Posted on March 21, 2014 by Angela Chng
Congratulations to Vivien Yong who won an iPad Mini in our Christmas Draw!
Posted on February 22, 2014 by Edmund Vong
Night Skate Captain
Fine weather greeted us on Saturday evening at Pasir Ris Sports and Recreation Centre, the starting point of our February Night Skate.
20 skating enthusiasts showed up to support the activity as we embarked on a relaxing journey from Pasir Ris to Seng Kang via the heartlands of Pasir Ris estate, Pasir Ris Farmway , Lorong Halus Wetland Park and most notably, the famous manmade waterfront at along Punggol park connectors.
It was always a pleasure to welcome new faces to this activity, and we had 3 new participants this time round to have a taste of long distance urban skating.
We started off crusing along the bicycle path at Pasir Ris Drive 3 and took our time at the traffic crossings. Shortly after we were on Drive 12 and transited into Pasir Ris Industrial Drive towards Pasir Ris Farmway 2.
This road is famous for its array of pet shelters and farms, and we could hear the occasional barking from the dogs inside the facilities as we continued towards Farmway 3. We had to skate by the side of the road as the pavements end at a certain point. It was challenging as the road surfaces were pretty rough and we had to watch out for the occasional passing traffic. Fortunately, traffic is not heavy here.
We reached Lorong Halus Wetland Park soon after and the road surface condition here improved greatly. We arrived at Halus Wetland Kiosk and boarded Halus Bridge, which links the park to Punggol Promenade, spanning across Sungei Serangoon River.
We turned towards our pit-stop located at @Punggol, one of the most prominent facility in Punggol with eateries and bars.
After the break, we backtracked onto Punggol Promenade and continued along My Waterway@Punggol, the award winning manmade water feature and crown jewel of Punggol estates. Beautiful night scenery and cool breeze from the waters greeted us.
The straightforward path brought us onto Punggol Park Connector along Sungei Punggol River. The destination was within our sights upon reaching Seng Kang Riverside Park.
Everyone helped themselves to their well deserved rest at MacDonald's restaurant. And as for the new particapants, they savoured the satisfaction of their maiden Night Skate and the chance to make new friends with a common interest.
Credits
Safety Van
Sonny
Photo
Sonny
Jon
Posted in Event
Posted on October 26, 2013 by Edmund Vong
Report by Jon Wong
Night Skate Captain
Despite showers happening earlier in the late afternoons, there was no dampening of our Halloween spirits as more than 40 skating enthusiasts turned up for the Halloween Night Skate. I was back in my usual Reaper look, complete with a scythe, cape and hood, all D.I.Y.
For some of the participants, this was an event on their 2013 calendar that was not to be missed, even though the ground was damp and air was chilly.
Amongst them were veteran Skate Assist Volunteers, Mike Tang, David Lim and Kenny Tan, all dressed up and made up to create a storm in town.
Mike's rendition of the classic character, Pyramid Head from the popular game and movie title, Silent Hill was a hit with the crowd, complete with his weapon - a huge sword casted from wooden planks and cardboard, all D.I.Y. by himself.
David's make-up featured a two-faced effect, with one side of his face showcasing glass fragments protusion and tearing of the facial skin.
Kenny chose to become the classic Frankenstein, complete with his torn and tattered jacket, green complexion and spark plugs sticking out from either sides of his neck - a classic feature of Fankenstein.
The public got into the Halloween dress-up mood too, and most notably a couple from France, who dressed themselves up as mummified living corpses. Pascal, with his girlfriend, spent hours wrapping themselves up with rolls of bandages, adding toy spiders and webs and blood stains to complete the effect.
This has got to be the only Halloween celebration on skates.
We started off later than usual, waiting for the ground to dry up. Our first stop was the tunnel located inside Singapore Management University (SMU), drawing gasps from the students and passer-bys.
Soon after we arrived on Hill Street, and headed towards Clake Quay. That was when the real fun began, as we were swamped by party goers who wanted pictures taken with us almost everywhere we went. There were other groups celebrating Halloween too, and our meeting sparked more camera flashes from the crowd. A famous local club, Shanghai Dolly, was having a Halloween themed party, and we could not help admiring the amazing make-up and costumes of the receptionist, and they likewise.
