Surf’s Up! The Sassy Mama Team Tries Out Singapore Wake Park

The Sassy Mama Team discovers Wakeboarding is easier (and even more fun) than it looks at the new Singapore Wake Park

Whether you’re looking for a fun activity to keep kids busy over school holidays or you simply want to make the most of all this lovely sunny weather we’ve been having lately, mama, consider checking out Singapore Wake Park. Wakeboarding sort of like a cross between waterskiing and surfing — the board is around the same size as a snowboard, but a bit wider, and you strap into boots that are attached to it.

Newly re-opened in November, the park located in the middle of East Coast Park with its own manmade lagoon that has safe, calm waters. Singapore’s only “cable-ski” park, it offers wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and cable-skiing options. Basically instead of the traditional motorboat tow system, you hang on to to a handle suspended from a motorized cable high up in the air; they can control the speed and you can do huge loops around the lagoon – they even have an obstacle course!

The Sassy Mama team recently went by for a visit, and although most of us had zero experience, we were all up and wakeboarding within an hour! Kids as young as 4 or 5 are also able to join in the fun.

How it Works

We started by getting fitted for helmets and lifejackets (of course you’ll want to wear a swimsuit and possibly water-friendly shorts – there’s a nice changing room with showers on site). Next up, one of the instructors explained how the cables work and brought us to the beginners area, where you need to demonstrate that you can stand up and ride three times consecutively before moving on to the full-sized course.

Everyone on our team was standing up by their third try: you start by sitting on the edge of a wooden dock and then slowly get pulled up by the cable. The key is letting it do all the work, rather than trying to pull on the handle yourself, which can knock you off balance.

They also offer both beginning training boards (which I believe are a bit heavier and sturdier), before moving on to a regular-sized wakeboard. Once you “graduate” to the longer course, you can ride around in huge loops and play around more with turns.

Is it Worth It?

YES! Our entire team had so much fun. First of all, there are very few outdoor activities you can do in Singapore where you’re not brutally hot, but being in the water is so refreshing! And while it’s salt water (pro tip: keep your mouth shut the first time you fall in!), it’s much cleaner and clearer than swimming at the beach (I’m always so unnerved by the sight of giant oil tankers). There is no feeling quite like gliding along on top of the water – you won’t be able to keep yourself from giggling, I swear.

It’s also a really cool activity that you can do with your kiddos where they just might be more nimble than you. Once you’ve demonstrated your competency, your info is kept on file so for future visits you can swing by and get right into the water.

It’s also a really nice facility with a friendly, laid-back team that’s happy to show you the ropes. Besides full equipment rental and nice changing facilities (including bathrooms!), there’s also a café and bar with pretty views looking out to sea. It’s a pretty sweet set-up for a kid’s birthday party or other child-friendly gathering.

How much does it cost?

Prices start at $40 per person, per hour on weekdays ($60 on weekends), with 2-hour, 4-hour and full day passes available. Click here for all the deets.

Sassy Mama readers who purchase a ride for themselves can get their child’s ticket at half-price! Just quote promo code SassyMamaSWP when you pay. Valid through 31 December, 2016; see full conditions below.

A note about parking: Singapore Wake Park is located in East Coast Park near East Coast Lagoon Food Village but the bridge between them is currently under construction (as a few of my colleagues discovered). Make sure you park or get dropped off in Car Park E1, which is an easy two-minute walk away.

Have fun, mamas!

Singapore Wake Park, 1206A East Coast Parkway, Singapore 449891, Tel: (+65) 6636 4266, www.facebook.com/singaporewakepark