SNS 2005 April 30 Sembawang Park : Report

(see previous story SNS 2005 April : Sembawang Park)

Big Slopes! Thats what the theme of the April night skate was all about. And we got them. Tucked away in the quiet pre-war estate, fringed by Canberra Road, West Admiralty Road and Sembawang Road are some of the most skate-able (and safest) slopes on the island.

Guides gathered skaters outside the MRT Station

Intermediate and advanced skaters meant the group was tight and swift, road crossings were a breeze.

The skaters who attended were indeed confident skaters who didn't need alot of help, except safety during road crossings. This night skate was guided by a good number of Skate Assist Volunteers (SAV) and Skateline instructors.

It was a pleasant skate from Sembawang MRT station to Sembawang Park itself. Along the way skaters enjoyed the first long gentle gradients down Sembawang Road. Also following the skaters was a reporter and camera crew from Channel U which was reporting on the event.

On reaching Sembawang park, skaters took a free-and-easy skate on the wide tracks inside.

While the skaters went their rounds, Channel U got down to interviewing some of the skaters. Channel U is expected to air the coverage in a sports section of the 11pm Channel U News on Sat May 7.

After Sembawang Park, we wasted no time getting to the wide tracks and big slopes in the estate. Vehicle tracks looped around the old bungalows and 3 or 4 storey houses. The tracks were so wide skaters can dive the slopes shoulder to shoulder. The biggest slope was on Ottawa Road, which runs for about 200m at the edge of the estate, there's a sharp bend at the bottom which curves right to Bermuda road. Bermuda road leads up again to the top of the Ottawa road slope.

Downslope Videos (.avi Apple QuickTime format):

Ottawa Slope 1 (5.5 Mb)
Ottawa Slope 2 (3 Mb)
Wide Winding Tracks (6.7 Mb)
if you don't have QuickTime, download it free here

Hair pin bend at the bottom of the Ottawa Road slope. The high speed bend makes it necessary to use lunge turns.

After these exhilarating downhill runs, we made for the exit point to Montreal drive back to Sembawang MRT station.

Satisfied Skaters!

Guides pose for a finishing picture. See you again at the next night skate!

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