On a Baltic Sea cruise last year, Sonia Ong came across an unusual sport in Oslo, Norway known as rollerskiing. Using skis on wheels, it is the off-snow equivalent to skiing and is how professional Nordic skiers train in the summer. But it has also grown to become a competitive sport of its own, and it’s especially popular in Europe. Intrigued by the idea of summer skiing, Sonia thought it was the perfect sport to introduce to Singapore and the region.
“A friend once joked that skiing is Singapore’s new national sport,” says the 37-year-old, “because so many Singaporeans travel overseas to ski. One time I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw that five people I knew were in Niseko at the same time!”
In September this year, Sonia officially launched Urbanski, a rollerski training and travel company that offers complete day trips to resorts in neighbouring cities like Johor Bahru and Batam, but also crafts bespoke rollerski tours around the world. Developed in consultation with Olympic skiers and rollerski trainers, Urbanski’s rollerski curriculum is approved by the Singapore Rollerski Association, which Sonia also founded. She is also the director of Rollerski at the Singapore Rollersports Federation. This month, Urbanski is opening a new gym at *Scape, where it will hold a group workout class called Rollercore, where a class of 20-30 people do exercises in rollerskis to disco music.
“My bhag [Big Hairy Audacious Goal] is to take Urbanski global, and push for rollerski to become an Olympic sport,” declares Sonia. “I want a billion people around the world to try rollerskiing. Many might not like it because it is quite challenging, but maybe 30 will go pro and we might have an Olympic sport! How exciting would that be?”
GET MOVING
Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Prestige Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
GLAMOUR AND BEYOND
PRESTIGE'S BEYOND THE HORIZON BALL PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.
RACING BULL
Lamborghini's breakthrough plug-in hybrid, the Revuelto, might be the supercar it needs to pull ahead in the electrification space race.
SYMPHONY OF THE SENSES
Prestige sits down with world-class pianist and Rolex Testimonee HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD as she shares her journey through sound and silence.
Tapestry of the Heart
Jaipur Rugs, which recently launched in Singapore, is one of India's largest manufacturers of hand-knotted rugs. Its secret commitment to a social mission of equality and empathy.
FJORDS, FREEDOM AND FINE FOOD
Oceania Cruises' Riviera will make its debut voyage to Alaska in 2025, bringing guests deep into the wilderness of America's northernmost state while delivering The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
LESSONS FROM THE LONG ROAD
An extended cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo proves that to go further and deeper, you sometimes have to slow down.
Checks and Balance
Louis Vuitton's latest fine jewellery range, Le Damier de Louis Vuitton, is inspired by the house's Damier check. Artistic director for watches and jewellery FRANCESCA AMFITHEATROF takes us through the process.
IN DAZZLING FORM
Powered by a new movement, the Asia Pacific exclusive editions of the Round Skeleton Baguette 31 editions by Franck Muller sparkle with baguette-cut diamonds or coloured precious gemstones.
A TIME FOR SQUARE
In October, Patek Philippe unveiled its first wholly new collection of timepieces in 25 years. Prestige Singapore was among the first in the world to see the Cubitus trio of timepieces and find out how they were created.
STILL THE ONE
With a distinctive design including an off-centre dial, outsize date and an asymmetrical layout, the Lange 1 stood out from the horological pack when it was launched in 1994. It continues to do so even today, three decades on.
