The stage was set, the competitors poised and the engines raring to go as the inaugural METTLE GAMES 2010 opened in Singapore from 29 October 2010 to much fanfare.
The event marked the first time a large-scale lifestyle action sports event combined water, street and motoring sports in one offering, and was held over two separate weekends (29 – 31 October, and 5 – 7 November).
Weekend One of METTLE GAMES set the pace (and what a fiery one at that!) with an array of five world-class tournaments. Sanctioned by the Asian Extreme Sports Federation, the aggressive inline skating, skateboarding and bicycle motocross (BMX) events took place at Xtreme SkatePark @ East Coast.
Gracing the high-octane event were professional skateboarders Jereme Rogers and Aquil Brathwaite from the United States of America, Asian X Games BMX silver medallist Kiattichai Wanitsakun from Thailand and the X-mini Ambassadors from Spain, the United Kingdom and Thailand. Still, it was the death-defying ascent of the 42-storey (165m) Singapore Flyer on 5 Nov by the French Spider-Man, Alain Robert that took the cake.
The 48-year-old vertical tourist began his heart-racing ascent at 6pm, buoyed by the cheers from his unceasingly supportive audience. A mere 15 minutes later, he was already reaching the pinnacle of the wheel. Then it started to rain.
With his vision obscured and his grip affected, what could have been a piece of cake for Robert was now a challenge. But in a brilliant show of mettle, the gutsy Frenchman doggedly climbed on, refusing to succumb to circumstance.
Half an hour later, his efforts were handsomely rewarded – amidst resounding cheers from the relieved audience, Alain Robert descended the Singapore Flyer, pioneer climber of the world’s tallest observation wheel.
The daredevil ascent is a personal record for Robert, who has only ever scaled vertical structures prior to the Singapore Flyer. “The key difference between climbing a vertical structure and a circular one,” he quips, “would be that that is no end. You start at the beginning and you end at the beginning, which is really very funny.”
“Still, it was very interesting, because usually people pay money to sit inside a capsule and look out at the world, but here I am, looking in from the outside.”
Weekend Two also saw fast cars and superstars descend upon the Lion City as it roared to life with superb drag races and heart-stopping drift stunts. Two-time British Auto test Champion, Russ Swift, was also in town to burn some rubber. If it was a show the audience wanted, it was a show they got.
Swift, who holds the Guinness World Record for parallel parking, J-turn, as well as for making the most number of complete spins (also know as Donuts) with a car, thrilled the audience with his endlessly impressive skills behind the wheel. But it wasn’t just the audience who lapped up the adrenaline-charged excitement – Swift too, had the time of his life.
“It was amazing. The crowd was amazing, the weather was amazing, and I’d like to think I was pretty amazing too,” he laughs. “I loved every bit of it, and I’d come back again if they’d wanted me to”.
Swift is right, the action sports extravaganza was no doubt a roaring success, but it wasn’t all fun and games – the event gave back generously to the community as well, via a collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, going to show that good things are indeed meant to be shared.
All in all, hosting METTLE GAMES 2010 has highlighted Singapore's ascendancy into the ranks of sporting giants, but this is only the beginning. In the years to come, as more international events are held on local shores, Singapore will undoubtedly be a sporting force to be reckoned with. How’s that for a brilliant show of mettle?
The event marked the first time a large-scale lifestyle action sports event combined water, street and motoring sports in one offering, and was held over two separate weekends (29 – 31 October, and 5 – 7 November).
Weekend One of METTLE GAMES set the pace (and what a fiery one at that!) with an array of five world-class tournaments. Sanctioned by the Asian Extreme Sports Federation, the aggressive inline skating, skateboarding and bicycle motocross (BMX) events took place at Xtreme SkatePark @ East Coast.
Gracing the high-octane event were professional skateboarders Jereme Rogers and Aquil Brathwaite from the United States of America, Asian X Games BMX silver medallist Kiattichai Wanitsakun from Thailand and the X-mini Ambassadors from Spain, the United Kingdom and Thailand. Still, it was the death-defying ascent of the 42-storey (165m) Singapore Flyer on 5 Nov by the French Spider-Man, Alain Robert that took the cake.
The 48-year-old vertical tourist began his heart-racing ascent at 6pm, buoyed by the cheers from his unceasingly supportive audience. A mere 15 minutes later, he was already reaching the pinnacle of the wheel. Then it started to rain.
With his vision obscured and his grip affected, what could have been a piece of cake for Robert was now a challenge. But in a brilliant show of mettle, the gutsy Frenchman doggedly climbed on, refusing to succumb to circumstance.
Half an hour later, his efforts were handsomely rewarded – amidst resounding cheers from the relieved audience, Alain Robert descended the Singapore Flyer, pioneer climber of the world’s tallest observation wheel.The daredevil ascent is a personal record for Robert, who has only ever scaled vertical structures prior to the Singapore Flyer. “The key difference between climbing a vertical structure and a circular one,” he quips, “would be that that is no end. You start at the beginning and you end at the beginning, which is really very funny.”
“Still, it was very interesting, because usually people pay money to sit inside a capsule and look out at the world, but here I am, looking in from the outside.”
Weekend Two also saw fast cars and superstars descend upon the Lion City as it roared to life with superb drag races and heart-stopping drift stunts. Two-time British Auto test Champion, Russ Swift, was also in town to burn some rubber. If it was a show the audience wanted, it was a show they got.
Swift, who holds the Guinness World Record for parallel parking, J-turn, as well as for making the most number of complete spins (also know as Donuts) with a car, thrilled the audience with his endlessly impressive skills behind the wheel. But it wasn’t just the audience who lapped up the adrenaline-charged excitement – Swift too, had the time of his life.
“It was amazing. The crowd was amazing, the weather was amazing, and I’d like to think I was pretty amazing too,” he laughs. “I loved every bit of it, and I’d come back again if they’d wanted me to”.Swift is right, the action sports extravaganza was no doubt a roaring success, but it wasn’t all fun and games – the event gave back generously to the community as well, via a collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, going to show that good things are indeed meant to be shared.
All in all, hosting METTLE GAMES 2010 has highlighted Singapore's ascendancy into the ranks of sporting giants, but this is only the beginning. In the years to come, as more international events are held on local shores, Singapore will undoubtedly be a sporting force to be reckoned with. How’s that for a brilliant show of mettle?
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