Rollerblading
Photograph: Fabi Mingrino
Photograph: Fabi Mingrino

The ultimate guide to rollerblading in Singapore

All you need to know to become a rollerblading pro

Cheryl Sekkappan
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One of the best things about Singapore is the abundance of park connectors and smooth, flat terrain for recreational sports like jogging, cycling and skateboarding. You don't have to look far to find rollerblading enthusiasts either. People love the sport for its many purported health benefits, cool variations like speed skating, classic slalom and speed slalom, as well as the fact that it's good plain fun both solo and with family and friends.

Like with any new hobby, rollerblading requires some training and practice, as well as new gear in your arsenal. Whether you're interested in picking it up as a casual hobby or keen to advance to expert levels – here's a guide on where to learn, what you need, where to buy it and the best places in Singapore to put your new skills to the test. 

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Where to learn rollerblading

  • Sport and fitness
  • Yishun

SkateXtreme is a good option for wannabe rollerbladers in the east. Its outlets include Yishun Park, Punggol Park and Bedok Reservoir – all highly accessible and beginner-friendly locations. If you can't quite commit to picking up the sport yet, give the 1-hour trial session ($10) a try to help you make up your mind. Once you're certain that rollerblading is for you, you can go all-in with the $120 packages that consist of eight 90 minute sessions at a location of your choice. 

  • Things to do
  • Pasir Ris

Want to learn rollerblading but don't want to endure the searing heat in Singapore? Find your footing indoors at HiRoller Indoor Skating Rink instead. Take the trial ($30) and introductory classes ($200 for four lessons) to get optimal one-on-one guidance. From there, you can progress to basic and advanced courses, and even to the elite level where you'll pick up technical skills in speed slalom, classic slalom, battle slide and various other disciplines. The instructors are said to be friendly and professional, and rental for all gear is available at the front desk too. 

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People's Association

The People's Association provides a slew of recreational courses and programmes through the OnePA website, among which includes a rollerblading course. Conducted by Jeremy Wong In-Line, the courses range from beginner to advanced, with prices hovering around $80 for four sessions. The best thing about this rollerblading course is that they are conveniently located at neighbourhood community centres and residents' committees, so you don't have to travel far to get a session in. 

The best places in Singapore to rollerblade

  • Things to do
  • Changi 

The 3.5-kilometre Changi Airport Connector allows you to cycle, skate, run, jog, and yes, rollerblade to Jewel Changi Airport and the terminals from East Coast Park of any of the Park Connector Network (PCN) and vice versa. The best thing? It's also home to the city's largest permanent outdoor display of life-sized dinosaurs Changi Jurassic Mile – so you can occupy yourself with admiring the installations while you breeze by. You can also make a pit stop at Hub & Spoke for a pay-per-use shower before having a meal at Hub & Spoke Café.

  • Sport and fitness
  • Kallang
Singapore Sports Hub
Singapore Sports Hub

Head to the 100Plus Promenade at Singapore Sports Hub for a sheltered and relatively uncrowded spin. The 900 metre indoor jogging track encircles the National Stadium, featuring smooth, multi-coloured lanes that has just enough grip for a pleasant rollerblading experience. It might get old after a while to keep going round and around the track, but that works just fine for those who just want an uninterrupted space to get their balance right or practice some cool new tricks. 

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  • Attractions
  • Beaches
  • Marine Parade
East Coast Park
East Coast Park

Once you're more confident about rollerblading in the great outdoors, head to East Coast Park for a long and beautiful stretch by the sea for a relatively cool rollerblading adventure. There are hire stalls along the coast if you need to rent skates and helmets, as well as numerous restaurants and amenities if you need to stop for a meal or bathroom break. 

  • Things to do
  • Bishan

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park is big, well-paved, and fairly flat – good conditions for an easy to moderate rollerblade. If you don't own your own gear, you can even rent skates, helmets and protective pads for the elbows, wrists and knees from Skateline's Bishan-Ang Mo Kio outlet, located at the river plain. Rental prices start at $8 for the first hour, and all you need to show is your personal identification card. 

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North Eastern Riverine Loop

The flat terrain of the North Eastern Riverine Loop is a haven for joggers, cyclists and yes, rollerbladers. This 24km-long scenic trail links four parks, running through Buangkok, Sengkang and Punggol. Rollerblade along the tranquil waterways, watch out for the striking red Lorong Halus Bridge, and try to spot beautiful waterbirds and unique plant life along the way. If you're keen to explore the rustic side of the east, kick off those skates and pay Lorong Halus Wetland a visit at the end of the day. 

Void decks

This may seem obvious, but void decks, badminton courts, basketball courts and empty carparks provide spacious and even ground for unobstructed rollerblading practice. And the best thing is that they're free too. As always, make sure to wear your protective gear and to watch out for unsuspecting passersby. 

Essential rollerblading gear

Rollerblades

It goes without saying that you'll need rollerblades for your new hobby. But with the variety of inline skates out there, shopping can be a little tricky. Your best bet is to drop into a well-known shop to try out rollerblades and get some in-person guidance. Expect to spend at least $200 on beginner rollerblades, and you will want to invest in some recreational skates with lots of cushioning and ankle support. Heel brakes are also recommended until you really get your technique and confidence up to par. Once you get there, you can move on to fitness, urban or racing skates which pack a lot more punch in terms of features and performance. 

Helmets

As with any sport, falls are a huge possibility and we don't want any concussions or serious head injuries to ruin a day of fun. Definitely invest in a good helmet for rollerblading. While it's okay to use your cycling helmet, it's good to note that some helmet styles may not protect the back of the head as well as specialised skating helmets do. After all, you're much less likely to fall backwards off your bike. As a start, look out for helments from major rollerblading brands like K2, Rollerblade and Powerslide. 

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Protective padding

It's not funny when you hit your funny bone – or anywhere on your body for that matter. It's instinct to break falls with our hands, which could sustain breaks in the wrists. Elbows and knees are two other areas likely to hit the ground during an inline skating mishap as well. So, get some wrist guards as well as elbow and knee pads to cover all your bases. For the cautious, hip pads are also an option to protect those sharp hip bones. 

Best rollerblading shops

  • Shopping
  • Bukit Merah
Inlinex Henderson
Inlinex Henderson

Inlinex offers anything and everything to do with roller sports in Singapore. Pick up rollerblades from K2, Powerslide, Seba and more from their outlet, as well as protective gear, accessories, rollerblade parts, bags and straps as well as apparel. You can also bring your skates in to get repairs done – services include part replacements, de-rusting and wheel rotation. If you're not ready to buy your own rollerblades, rent them from Inlinex at $21.40 per pair for the day. 

  • Sport and fitness
  • Pasir Ris
Pick up renowned inline skate brands like Seba, Freestyle and Takino from Hvper Sport. If you follow the store's social media pages, you might also get the drop on new and exclusive rollerblade models. Whether you're a newbie or well-seasoned in the sport, you can also depend on Hvper Sport for customisations and top-notch after-sales services. 
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  • Shopping
  • Orchard

Sporting goods store Decathlon is the place to pick up affordable inline skates and accessories. It carries its own skating brand Oxelo, which are said to have good control, glide quality and comfort, especially for beginner rollerbladers. Unlike more well-known rollerblade brands, these kicks seldom go for more than $150 dollars, making them a good budget buy for those who are just getting into the sport for some occasional leisure and fun. 

Explore the outdoors

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