Arzish Baaquie | arzish@gmail.com
the ridge lifestyle
A NUSSU Publication
In keeping with this month’s selection of Apollo as our chosen deity, Lifestyle has decided to focus on one of his lesser known aspects: Apollo was known to be the meanest archer in town. Here are a few other sports that you can do in Singapore which are a bit off the beaten path.
Photo: www.longines.com/
1. Archery
Ah yes, Apollo’s favourite sport. Robin Hood’s as well. Not to mention a certain Legolas. The ancient sport has definitely progressed with the help of technology, but the basic skills of great co-ordination and discipline still apply. Take a look at the Singapore Archery Club website or our NUS Archery Club websites. Just remember, there’s no need to go and grow a ponytail and spout Elvish during trainings.
Photo: www.fencingphotos.com
2. Fencing
A sport that requires great discipline and technique, fencing has caught on after being introduced in many secondary schools and JCs around Singapore. Check out our NUS Archery Club and external schools, such as the Fencing Masters School or the Blade Club. Remember all those times you mock-fenced with a mop or a ruler? Isn’t it about time you picked up something way more appropriate, i.e. a sword? Just don’t bring it to school and demonstrate your new-found skills on that annoying project group-mate.
Photo: www.muaythai-fighting.com
3. Thai Kick-boxing
With the recently concluded Contender: Asia giving Thai kick-boxing a huge amount of publicity, you may be inspired to pick up the sport. An intense and physically demanding sport, Muay Thai requires commitment and fitness, as well as discipline. Check out BXG Fitness or AS Fitness for courses for beginners. Better warn your parents before you pick up the sport though; bruising is an inevitability.
Photo: www.residentevilchef.com
4. Paintball
Technically not a sport, paintball does provide good fun and a decent workout with your friends. Two teams basically try and shoot one another with guns that shoot out pellets of paint which, by the way, are cause considerable pain. Teamwork and accuracy with the paint-gun are obviously important skills required. Not forgetting the hugely important protective gear. Remember that annoying project-group mate who we told you not to use your fencing skills on? Invite him to a friendly old game of paintball.
Photo: www.sherwoodmarine.ca
5. Wakeboarding
A sport that has become hugely popular over the last few years, wakeboarding involves, in layman’s terms, hanging onto a cable for dear life whilst standing on a board as a speedboat drags you across the sea. If that got your blood pumping, this is the sport for you. Wakeboard enthusiasts can check out our NUS Wakeboarding club or the Singapore Wakeboard Association. Just remember, leave the stunts to the professionals. You would not want to come to school in a cast because you wanted to impress that girl with a 360 degree mid-air somersault. Two words:Epic fail.
Photo: www.outdoorbound.com
6. Rock climbing
The art of rock climbing has served humankind well since we were cavemen trying to find bird’s nests in remote cliffs. Although that may be an extreme example, rock-climbing is an elegant sport that needs you to be ultra focused and disciplined. Pay a visit to the ‘Rock Gym’ on campus and get in touch with the NUS Climbing Club to further pursue the sport. Scaling the wall outside your house to get into your room when you forgot your keys doesn’t count as experience.
With regards to the Paintball section:
1) Writer should’ve checked with residentevilchef.com for photo permission. Crediting without asking for permission is a little too “gray”
2) Paintball is a recreational activity that can be considered a sport. While the Singapore paintball scene is dominated by recreational fields, the Paintball Association of Singapore has organised official paintball competitions since 2008.
3) Paintball has been recognised as a sport by the Singapore Sports Council and is played as a sport in national and regional leagues all around the world.
4) This is taken from a friend’s blog with his permission:
“So what constitutes a “sport component”? I can argue that ballroom dancing is not a sport- its a “dance” but yet the Sports Council is throwing money at them and they get front page newspaper coverage.
Lets look at what we have to go through in paintball that has elements of “sport”.
In paintball we have to run-dive-shoot. We have to think on our feet make decisions on the fly. We have to be fit although I am the exception to this rule. We have group stretching and warm-up sessions before every game to make sure we don’t injure ourselves. We have to play, get along and work as a team.
You only have to look at the organisation and the tournaments. We have set rules- referees and properly organised tournaments and even leagues. Paintball is not just a once weekend get together and pick teams and have one or two games. There are a lot of serious players and serious teams out there. There is real competition and dedication to be the best.”
Regards,
Benedict
All of the abovelisted activities are sports technically. If paintball is not a sports technically, kindly list out the technical definition which The Ridge goes by.
Just obtaining the most basic definition of sport from http://www.dictionary.com, this site defines sport as, “Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.”.
If you have not seen a paintball competition, I would like to invite you to Singapore Paintball Novice Series with the first leg held on 1 Feb 09.
Hope NUSSU can provide an accurate definition and clarification of the above statement.
Writing in as an ex-NUS soccer team player (99/00-01/02),
Janelle