The ultimate guide to rollerblading in Singapore

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.