Tag: sports

There’s A Superhero Themed Cyclothon Happening In Singapore And All Are Welcome

Many Singaporeans will probably have noticed that in the past couple of years, it’s been fun runs galore here on our little red dot.

While each run has had its own unique draw, from loud, pumping music, to cartoon character themes, runs just aren’t for everyone.

Sure, there may be plenty of things to keep you distracted from the fact that you’re running, but the relatively short 5K can still be quite the challenge, especially for those of us who haven’t done any kind of physical activity in a long time.

If running isn’t your cup of tea, there’s another sporting event happening soon – and at this one, you’ll have a couple of wheels to help you out.

The annual OCBC Cycle is back.

Happening from 18 – 19 November, OCBC Cycle is Singapore’s most happening cycling event. An event that brings together cyclists young and old, from the greenest to the most seasoned, everyone is welcome to be a part of this cycling fiesta.

OCBC Cycle 2017 has something for everyone, with 3 riding categories for people who just want to have a good time. The best part? This year’s event will be graced by superheroes.

Ride With Friends

A Super Hero-themed ride, come dressed in your favourite Marvel or DC heroes and heroines! Better yet, come dressed like famous superhero (or supervillain) duos like Batman and Robin, Professor X and Magneto, or the Joker and Harley Quinn, with your partner or your bestie.

You can even go all out and pimp your ride with superhero elements – just make sure it doesn’t become a hazard when you cycle! Capes can be especially dangerous for cycling superheroes.

The best dressed person with the most fearless getup will get to walk away with a Casio EXILIM EX-FR100 Action Cam (worth $629) that’s perfect for capturing action-packed outings like these.

A scenic route that will take you past some of the most iconic landmarks of Singapore, including the other-worldly Singapore Sports Hub, majestic Supertrees at Gardens By The Bay, and the Marina Bay Sands, make sure to take in all the sights as you cruise through this 23km route.

Ride With Family

Want to spend some quality time with the family?

The Mighty Savers® Kids and Family Ride guarantees a great time for even the youngest of the pack.

Themed ‘Bubbly Fun’, the route comprises zones that will be filled with bubbles by bubble blowing machines. The kids are sure to have a ball with the bubbles, popping them as they cycle!

If you’d like to take it easy and go for a leisurely ride, go for The Corporate Bike Ride. Pick between the 23km The Straits Time Ride and the 42km The Sportive Ride, and take on the city with a group of at least 15 cyclists!

Amp up the team spirit and ditch the event jersey in favour of one of your own company tees. Deck yourselves in your company colours, make post-cyclothon dinner plans, and make a day of it!

After all, the company that plays together, stays together.

Gear Up For OCBC Cycle 2017

Sticking with the cycling theme, the OCBC 2017 participation medal comes in the form of 1/3 of a stylized bicycle gear.

Wear it around your neck like a badge of honour once you’ve finished OCBC Cycle 2017. If you come back for subsequent editions of the OCBC Cycle in 2018 and 2019, you can combine the 3 pieces to form a complete gear!

Don’t have a bike of your own? Don’t worry, you can rent yourself a bike for this event! Some reliable places to get your bikes are T.K.H Leisure, Cycle To The Park, S-Lite Event Support and more. With these bike rental services readily available, finding a bike to ride with should be the least of your worries!

If you know you’re long overdue for some exercise, or just like sweating it out with like-minded people, register for OCBC Cycle 2017 here! And make sure to take your best pals along because everything is better when you do it with a friend!

OCBC Cycle 2017
Venue: Singapore Sports Hub 
Date: 18 – 19 Nov 
Website

Also read Someone Finally Opened A Durian Specialty Cafe, And It Serves More Than The Typical Puffs And Cakes

(Header Image Source:

Five Reasons Why You Should Try Parkour At Least Once In Your Life

From scaling walls to jumping from rooftop to rooftop, the action movie junkie in us has always admired the stunts performed by the spies/secret agents. But as someone who feels a sense of achievement from just walking on the balancing beam at the fitness corner downstairs without falling, we sort of put our dreams of joining the spy-hood behind. That was until we were given the chance to attend a Parkour class.

