SEA Games 2025: Artistic swimmer Debbie Soh finds joy in longboarding

SINGAPORE – When all sporting activities ground to a halt during the Covid-19 pandemic, Singapore artistic swimmer Debbie Soh got her start in a different sport: Longboarding.

Her first board was gifted by her boyfriend.

She said: “He was already longboarding before I knew him and, after the circuit breaker, he decided to buy a new set-up.

“I was there with him when he bought it, but I thought he was buying it for himself. When he took it out for the first skate, he said, ‘Oh, by the way, I bought this for you’.

“I wasn’t expecting him to get me a set-up and, then in the end, I enjoyed it. So we started to go on skates together more often.”

Similar to skateboarding, longboarding uses longer boards with a longer wheelbase, softer wheels, and a lower deck for more stability and smoother rides.

Most people use it for cruising, commuting, carving, freestyle tricks and downhill riding.

Just a month after she picked up the sport, Soh finished third in a virtual competition, where she had to complete several distances within a period of time to win prizes.

“When I first started, I took part in this challenge called ‘Skate till you die’,” said the 27-year-old.

“Basically, there’s 10km, 24km and 42km that you have to complete, and you have to finish the 10km first before you embark on the 24km.

“If you finish all these three distances within the amount of time that they give you, then you win some parts (for the longboard).

“I was very surprised because I wasn’t actually trying to be fast, and at that time it was only about a month into me skating.”

Soh and her boyfriend have gone on countless skates with others in the community – they usually skate at park connectors and can cover up to 50km each time.

She added: “I feel that it’s nicer when you get to skate with other people. During long distances, it’s also a lot of time, and in that time you get to really know the people that you’re skating with.

“You have heart-to-heart talks and you share about life, and people come from very different walks of life… Maybe it is a good way to de-stress.”

Soh also focuses on staying injury-free, especially after an accident one Christmas morning.

She had just started a group skate planned from Ang Mo Kio to the Kallang park connector and the National Stadium.

But just 10 minutes in, she went too fast down a slope and could not stop in time, crashing into a car at the pedestrian crossing.

Despite being in pain, a bruised Soh “felt very bad” for the driver, who looked to be in her 70s and crying when she stepped out to check on her.

These days, she skates less frequently to minimise injuries and uses the longboard as part of her daily commute.

When asked what makes her happy, Soh said: “I guess happiness is no injuries, because I’ve been in the (artistic swim) team for quite long, and throughout the years, I’ve gotten some injuries.

“And from when I started skating until now, I have had new injuries also, so on top of trying to commit to training time and giving myself enough recovery time.

“Sometimes it’s a bit hard for me to get back on the board because I cannot stand as long as I’d like due to my back, so I just try to find a balance between skating and training.”

Happiness will also come from winning more golds at the SEA Games – she is aiming to triumph in all five of her events.

Artistic swimming will return to the Games’ roster for the first time since the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, when it was known as synchronised swimming. Eight years ago, Soh claimed three golds and two silvers, narrowly missing out on a perfect sweep.

She said: “I want to go for everything because the last one in KL we lost gold in solo by 0.0133 points and in the duet by 0.0833 points. It’s not even a 10th of a score, so I’m still a bit salty about that and I think we could have won.

“I’m still friends with the gold medal winners (Malaysia). It’s just when it comes to sport, there’s a sort of competitiveness that you don’t want to back down.

“I refuse to admit that I lost to them. I could have won, but I don’t regret anything and maybe now it gives me more reason to fight more to win all the golds.”