Events

SNS 25 June 2005: Sentosa!

Details:

Meeting Point & Start Point: The Cool Deck (Drink Kiosk Opposite Underwater

World) Meeting Time : 7pm

Parking is now available at the BEACH CARPARK, in the middle of the coastal

stretch, between SILOSO BEACH and PALAWAN beach. $2 per car to drive-in.

ROUTE

Beginner Skaters

. Flag off at Cool Deck

. Skate along Siloso Beach route

. Skaters will skate pass the beach carpark leading to Palawan Beach

. Skate towards 7-eleven, and continue along the Palawan Beach route

. End of Palawan Beach route, leading to Dolphin Lagoon

. Cross the Road, and continue along the Tanjong Beach route

. Make a roundabout at end of Tanjong Beach route

. Skate back to Cool Deck via same route

Est. Distance: 6km

Est. Duration: 1.0 hrs

Advanced Skaters:

. Flag off at Cool Deck

. Skate along Siloso Beach route

. Skaters will skate pass the beach carpark leading to Palawan Beach

. Skate towards 7-eleven, and continue along the Palawan Beach route

. End of Palawan Beach route, leading to Dolphin Lagoon

. Cross the Road, and continue along the Tanjong Beach route

. Make a roundabout at end of Tanjong Beach route

. Skate back to Siloso via same route

. Turn right and skate up to Jungle Trail

. Cross Zebra Crossing Behind Delifrance

. Enter Jungle Trail. Light Sticks will be planted to assist skaters.

. Exit Jungle Trail

. Skate along Mythology Trail, towards NFT

. Make a roundabout at Sentosa Arc

. Rest at Burger King (Optional)

. Skate back to Cool Deck via Same Route

Est Distance: 9km

Est Duration: 1.5 hr

 

www.sentosa.com.sg

SNS May 28 : Buona Vista MRT to Ulu Pandan Park Connector

Date : 28 May Saturday
Time : 8pm
Meeting Point : Bouna Vista MRT, near to transit link office at the basement (or the place where you would normaly wait for shuttle bus to NUH)
Estimated Distance : 5.9 Km (one way)
Estimated time: 2 hours.
Important : Bring your torchlights!
Difficulty : Beginers to Advanced (kerbs, road crossings, off-track movement)

Route Description : (by ICP instructor Faussi Lamiran)
Round loop from Buona Vista MRT to Ulu Pandan Park Connector & back.

From Buona Vista MRT, we will start moving towards the small road used normally by NUH Shuttle bus to cross Commonwealth Ave West via a nearby pedestrian crossing. After the crossing we will reach to the
mouth of ulu pandan park connector. From here on, it will be an easy skate along the sungei pandan, parallel to the East-West MRT Line. The park connector will end near to the junction of Clementi Rd and Ulu Pandan Rd. We will then cross Clementi Road to the opposite park connector.

Another easy skate along the smooth park connector (dist abt 2.2km), just watch out for the slope at the
entrance of each park connector, it can be quite steep, but a fun ride. We will skate pass an overhead footpath bridge, clementi ave 6, East West MRT Line all the way to the end of the park connector, which is just nearby to the AYE.

But wait......

There is another park connector accross the Sungei Pandan, and if you look closely, there is an abandoned metal railway. This railway is used by local people to go from one park to the opposite park. If you think that we are going to cross via the metal railway, Yesss... You are 100% right.

We will go off track to the grass patch and make our way for the railway. The area here is not lit, so make sure you bring your torchlight(s) along!!

(optional)
For beginner skaters, can choose to follow the route back to Buona Vista MRT.

After the railway, we will reach another park connector that connect jurong east and bukit batok. After a quick break, we will skate along this 2000m long park connector till we reach Commonwealth Ave
West. This would be our turning point.

Danger Point :
Crossing of metal railway near to AYE. Please bring along your torchlight as the area is not
lit. There are a few big steps leading to the railway and people who uncomfortable with heights, might not be able to cross over. Try not to carry loose items, like wallet, phones in your pocket as they might drop
onto the lake below.

Don't forget to see the General Safety Advisory for Saturday Night Skate here:

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!

***

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/

SNS 2005 March 26 : Simpang Kiri Track

Skate at one of the island's least known but most enjoyable stretches. The Simpang Kiri track, less than 2 km from Yishun MRT station is 2.8km of smooth, straight skating along the Sungei Simpang Kiri all the way to the river mouth.

Meeting Point & End Point : Yishun MRT Station
Skating is not allowed within the station, gather on the steps outside the station.
Time : 8pm
Estimated duration : 1.5 hours
Estimated distance : 9 km
Diffuculty Level : Beginner to Advanced
Important Note : Bring your torchlights! This track is known to be unlit on some nights.
Route Description:
A very simple route. From Yishun MRT station, we cross to the opposite corner of the junction and skate North along Yishun Avenue 2. Its a straight skate on a bumpy pedestrian track through 2 junctions. After passing the neighbourhood park and Murata Building, we will have reached the start of the Simpang Kiri Park Connector. Once we are here, enjoy the 2.8 km stretch of track! Go a few laps if you want! After a good skate on the track, we will skate back the way we came to Yishun MRT Station. (see map, source National Parks Board website) Danger Spots:
2 moderately steep slopes, one at the entrance to the park, another one at the mid-point along the track. Skaters who are uncomfortable with slopes should skate with assistance or use the railings along the sides if available

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 :
===========
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.

SNS 2004 May : Loyang Industrial Estate

Skaters arrive at Pasir Ris MRT for the night skate

Safety briefing was conducted. This meant the skate was going to start soon.

Go! There was a 2 km skate to the Industrial Estate itself.

As expected, the roads in the estate were empty! Skaters had the free run of the road.

Volunteers and Instructors keep a watch for traffic

After a brief rest, Skate Assist Volunteers gather the guides for the return trip to Pasir Ris MRT Station.

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