Our ambassadors, Chelsea and Cheryl, attended the class too. Here’s a video of their experience:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN4Ih55DygN/?taken-by=cherzinga

A French invented sport that focuses on overcoming obstacles in urban environments through running, jumping or climbing, Parkour is definitely not for the non-nimble. It’s sort of like a mandatory sport for spies in training.

As we stood in the company of Tan Chi Ying, one of the pioneers of Singapore Parkour scene and founder of The Free Runner Lodge, an indoor Parkour facility, resembles a playground without stairs (who needs them when you can swing/climb/flip your way around, right?). Established in 2010, A2 Movements is Singapore’s first Parkour academy.

[caption id="attachment_20166" align="alignnone" width="1000"] The Free Runner Lodge – An indoor Parkour facility by A2 Movments[/caption]

After a couple of stretches, we stood face-to-face with a wooden block that was half our height.

Our mission was to place both our hands on the block’s surface before swinging our legs over and bringing our whole body over the obstacle. Sounds pretty doable, right? Wrong.

After multiple bruises the size of eggs on our legs, we’ve got to say, it definitely is not as easy as action movie stars make it out to be. It’s been a long introduction, so here are five reasons why Parkour will keep us coming back for more (bruises).

1. It’s A Great Workout

Never, ever underestimate the power of Parkour to work your muscles.

After an embarrassing half hour trying Parkour and using muscles we didn’t know existed, we were exhausted.

[caption id="attachment_20168" align="alignnone" width="1616"] Students in training[/caption]

So if you’re starved for time or are just looking to try a new workout, try Parkour.

2. It Pushes You Out Of Your Comfort Zone

As the Parkour session progressed, we found ourselves pushing our boundaries and achieving something we never thought was possible.

[caption id="attachment_20199" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Parkour puts your body to the test[/caption]

Most of us are right-handers, and we’re never good at using the left hand for anything. After some practice (and persuasion), not only did we manage to use our left hands to support our body weight, we were surprisingly comfortable with it.

3. It’s Really, Really Fun

It’s one thing to watch your favorite actors (or stuntmen) perform the stunts, and another to actually sort of perform them. Not only is it enjoyable, but the sense of achievement upon completion is also really high. Imagine doing this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R51FaRPCio0

Of course, tons of practice is needed, but how fun did that look? Super.

4. It’s a Solo Sport

Much like hitting the gym, Parkour focuses on you and you only. When we first stepped into class, we were surrounded by existing students who were too busy practicing their mid-air flips to notice our building nervousness. Die, sure kenna judge.

[caption id="attachment_20200" align="aligncenter" width="960"] No one’s judging here[/caption]

But as the session progressed, it hit us that firstly, everyone is here to learn. Secondly, everyone else is too busy perfecting their own moves to bother about you.

5. It Keeps One Unbelievably Young

Despite Chi Ying’s jaw-dropping consecutive midair somersaults, what really made our jaws drop was his age.

[caption id="attachment_20169" align="alignnone" width="1367"] How many of us can soar through the air like this after we hit the big three O?[/caption]

When asked for his secret to looking almost ten years younger than his actual age, Parkour was the answer. For those who are wondering, Chi Ying is 30 years old.

It may require a lot of practice, but Parkour has got to be one of the most satisfying sports around.

For those who are interested, the good news is that A2 Movements holds classes every day of the week and has various time slots for you to choose from! If you’re undecided about a long-time commitment ($200 for unlimited sessions a month), fear not – A2 Movements offers a one off-session ($25). As for the ladies, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a time slot reserved just for you.

Personal trainings aside, A2 Movements also conducts workshops and events, so if you’re looking for a unique corporate bonding experience, free to check Now, here’s your chance to win a Parkour session for two!

Head on down to our Facebook page for the details. This giveaway ends on 28 December, and the lucky winner will be notified through Facebook.

A2 Movements
Address: CT Hub #05-91, 114 Lavender Street S338729
Tel: 91849744 (Chi Ying)
Email: [email protected]
Website: Countdown At 12 – Usher In The New Year With 12 Hours Of Free Flowing Drinks!

