Sports facility for surfing, skiing, skateboarding to be ready at Somerset by 2023
SINGAPORE — Those who wish to enjoy skiing, snowboarding or surfing need not leave Singapore to do so from next year, as a new attraction will provide such activities under one roof in the heart of Orchard Road.
Called Trifecta, the attraction will be the first facility in Asia to house three action sports arenas – surf, snow and skate. It will be situated in the Somerset area, covering about 49,000 square feet.
“Our vision for Trifecta was a simple one – we wanted to bring the mountains and the waves to the urban centre of Singapore," said Daphne Goh, co-founder of Singapore-based adventure sports company The Ride Side, which conceptualised and developed the attraction.
"We hope that, by challenging (people here) with new experiences, we will also be able to provide them with a new avenue for self-expression."
Incorporating technology to recreate ski slopes, surf waves
According to The Ride Side's media release on Wednesday (6 April), the action sports arenas at Trifecta are inspired by the world’s best in each category – the snow slopes of Japan, the swelling waves of Bali, and the skate bowls of California.
The snow arena will be powered by the first virtual-reality ski simulator in Asia, with speed simulation and directional movements to mimic the uneven terrain of a natural mountain.
The surf arena will incorporate technology in deep water wave pool for a surf experience, with water columns of 1.5 metres, the deepest in Singapore. Finally, the skate arena will be home to the world’s first hybrid skate bowl designed for skateboarding and surf-skating.
Along with the snow, skate, and surf arenas, the attraction will also have food-and-beverages and retail outlets. Trifecta will also launch eco-education programmes, such as tours on sustainable spatial design of the attraction and up-cycling and recycling programmes to extend the usage of sports equipment.
Initiatives to bring travellers back after pandemic
The announcement of the Trifecta action sports facility was part of a series of new initiatives by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to bring travellers back, as the COVID-19 pandemic comes under control and borders reopen.
Residents and travellers can look forward to a new racing and interactive gaming activity in Sentosa, as well as a chocolate factory in Dempsey, which will be launched later this year.
The Straits Times reported that the Singapore government is setting aside close to $500 million to support the tourism recovery in the coming years.
STB chief executive Keith Tan said during its Tourism Industry Conference on Wednesday that the city-state will have to differentiate itself from other destinations. This will involve curating and creating attractions and events with a sustainability and wellness focus, as well as defending Singapore's position as a "Global-Asia" node for business tourism, he added.
On the urban wellness front, this year will see the launch of the inaugural Wellness Festival Singapore in June - with events such as a multi-sensory pop-up at Gardens by the Bay with wellness masterclasses - as well as the inaugural Livewell Festival at Sentosa.
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