The largest shopping mall in Malaysia, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, has gotten even larger with the addition of two fun new rides, namely the FlowRider and AirRider, located in the new extension of the mall called 1 Utama E, which bears the tagline Excite, Entertain and Exhilarate.
Those are exactly the three words that best describe the new sports tourism centres which feature both fun in water and in the air.
“Our vision for AirRider and FlowRider is nothing short of ambitious,” said Tan Sri Dato’ Teo Chiang Kok, Director of 1 Utama Shopping Centre, in his speech during the launch of both sports centres as well as 1 Utama E last week.
“We are expecting to see a large influx of professional athletes, entusiasts and tourists from all around the world coming to Malaysia to join events, regional championships and international competition hosted in 1 Utama E.”
During the launch, FlowRider was the first among the two sports centres to be introduced, since it was located where the launch was held, on the lower ground floor of 1 Utama E.
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| Some of the celebs at the launch were Xandria Ooi, Jeremy Teo and Hansen Lee. |
Considered a relatively new sport in the extreme sports scene, the hybrid boardsport combines the techniques of surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding and skimboarding.
If your head is spinning just from reading all that, don’t worry, there are dedicated instructors present at the centres to assist you on your journey to becoming a pro surfer!
A 1 hour session will cost RM45 on weekdays and RM55 on weekends and public holidays. More info are available at www.flowrider1utama.com.my.
At the launch, guests and media alike had the chance to see FlowRider in action as the instructors took their boards for a spin on the fast flowing waves.
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| FlowRider instructors entertaining the crowd with their synchronized riding performance. |
The first indoor skydiving facility in an Asian Pacific mall is built jointly by 1 Utama and Indoor Skydive Australia Group (IAS Group), costing approximately RM25 million.
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| Tan Sri Dato’ Teo Chiang Kok during what was possibly the coolest way to pull off a raffle draw – by catching floating balls that were let loose in the AirRider tunnel. |
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| AirRider instructors demonstrating the moves flyers can attempt in the flight chamber. |
The all-glass vertical panelled circular wind tunnel, built with specialised equipment and advanced technology imported from Czech Republic and Australia, will allow flyers to become airborne the moment they step into it.
The instructors, led by facility manager Tali Woods and chief instructor Warren Riley, are professionally trained and qualified through the global body International Bodyflight Association.
First time flyer packages start from RM32 per flight. More info can be found at www.airrider.my.
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| Flyers will be provided with a flight suit, helmet, goggles and personalised flight certificate. |
Phase 1 of 1 Utama E includes FlowRider and AirRider while Phase 2 will see the addition of an Alfresco F&B street on the lower ground; curated retail, specialty lifestyle, and F&B stores on the lower ground and ground floor; collective living space and direct link to MRT on the ground floor; family entertainment centre on the first and second floors; and a 3rd Sports Tourism Centre on the second floor.
Phase 2 is targeted for completion by mid-2019.