7 Best Places For Team Sports: Grab Them Buddies & Get Some Exercise!

Ask any kid what their favourite lesson in school is, and the answer will no doubt be, “PE lesson!”

The days of school and PE lessons were undoubtedly one of the fondest times of our lives.

I’m sure we all remember how much fun we had bonding and competing with our classmates and teammates in a wide array of team sports and activities.

Wanna relive those days? Grab a few buddies and experience that same sense of camaraderie and team spirit again!

Basketball

Many of us enjoyed playing basketball because of how inclusionary yet intense it was. Regardless of skill level, people could participate in some shape or form, all while having some good competitive fun.

Naturally, we long for the opportunity to experience those fleeting, carefree spells of exhilaration and ecstasy once more.

Lace up and recapture those moments here:

SG Social Basketball
Visit the official SG Social Basketball group page to find out more about the location, time, cost and how to be involved.
Group page: Football

A crowd favourite back in good old PE class, we had tons of fun regardless of the conditions, be it makeshift goalposts or dingy patches of uneven grass.

Fancy a throwback to the glory days? Craving some good competitive footballing action or a simple fun-filled kick-about with your friends?

Get your fix of football action here:

U Soccer Interest Group
For more details, contact U Sports at:
Tel: 6582 3459
Email: [email protected]

Floorball

One for the sun detractors, Floorball is probably one of the most high-octane indoor sports out there.

Clashing sticks, jostling through literal heaps of people, and sprinting end-to-end brings about whopping amounts of adrenaline.

Play Floorball
Visit the official Play Floorball group page to find out more about the location, time, costs and how to get involved!
Group page: https://www.meetup.com/playfloorball/

Floorball at Valhall
Cost: $10 per game
Visit the official Floorball at Valhall group page to find out more about the location, time, costs and how to get involved!
Group page: https://www.meetup.com/Floorball-At-Valhall/

Table Tennis

Demanding unparalleled amounts of sheer concentration and agility, Table Tennis is truly a sport that pushes you to your limit.

There is even the option of pairing up with a friend and trying your hand at doubles for a more team-oriented experience!

Heighten your senses and put yourself to the test now at:

SG Table Tennis
Visit the official SG Table Tennis group page to find out more about the location, time, cost and how to get involved!
Group Page:  Credit: Netball Singapore[/caption]

If what you’re looking for is a zeal-filled, inclusionary activity that almost necessitates a collaborative effort, look no further.

These are some places you can start building your netball-ing repertoire with your peers at:

Social Netball @ Arena
Visit the official Social Netball @ Arena group page to find out more about the location, time, cost and how to get involved!
Group page: https://www.meetup.com/Singapore-Social-Netball-Meetup/

Play Netball
Price: $3-$5
Visit the official Play Netball group page to find out more about the location, time, cost and how to get involved!
Group page: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-gmFHkeLN/

What are you waiting for?

Grab your friends and rediscover the joy of team sports. You’ll be feeling like a kid again in no time!

Also, read 5 Adult Playgrounds That Will Make You Feel Like A Child Again

The Olympics Is Back! Here Are The 25 Singaporeans Representing Us For Rio 2016

The 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio 2016, is set to take place in Rio, Brazil this 5th of August! Yes, there may be some bad press clouding the games, but let’s put the negativity aside and support our Singaporean athletes at the world’s most prestigious sporting event! Before that, get to know who’s who and what event they will be competing in. #OneTeamSG

The 25 Singaporeans

1. Feng Tianwei – Table Tennis (Women’s Singles, Women’s Team)

Dubbed “Singapore’s Swim King”, Rio 2016 will be Joseph Schooling‘s second Olympics participation. There was a lot of pressure on him back in London 2012, but this time round, he is more Image source: Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee / Action Images via Reuters[/caption]

Quah Zheng Wen may only be 19 years of age but he’s got some serious swimming background to boast about. At the Southeast Asian Games last year, he took part in 12 events, winning 7 golds, 4 silvers and 1 bronze. On top of that, he also broke 6 Games records (3 individual and 3 relay). You can catch this flying fish in action at Rio 2016 on the following dates: 8th (100m Backstroke), 9th (200m Butterfly), 12th (100m Butterfly) of August.

