Cover Trifecta’s co‑founders Daphne Goh, Alex Hsu and Terry Tan
Trifecta’s co‑founders Daphne Goh, Alex Hsu and Terry Tan
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Trifecta, the snow, surf and skate attraction in the heart of Orchard Road, opened just last year, but its co‑founders Daphne Goh, Alex Hsu and Terry Tan have been elevating and engaging with the community for almost a decade
In the world of board sports, completing a trifecta is being able to snowboard, surf and skateboard all in one day. This is truly a mean feat, considering how one would have to travel from the mountain to the ocean. So never would one expect to be able to do the trio of board sports here in Singapore, right in the heart of Orchard Road.
Enter Trifecta, the first snow, surf and skate attraction to open here last year, offering a unique blend of cutting-edge technology and pure adrenaline, and set to redefine the action sports landscape in Asia. Co-founders Daphne Goh, Alex Hsu and Terry Tan, whose love for sports had been cultivated since young, have always dreamt of introducing such a lifestyle concept to Singapore. “Before meeting each other, all three of us had pursued active adventures on our own,” shares Hsu, adding that such adventures, be it diving, surfing, skiing or snowboarding, brought them together.
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Prior to Trifecta, Goh and Hsu founded adventure travel company The Ride Side in 2015, bringing intimate groups on social and fuss-free skiing and snowboarding expeditions. Tan joined the duo in 2020, and so far the company has taken over 2,000 enthusiasts on expeditions to resorts in Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland. More than just riding snow‑covered mountains, they also set up retail shops in Singapore, and worked with various ski resorts, including in Japan and New Zealand.
“The Ride Side was born out of our love for snowboarding and skiing, and we quickly realised that there were others like us, who love adventure, but were unable to find a community for the sport in Singapore,” Hsu explains, highlighting that the winter sports market has always been overlooked in tropical Singapore, resulting in limited knowledge and education. The Ride Side sought to change this while building a community of enthusiasts at the same time.
In the early years, there were a lot fewer people who were willing to give snowboarding and skiing a go, as compared to today. “Building a new venture takes grit, but building an industry and community from scratch requires something bigger than ourselves and our dreams,” says Goh. She is, however, grateful for the tight-knit community that believed in what they were doing and lent them their support and strength every step of the way.
While it has always been a pipe dream to create a lifestyle concept where they could bring together a community of like-minded people, who knew that the pandemic was the push the trio needed? Being forced to pause expeditions led the trio to a new-found perspective—instead of bringing Singaporeans to the mountains, they would bring the mountains to Singapore.
Coupled with increased exposure to such sports on social media, people were “more open to trying things outside of their comfort zone”, says Goh. With the increased interest in snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding, it felt like the right time for them to dive into the project, seeking to provide “a safe and controlled environment for learning [while making] the mountains and oceans more accessible to a wider audience in Singapore”.
Above Trifecta’s Surf Arena
Trifecta’s Surf Arena
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Running alongside The Ride Side, Trifecta comprises the Snow Arena, Surf Arena and Skate Bowl. The Snow Arena uses simulator machines that mimic natural mountain terrain, and simulate speeds of up to 35km/h and four directional movements, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned riders. Featuring Singapore’s first ski-snowboard freestyle dry slope, it has been built to accommodate intermediate and advanced riders who want to practise tricks on the board.
The Surf Arena, at 10m wide, features waves up to 1.5-m high. As Asia’s largest standing wave pool, the surf machine makes it possible for enthusiasts to reproduce turns and take-offs as in real surfing. The Deep-Water technology from surfing simulation brand Citywave also enables the waves to be adjustable in size to suit different skill levels. This allows surfers to try the sport in a safe and controlled environment, without the harsh and unpredictable conditions in the ocean.
Meanwhile, the Skate Bowl, which was built to complement the nearby Somerset Skate Park, is free for all to use. The depth and curve of the bowl allow for both skateboarding and surf skating, making it suitable for those looking to practise their moves.
Above Trifecta’s Skate Bowl
Trifecta’s Skate Bowl
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Beyond introducing the technology that has enabled it to bring these action sports closer to enthusiasts here, Trifecta has also introduced green practices to its business, including the use of sustainable materials as well as recycling and upcycling. For example, the Skate Bowl is both a play feature and a rainwater harvesting system. The rainwater collected is treated and reused on the premises.
Solar panels will also be installed on the roofs in the upcoming year to increase usage of renewable solar energy. Through these initiatives, the attraction hopes to instil the importance of “protecting the natural elements that have enabled these sports”, says Tan. “We will be rolling out green programmes to educate youths and young businesses alike on the role that businesses and consumers play in the protection of these elements.
Education plays a big part at Trifecta. Rather than heavily focusing on mimicking real waves or snow, Tan says, it focuses on “making riding more accessible to all, no matter the skill level”. The attraction’s snow, surf and skate programmes and curriculum are constantly evolving, catering to a variety of skills. It also hopes to encourage sports development through fun activities and competitions. “This is to encourage the community to push themselves and achieve a higher level of riding,” says Tan, who adds that it hopes to work with schools and youths to grow the next generation of riders in Singapore.
Since its opening, Trifecta has seen over 30,000 people—locals, expatriates and tourists, ranging from 6 to 70 years old—come through its doors. “That’s 30,000 more people who are now introduced to either one or all three sports,” Goh muses. The trio is supported by a team of instructors who have been “crucial in building these programmes with us”, says Hsu. He shares that they are constantly sending their instructors to mountains, such as Queenstown in New Zealand and Niseko in Japan, to experience the elements and gain more teaching and riding experiences, while also providing opportunities for newer instructors to get officially certified.
Trifecta has also embarked on various initiatives to build an even stronger community and culture that celebrates and champions creativity on and off the board. For example, in November last year, as part of the Trifecta Art Show dedicated to exploring the intersection of art and board sports, it collaborated with local skateboarder and illustrator Temple of Skate, also known as Tucks, to create surf-inspired art pieces in his signature Japanese Ukiyo-e art-style for its Surf Arena.
Earlier this year, it also welcomed Hypebeast Live, a one-day festival that put the spotlight on local and regional music artists, live art, exclusive drops and culinary options, inviting the community to immerse themselves in street culture.
The trio is not stopping there. They hope to continue working with a community of collaborators to shape Singapore’s youth culture through various interests, including sports, art, music and food. “We believe that collaborations are key in bringing our vision in turning Trifecta into a hub of self‑expression,” Goh enthuses.
Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
