Keen for outdoor thrills? Extreme sports lovers can now look forward to the first skate park in Singapore which has been built to international competition standards. Set against a backdrop of lush greenery and a shimmering sea, the new facility, Xtreme SkatePark @ East Coast, promises to be an exciting venue for extreme sports enthusiasts within our borders and beyond.
Located at East Coast Park and jointly developed by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), the skate park caters to the needs of the skating, skateboarding and BMX communities. According to a survey conducted by Singapore Sports Council in 2005, as many as 30,000 Singaporeans participate regularly in extreme sports. And of this community, 18,000 of them have taken part in skateboarding and inline skating, which includes both aggressive and leisure skating.
Facilities
The entire SkatePark @ East Coast occupies an area of 1.4 ha, or about the size of about 2.5 football fields, and it comprises a combo bowl, a vertical bowl and a streetcourse covering 0.4 ha. It caters to both beginners and professionals, who will be able to enjoy a variety of features that suit their skill levels.
The facility is located near Car Park F1, which is also known as the ‘energy’ zone of East Coast Park. This zone also hosts other extreme sports facilities such as cable skiing, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, inline skating and cycling. With the addition of the skate park, the zone is further established as a popular sports cluster for those who love the sun, sea and sports.
All in all, the skate park is part of NParks’ ongoing efforts to reach out to a wider range of park users by adding more diversity to the recreational facilities in the parks.
Promoting Safe and Responsible Use of the Skate Park
NParks has worked closely with the cycling/skating associations to promote the safe and responsible use of the skate park. Some of the safety measures introduced include wearing protective gear such as helmets, kneepads and elbow pads. In addition, showing consideration towards less experienced users also goes a long way in ensuring park safety.
Two workshops were conducted before the skate park was opened, and over 70 extreme sports enthusiasts from six different associations attended these workshops. Most found the sessions useful, and works are already in place to continue organising such workshops to reiterate the safety messages, as well as to promote the responsible use of the skate park.
Official Launch of Xtreme SkatePark and Upcoming Singapore Xtreme Championship
The Xtreme SkatePark @ East Coast will be officially launched on 29 August 2009. In line with the launch, the first ever Singapore Xtreme Championship will take place at the facility on 29 and 30 August 2009. Top athletes among the extreme sports fraternity from around the region will be invited to compete in a two-day competition that will be broadcast on ESPN Star Sports’ television networks. The public can also look forward to other non-extreme sports activities, such as a Beach Volleyball Tournament and other festivities during that weekend.