24 June 2007, ST
Skorpion Skates are set to take off in S'pore - you can even use them on the beach
By Jennani Durai
GET used to the sight of these makeshift mini-carts - they could soon be everywhere.
Skorpion Skates look more like bulky buggies for the feet, but are getting big with teens because they are all-terrain and easy to balance on.
These red-and-black skates are flat, and strap on over shoes. Each has suspension springs on the back and four large tyre-like wheels - two on each side.
A pair costs $299, but since they made their debut two weeks ago at the Samsung Inline Skating Festival, teens have been renting the 50 pairs available at SkateSports in East Coast Park for $10 per hour.
The big draw: you can skate on the beach with them.
The Skorpion Multi-Terrain Skates were designed by father-and-son team Reg and Gary Reid of New Zealand.
They came up with the idea after observing that traditional inline-skaters and scooter-riders were restricted on where they could skate.
Aiming to create something that would move smoothly on a variety of surfaces, they developed a prototype in 2004 and launched their skates last year.
Since then, the skates have stirred up considerable excitement globally.
Planet On Wheels, the sole distributor of Skorpion Skates in the United States, dubbed them 'the next great thing in roller skating'.
In Europe, they are touted to become a new form of transportation as they are eco-friendly.
Fashion brands including Prada and Emporio Armani have placed custom orders for stocks.
They are available in two sizes - small and large - and can be adjusted to fit over any shoe size using a knob on the bottom, making them easy to share with friends.
But, for hygiene-conscious Singaporeans, they offer another benefit.
Unlike with regular inline skates, you can avoid the unpleasant experience of slipping your feet into a boot filled with someone else's grime.
'You can keep your own shoes on while using the Skorpion Skates,' said Mr Barry Hanson, managing director of SkateSports.
Yet it is their distinctive look that 'makes people curious', said Mr Hanson.
Here, Singaporeans are slowly picking them up - especially the young.
'Singaporeans are always looking for new and funky things,' he said, and youths in particular have been 'very positive' about them.
'Their first reaction usually is 'Wow! What is this?' '
After that, they discover their stability too.
'They are particularly suited to beginners because it is easy to balance on them right away,' Mr Hanson explained.
Holidaying students who have tried them have so far been impressed. During the weekend, groups of students were seen with them strapped to their feet and skating along the beach.
Muhd Nashri, a student at Fajar Secondary School, said he was drawn to them because they looked 'like little toy cars'.
The Secondary 4 student observed: 'They look like they would be easier to balance on.'
But some sceptics were less enthusiastic, and even for the interested, there is a learning curve.
Singapore Polytechnic student Lina Choo, 17, pointed out: 'They don't look very fun, but they look safe.'
Samantha Han, 21, was using the skates for the first time and said they were 'easy to stand up in, but moving around is hard'.
In fact, the weight of the skates made it a little difficult for Joanna Lai, 21, when she tried them for the first time.
'To switch feet, you have to really lift your legs a lot - otherwise the wheels won't leave the ground,' she said.
But Mr Hanson said skills will come with practice.
'Like inline skates, people will probably need lessons,' he said.
'But absolute beginners would find Skorpion Skates more stable than a bike or inline skates.'
But SkateSports staff say novices should find their footing on solid ground first before heading onto the beach, as skating on soft sand requires more force.
Currently, these skates are available only at SkateSports' East Coast store.
'We're testing public reaction for a couple of months to make sure it has a good following before expanding,' explained Mr Hanson.
But if the trends elsewhere are anything to go by, they might soon be on the feet of teenagers islandwide.
Skorpion Skates are set to take off in S'pore - you can even use them on the beach
By Jennani Durai
GET used to the sight of these makeshift mini-carts - they could soon be everywhere.
Skorpion Skates look more like bulky buggies for the feet, but are getting big with teens because they are all-terrain and easy to balance on.
These red-and-black skates are flat, and strap on over shoes. Each has suspension springs on the back and four large tyre-like wheels - two on each side.
A pair costs $299, but since they made their debut two weeks ago at the Samsung Inline Skating Festival, teens have been renting the 50 pairs available at SkateSports in East Coast Park for $10 per hour.
The big draw: you can skate on the beach with them.
The Skorpion Multi-Terrain Skates were designed by father-and-son team Reg and Gary Reid of New Zealand.
They came up with the idea after observing that traditional inline-skaters and scooter-riders were restricted on where they could skate.
Aiming to create something that would move smoothly on a variety of surfaces, they developed a prototype in 2004 and launched their skates last year.
Since then, the skates have stirred up considerable excitement globally.
Planet On Wheels, the sole distributor of Skorpion Skates in the United States, dubbed them 'the next great thing in roller skating'.
In Europe, they are touted to become a new form of transportation as they are eco-friendly.
Fashion brands including Prada and Emporio Armani have placed custom orders for stocks.
They are available in two sizes - small and large - and can be adjusted to fit over any shoe size using a knob on the bottom, making them easy to share with friends.
But, for hygiene-conscious Singaporeans, they offer another benefit.
Unlike with regular inline skates, you can avoid the unpleasant experience of slipping your feet into a boot filled with someone else's grime.
'You can keep your own shoes on while using the Skorpion Skates,' said Mr Barry Hanson, managing director of SkateSports.
Yet it is their distinctive look that 'makes people curious', said Mr Hanson.
Here, Singaporeans are slowly picking them up - especially the young.
'Singaporeans are always looking for new and funky things,' he said, and youths in particular have been 'very positive' about them.
'Their first reaction usually is 'Wow! What is this?' '
After that, they discover their stability too.
'They are particularly suited to beginners because it is easy to balance on them right away,' Mr Hanson explained.
Holidaying students who have tried them have so far been impressed. During the weekend, groups of students were seen with them strapped to their feet and skating along the beach.
Muhd Nashri, a student at Fajar Secondary School, said he was drawn to them because they looked 'like little toy cars'.
The Secondary 4 student observed: 'They look like they would be easier to balance on.'
But some sceptics were less enthusiastic, and even for the interested, there is a learning curve.
Singapore Polytechnic student Lina Choo, 17, pointed out: 'They don't look very fun, but they look safe.'
Samantha Han, 21, was using the skates for the first time and said they were 'easy to stand up in, but moving around is hard'.
In fact, the weight of the skates made it a little difficult for Joanna Lai, 21, when she tried them for the first time.
'To switch feet, you have to really lift your legs a lot - otherwise the wheels won't leave the ground,' she said.
But Mr Hanson said skills will come with practice.
'Like inline skates, people will probably need lessons,' he said.
'But absolute beginners would find Skorpion Skates more stable than a bike or inline skates.'
But SkateSports staff say novices should find their footing on solid ground first before heading onto the beach, as skating on soft sand requires more force.
Currently, these skates are available only at SkateSports' East Coast store.
'We're testing public reaction for a couple of months to make sure it has a good following before expanding,' explained Mr Hanson.
But if the trends elsewhere are anything to go by, they might soon be on the feet of teenagers islandwide.
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