4. Quah Ting Wen – Swimming (100m Butterfly)

Elder sister to Zheng Wen, Quah Ting Wen is an experienced swimmer having represented Singapore for international events since 2005. She did not have the best season in 2013 but her stellar performance at the SEA Games last year boosted her confidence greatly. Catch Ting Wen fighting for her a-Quah-tic dream on the 7th of August.

5. Timothee Yap – Track & Field (Men’s 100m)

When she’s not training, Neo Jie Shi is a human resource and admin assistant manager. But when she’s got her running shoes on, she goes all out. Her routine (before and after qualifying for Rio 2016) is fairly simple. She trains after work, one long run followed by one rest day. She clocks in about 70km-80km per week, which is half of a full-timer’s mileage. It’s extremely effective as she went from a recreational runner to an Olympian! Jie Shi’s event will take place on 14th of August.

7. Derek Wong – Badminton (Men’s Singles)

[caption id="attachment_11923" align="alignnone" width="1619"] Image source: Ronald Susilo. Xiaoyu will be making her debut at Rio 2016 on the 13th of August!

9. Saiyidah Aisyah – Rowing (Women’s Single Sculls)

Four years ago, windsurfer Amanda Ng‘s Olympic dream was shattered after she missed out on qualifying for the London 2012. But after switching to the 470 category, she and partner Jovina Choo edged out other Olympic hopefuls to top the Singapore Sailing Federation’s (SSF) selection trials for Rio 2016. They’ve been training at Rio for the past 3 weeks and we’ll get to catch them in action on the 11th of August!

16 & 17. Griselda Khng & Sara Tan – Sailing (49er FX)

While everyone else struggles to lose weight, the 49er FX pair Griselda Khng and Sara Tan actually struggled to gain weight to ensure they achieve the optimal weight to keep the boat as flat as possible on the water! They consume about 4000 calories a day (double of the recommended calorie intake of a regular woman) and burn about 1300 calories per training session. The girls will be making their Olympic debut on the 13th of August.

18 & 19. Justin Liu & Denise Lim – Sailing (Narca 17)

Do you know that Justin Liu and Denise Lim are partners on and off water? Last year, they sailed to victory at the Nacra 17 class at a World Cup leg in China and bagged the one and only Rio 2016 qualifying spot on offer. However, the price they paid was not cheap at all. They had to shell out nearly $100,000 for this dream! A hefty price, but one that is definitely worth it. Catch Justin and Denise in action on the 11th of August.

20. Jasmine Ser – Shooting (10m Air Riffle & 50m Riffle 3 positions)

Jasmine Ser made Singapore proud by bagging a gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She then went on and outshone every other Asian shooter at the Asian Qualifiers despite contracting food poisoning. People say third time’s a charm. Will this be Jasmine’s chance to come home with a medal? She’ll show you what accuracy is all about on the 6th (10m Air Riffle) and 11th (50m Riffle) of August.

21. Teo Shun Xie – Shooting (10m Air Pistol, 25m Pistol)

Header image: Singapore National Olympic Council

Also, read A Peek At NDP 2016 – Fireworks Both Indoors AND Outdoors!

Not Ulu Anymore! Here’s A Peek At Decathlon’s City Square Mall Store

Last month, we wrote about Decathlon’s flagship store. It’s all the way at Bedok, so far away from the rest of Singapore, that we aptly named the article – ‘Decathlon: So Ulu But You Still Must Visit‘. Clearly, we’re great fans of Decathlon.

This French-based sporting goods retailer has brought affordability and a massive variety of sports apparel and equipment to our sunny island. Do you know that all of Decathlon’s products are designed, tested, and manufactured within their own facilities? This enables them to maintain the high quality of their products and keep prices affordable.

Being typical Singaporeans who want to try everything before we buy, Decathlon’s testing zones have been a huge plus point – you can do a test run of a scooter or bicycle before you buy.