We stopped by Read Bridge to have more pictures taken, before heading to Boat Quay via the Singapore River. We continued into Esplanade Park and then to the Esplanade WaterFront, aiming for the floating platform and our rest point at the Singapore Flyer.
The short stay delighted the tourists who prompted for more photo oppotunities with the characters. After that, we backtracked a little and head onto the Helix Bridge across to Marina Bay Sands.
It was exhilerating to cruise along the Water Promenade as we drew attention from the evening diners and audiences enjoying the evening performances. That brought us to the Lower Boardwalk past the Marina Bay Promontory where colourful electronic kites were flying.
We turned at One Marina Boulevard towards Clifford Pier and Merlion Park, and we ascended up some stairs to go onto Esplanade Drive.
It was a breeze from then on as we rode the downhill slope to the end where the underpass lies waiting, and we crossed it to get to the War Memorial opposite Raffles City convention centre. Our ghostly presence added more grim to the darkly lit memorial grounds.
We crossed the street into Raffles Hotel, and from then on its a fright night mission as we drew screams and gasps from the late night shoppers from Bras Basah Road all the way to Orchard Road.
With another Night Skate completion in the bag, we proceeded to nominate the 'Best Dressed Skater' and 'Best Dressed Kid' award winners.
The crowd gave their loudest applause to Mike, who won hands down as Pyramid Head, while the 'Best Dressed Kid', Jay Han, won without contention. They won dining and shopping vouchers respectively.
A great night of fun and skating, and for those who kept the faith, it sure paid off.
Credits
Safety Van
Edmund
Photos
Faussi
SAVs
Chong Boon
Siew Ying
Posted in Event
Posted on September 28, 2013 by Edmund Vong
Report by Jon Wong
Night Skate Captain
Around 40 skaters showed up for our latest Park Connector Night Skate from East Coast Park to Changi Village Food Centre, on a cool Saturday evening.
We gathered at the Extreme Skate Park located near car park F1, famous for its variety of ramps and obstacles which is a hit with teens into extreme sports. Unfortunately, those who were looking for an evening snack prior to setting off were disappointed as the East Coast Lagoon Food Centre was closed for renovations.
We started off cruising along East Coast Park towards the National Sailing Centre and NRSCC golf course, where the start of the Coastal Park Connector is located. The initial part of the connector brings us briefly along Changi Coast Walk and then transited into the deeper part nearer to the coastline. We had to be cautious as the paths were dimly lit and littered with twigs and branches.
We arrived at East Coast Road eventually, and were greeted by the view of the Singapore Changi Airport runway and the array of aircrafts coming in and out of Singapore. Occasionally, sports cars were seen speeding past too.
This stretch of road was also challenging with a lack of latrines and shelters, but fortunately we did not encounter bad weather.
After bypassing Changi Ferry Terminal, we arrived at Changi Beach Park, where the long awaited water and toilet break is located. The park was buzzling with visitors enjoying quality time either partying or fishing.
Soon after, we arrived at Nicoll Drive and Changi Village Food Centre was within our sights, and we just needed to cross a bridge over Sungei Changi to get there.
We took slightly more than 2 hours to complete the journey, and everyone was aiming for the famous nasi lemak at the food centre. Most joined the long queue for it, while others indulge in refreshing sugarcane drinks. It was a great time to mingle and socialize while we waited for the bus for our return to East Coast Park.
A great night of skating, thanks to the fine weather, and all the food and drinks at the end were worthwhile after the long journey.
Credits
Safety Car
Xavier
Photo
Jon
Posted in Event
Posted on August 31, 2013 by Edmund Vong
Report by Jon Wong
Night Skate Captain
Our latest City Night Skate in August welcomed the biggest attendance thus far in 2013, with around 100 skating enthusiasts joining this parade through town, inline style!
Orchard ION Shopping Mall marked the start, as skaters poured in from all around Orchard Road. The hype grew as more skaters showed up, drawing the attention of the evening shoppers too as they snapped pictures of our entourage.
As always, the Night Skate welcomes new faces, and this was no exception. Visitors from France and Italy were present. A friend from Hong Kong named Carrie, who is an avid skater herself, planned her visit to Singapore to coincide with this Night Skate.
