell Assorted Helmets : $39 (Usual $49)
Powerslide Skate Care Set : $18 (usual $26)

Extra Specials available from Opening Carnival Flyer coupons cut-outs:
-FREE Inline Funstart (Usual $20). Sign up for this complimentary 1-hour lesson for total beginners (first 100 customers only)
-K2 Velocity Skate at $200 (usual $329)
-K2 XP at $300 (usual $429)
-Stand a chance to win one of 50 pairs of the Vortex Stream skates (usual $229)
If you can't get your hands on these coupons, download your online copy here :
Carnival Flyer Adobe PDF 1Mb
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See You There!