So, when we heard about Decathlon opening a new store at City Square Mall, we literally did a little dance. Decathlon is no longer ulu! Thanks to the gracious folks at Decathlon, we were given a sneak little peek at their City Square Mall outlet yesterday. Here goes!

Decathlon City Square Mall

The regular Decathlon store is usually stand-alone, like their flagship store at Bedok. But this new store at City Square Mall is conceptualised as a sMall – a store-in-mall concept to adapt to the dense city scape of Singapore.

Situated at a central location at City Square Mall (closest MRT is Farrer Park), this new outlet is much more convenient than the one at Bedok.

Despite being smaller in size, this store carries almost everything. It boasts about 80-90% of the variety of products offered by the flagship. Both stores also provide sporting gear for more than 50 different sports. From kayaking to hiking, you name it, they have it.

Having visited Decathlon so many times, we’re still amazed at how indisputably affordable Decathlon products are.

Just like this Arpenaz 10 bagpack which costs only $3.90! Cheaper than chicken rice, they say. We wholeheartedly agree!

(Our editor bought this bag in the same colour as the one shown above. When she bought it, it was $4.90.) Decathlon made a decision to further drop the price to $3.90, permanently. Wow, we’re mind-blown.

Just like the Bedok store, testing zones have also been set up for customers. Feel free to get a feel of your product before purchase. This is some next-level customer service, especially for sporting goods retailers.

Also available here is their bicycle workshop where customers can bring in their bicycles for repair and maintenance for a fee, regardless of brand.

Other than this new outlet, Decathlon plans to increase their store-count in Singapore to the 20s within the next 10 years. If you’ve been putting off your visit to this sporting goods mega-store because of its previously ulu location, your excuse is no more!

Decathlon City Square Mall
Opening day: Sat, 21 May 2016
Location: 180 Kitchener Road, #02-03 City Square Mall, S208539
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily
Closest MRT Station: Farrer Park MRT (North-East Line)

If you’re still not sure what Decathlon is about, also read Decathlon: So Ulu But You Still Must Visit. Here’re 5 Reasons! to learn more about Decathlon’s affordable prices, wide range of products, and attentive staff, to name a few.

We also enjoyed this funny video of theirs.

Have a blast at Decathlon’s City Square Mall, and let us know how your trip went!

Brought to you by Discover SG x Decathlon.

Also read: Cycle X Makan – 5 Best Food And Night Cycling Paths In SG

Decathlon: So Ulu But You Still Must Visit. Here’re 5 Reasons!

Unless you’re a couch potato (like me) who doesn’t keep up with sports-related news, odds are, you’ve heard of Decathlon. One of the world’s largest sporting goods retailers has recently opened a flagship store in Singapore.

What is Decathlon?

It was founded by Michel Leclercq back in 1976. Now, 40 years later, it has expanded to countries like Germany, Italy, and Southeast Asia. Currently, there are 850 stores in 22 countries.

Sports fanatics will know that Queensway Shopping Centre is widely dubbed as ‘Singapore’s Sports Mall’. But now that we have this French retailer on our sunny shores, does this mean competition will soon abrupt between both parties?

You bet! Here are five reasons why we think Decathlon will squash Queensway Shopping Centre.

1. It has over 95,000 products

First things first, there are over 20 sporting goods categories in Decathlon. Just this fact alone makes you want to hop on a bus and travel to Chai Chee.

Decathlon is setting itself apart from its competitors, and it’s doing one heck of a job. You can easily find many interesting (and bizarre) items, like the S$64.90 TRIBORD Easybreathe Mask, and the S$8.90 DOMYOS Foam Yoga Brick.

Apparently, this helps with balancing and posture.

The environment at Decathlon is positive, relaxed and kid-friendly. I even spotted one young boy walking barefoot — he was that comfortable!

We told you Decathlon has everything sports related under the sun. Fancy a mini basketball set?

The S$29.90 Artengo Rollnet 610 Set is a must-have for all table tennis fanatics. Easy to set up, you no longer have to roll the net back or use those funny screws.

Amazingly, they have a badminton version.