We started off amidst the buzz of the evening streets, passing by Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann city as we made our way towards Somerset, getting the occasional thumbs up from passer-bys and street buskers.
We continued pass 313@Somerset and Orchard Central, crossing Killiney Road and Oxley Road, before crossing over to the other side to the entrance to the Istana upon reaching Buyong Road. That brought us another famous landmark in town - Plaza Singapura and The Atrium @ Orchard.
The Cathay Cineplex and School of the Arts were up next, as we transited into Bras Basah Road. There was a buzz outside the Singapore Art Museum with laser projection show on the building, and they slowed us down significantly.
After Carlton and Raffles Hotel, we moved into the Civil War Memorial Park, where huge barricades and seats were seen erected in preparation for the upcoming formula one race in Singapore.
We took to the underground tunnel along Raffles Ave into Esplanade Park, towardsthe Cenotaph memorial where we had a longer break. As some participants visited the drink kiosks along the Esplanade to quench their thirst, others remained at the memorial for chats and socializing.
After the break we conitinued on the pavement along Connaught Drive onto Fullerton Road. Decending down a flight of stairs beside the Anderson Bridge brought us into the Merlion Park where our National Mascot lays spewing water into Marina Bay.
Diners from the array of restaurants looked on in delight as we skate past them into Clifford Pier. We turned towards the Youth Olympic Park, skirting around the water and headed towards Marina Bay Sands. The Waterfront Promenade has since become a popular area for commuters for exercise, with bikers and skate boarders sighted as we moved on.
It did not take long for us to reach the lower boardwalk and move into Gardens by the Bay, where the iconic Flower Dome and Cloud Forest greeted us. Other features that stood guard along this stretch along the shoreline included the Tadpole Play Garden - a water feature, and Gardens by the Bay very own food centre, Satay by the Bay.
Marina Barrage was up next, and everyone grabbed the chance for a quick toilet break. Water fountains were available for hydration. Crossing the Marina Bridge brings into another part of the Gardens, this time at the eastern region.
This is a place of serenity, with dimly lit paths and allowed us to capture the splendid night scenery of Marina Bay and the Singapore Flyer. Everyone gave their all and sped along the Skyline Promenade until the open area under East Coast Parkway Expressway.
We continued to skirt along the water via Tanjong Rhu Promenade Park Connector until we arrived at the bridge at former Cosy Bay to cross over to the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The Indoor Stadium is closed at the moment for renovations, and it was challenging making our way around the area.
Our destination was clearly visible by then. We managed to complete the journey in less than 150 minutes, and there was plenty of time to rest and relax, while some grabbed drinks from the convenient store.
Carrie even had the chance to experience some freestyle slalom skating with one of our certified freestyle instructor, Faussi.
It was a great skate, with great skaters, great scenery and great weather.
Credits
Safety Van
Xavier
Photography
Faussi
Mike
SAVs
Mike
Vincent
Posted in Event
Posted on July 27, 2013 by Edmund Vong
Report by Jon Wong
Night Skate Captain
Our latest Night Skate from Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park went on despite earlier showers which happened during the day. Though the grounds were slightly damp, but it did not stop 20 skating enthusiasts from joining me, some of which are die-hard Night Skate fans.
As always, we welcome new participants to this event, and this month we had the pleasure of welcoming Georgia from London, England who was skating with her boyfriend and his colleagues. Her boyfriend, Louis, was well remembered for joining our Avengers Night Skate last year, dressing up as the character 'Thor'.
We started off from the skating rink located at park 2, heading towards the MRT train track situated at Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 at about 8pm, and by then most part of the track in the park was relatively dry.
Upon reaching the track, we continued under it, skating on the nicely paved concrete surfaces and heading towards Ang Mo Kio MRT Station. The area has since been converted into a recreational place with jogging tracks and exercise amenities. We continued along Ave 8, bypassing Nanyang Polytechnic Campus and Grassroots' Club till Yio Chu Kang MRT Station, where we had a quick break at the convenient store to prepare us for the long journey ahead.
After a short skate on Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, we transited onto Lentor Ave. This long stretch of route is challenging, with narrow pavements and some poorly lit areas. The surface is generally smooth, with occasional obstacles and protrusions that we had to deal with. We had to skate with caution especially after the showers from the day.
Completing the trip past Lower Seletar Reservoir marks the end of Lentor Ave and the start of Yishun Ave 2, and we transited onto Khatib Bongsu Park Connector. This marks the start of a smooth trip as the remaining part of the route is on the park connectors which has a great surface.
With the better surface, our pace increased and it did not take us long to reach Khatib and Yishun MRT Stations respectively. We paused for a short break at Yishun, as the distance from Yishun to Sembawang is relatively longer.
At Woodlands Ave 10 we continued along Woodlands Ave 7 Park Connector to reach Admiralty MRT Station. The fatigue was starting to show as we have travelled for more than 10km but we were near to the destination too.
Upon reaching Woodlands Ave 2 junction, Woodlands MRT was within our sights. We turned towards Republic Polytechnic. We continued onto Riverside Road beside the Polytechnic and that brought us to Admiralty Road. After a short skate along this road, we finally reached our destination and turned into the WaterFront.
The magnificent night scenery of Johor Bahru is still a sight to behold for the skaters, and more so for those on their maiden visit. Some simply skated out to the jetty and stood mesmorised while enjoying the sea breeze.
For Georgia, it was a memorable accomplishment for her. She mentioned that there was not many opportunities to skate in London, and more so for a Night Skating event like this, so she enjoyed it very much.
And for some of kids that completed their longest journey on kids ever, they had the support from their parents who started from Bishan with them and jogged along the way till Yishun.
Credits
Safety Van
Edmund
Photo
Edmund
Jon
SAVs
Chong Boon
Jonathan
Gabriel
Vincent
Posted in Event
Posted on June 29, 2013 by Edmund Vong
Report by Jon Wong
Night Skate Captain
Despite the PSI level being at around 70 points, about 30 skating enthusiasts turned up for our latest night skate from Bartley to Seng Kang. This journey took us along some of the North-eastern park connectors in Serangoon and Punggol.
We started off from Bartley MRT Station, heading towards Hougang Ave 3. We had our first break at one of the food joints soon, located near Lorong Asu area.
After a short skate, we turned into Tampines Road and soon found ourselves on Serangoon Park Connector. This stretch of the connector is located right beside Sungei Serangoon canal and a pleasure to cruise on. The dim lightings, numerous twigs and branches and occasional cyclists passing by proved to be a challenge though.
After going under Buangkok East Drive, we continued on the next stretch of the connector, this time on Punggol Promenade. This stretch is better, clear of debris and we were able to speed up. We arrived at our second pit stop - @Punggol near Tebing Lane. This venue is a collation of food joints with prawn fishing facilities and a billiard parlour, and has proved to be a hit with the local residences.
Well rested and hydrated, we continued on our journey and arrived at one of the most iconic feature in Punggol - My Waterway@Punggol. This is a stretch of man-made water feature with splendid jogging and bicycle path on either banks. Cool breeze greeted us as we skate along.
We decided to take a little urban ride into the heartland of Punggol estate and exited at Sentul Crescent along Punggol Walk. After bypassing the future Watertown project, we travelled pass Punggol Bus Interchange and headed along Punggol Field and Punggol Way towards the expressway.
Upon crossing Punggol West Flyover, we found ourselves in Seng Kang estate. After a short skate on Seng Kang East Road, we turned at Cheng Lim LRT Station and headed along Anchorvale Street. Passing by Farmway LRT Station means our destination was soon within sights.
We arrived at Seng Kang Sports and Recreational Centre along Anchorvale Road promptly at about 11pm, clocking a distance of about 17km. And there was no doubt where everyone is heading to - MacDonald's Restaurant, for a well deserved rest and food and drinks.
As always, we welcome new faces to our Night Skate. And this time, we had the pleasure of having Mr Stephane Royannais from France to join us. Stephane was here for a short business trip and being an avid skater, he brought along his skates and found out about our event from the internet. He enjoyed the skate very much and was glad that Singapore has such a nice stretch of route for skating.
Credits
Safety Van
Sonny
Photo
Jon
SAVs
Chong BoonX
Posted in Event