And yes, you can find tents in Decathlon too. This model right here is the QUECHA 2 Seconds XL III Illumin Fresh Pop Up Tent. It sets you back at S$431.90. Now you can roast marshmallow and sing campfire songs (maybe at Coney Island?).

Yep, Decathlon sells horse riding equipment too. (Pretty sure you can’t find that at Queensway)

These INESIS golf umbrellas cost between S$10.90 to $19.90.

Have a turntable match at home for just $39.90.

This TRIBORD 3-Man Itiwit Inflatable Kayak is a beauty.

I was chuffed to bits when I found these chaptehs (S$1) near the cashier counters. More often than not, it’s stationery stores that sell these traditional games. 10 points to Decathlon!

Besides selling a wide variety of products (including surf boards too), the mega-store also has a bicycle repair workshop where customers can get their two-wheeler of any brand repaired (not free though).

2. It’s littered with testing zones

Because Singaporeans have itchy fingers. We want to try everything. Anyway, what’s a sports shop if we can’t try what we want to buy?

Decathlon truly understands us. Take this blue-labelled testing zone, for instance. You can do a test run of a skateboard or scooter.

You can also sweat it off on the various exercise machines!

You can’t do this in Queensway Shopping Centre. Maybe you can, but you’ll get a dirty look from the store owners in return. In Decathlon, it’s a different story altogether.

This is the biggest testing zone at Decathlon. These kids were having butt-loads of fun with the balls and turnball pole.

Say whaaat?! You can also hop on a bike and ride around the premise. Check out the price list of the bikes here.

At one point, I overheard a conversation between a girl and her younger sister. “I hold your bike. That’s how you learn!”

Suffice to say, there’s no rush at Decathlon.

But the best part is — hands down — the lifetime warranty on their bikes.

3. The products are 20%-40% cheaper

Decathlon prides themselves in their quality and pocket-friendly products. According to The Straits Times, all products are designed by their very own research and development teams all over France.

I don’t wear a watch, but damn, this baby right here changed my mind.

This is the first time I’ve seen a sunglass that costs less than S$5. (Daiso not counted)

It’s hard to pick just one. The quality of these bags is outstanding. And only at $4.90.

You can’t find a price like this in a pasar malam. That’s cheaper than a plate of chicken rice.

No kidding, you can also find ballet costumes at an inexpensive price. The DOMYOS Delia Girl’s Leotard on the display set costs just S$18.90.

Noticed the blue sticker near the giant yellow price tag? There’s a two-year guarantee for every single product at Decathlon. Queensway Shopping Centre can’t top that.

And it keeps getting better.

Just when you think the price couldn’t get any lower comes this.

And this.

Decathlon really has everything.

You get what you pay for. Maybe this sentiment rings true at Queensway Shopping Centre.

But at Decathlon, you get more than what you pay for. Their products, while sold at a cheap price, are made of superior quality.

4. It also has an online store

With attractive perks such as free delivery above S$80, some will prefer to pop a virtual visit to the website than head down to the brick and mortar store.

Shoppers who buy online have the option to collect their purchases at the Collection Point. It’s located right next to the entrance, you can’t miss it.

Tip: Whether you’re collecting or buying from the store itself, be sure to bring along a bag. Decathlon does not provide plastic bags. Reusable shopping bags are $1 for one. Considering the size of it, it’s still worth it.

5. Attentive and friendly staff

You’d think that a large store like that will face a severe shortage of employees, but that wasn’t the case at all.

They’re all over the place. With their striking tags and top, it’s easy to locate them.

What we love is that each staff has a white card displayed. The white card lists 2 sports the staff plays. Expert opinion right there for you while you make a purchase decision.

So there you have it. I’m now a new Decathlon fan. If you still think it’s overhyped, you couldn’t be more wrong. Consider visiting the store and bask in the gloriousness yourself, and you’ll see what the fuss is all about.

Update (9 May 2016): Decathlon will be opening another store at City Square Mall on 21 May 2016. Though it’s their first in-mall store, it is not small! Look forward to 21,500 sq ft of pure sports shopping!

(Header image credit: Decathlon Singapore)

Also read: 8 Chillout Spots In The East For A Relaxing Night Out With Friends!