What: A cross training workout done atop a surfboard—commercially known as The RipSurfer X—that’s mounted on a platform. The people that endorse this go the whole nine yards—they pretend to paddle across the water, stand up on the board and then pretend to catch waves.
Hot: Just trying to maintain balance on the board will make your core and thighs burn like hell, so you can develop that lean surfer’s physique without actually having to get wet. And when you’re ready for something more intense, there are even classes—organized by US-based mastermind Surfset Fitness and video demos, which come free with your board order.
Not: It’s a well-meaning concept, but let’s face it—how many of us are going to make it for more than 10 minutes without feeling stupid?
Visit the Surfset Fitness website to find out more or order The RipSurfer X (US$450).
What: An intense system of training that makes use of nothing—not resistance bands nor medicine balls—but your bodyweight, as championed by fitness groups such as London’s Spartanfam.
Hot: You can work out anywhere and at any time, so long as you’ve mastered the right ways of doing chin-ups, handstands, pull-ups, sprint drills, wheelbarrows and all the strength training moves the routine involves. Eventually, you’ll be strong and nimble enough to demonstrate cool stunts such as the “human flag,” a bold, gravity-defying move that involves a bunch of guys hanging off a vertical pole in one row.
Not: Not everyone sees being able to perform a circus act as enough motivation for performing endless reps of painful exercises.
Parkour is available at GymKraft.
What: This next big wave in water sports—standing upright on a board and using a long paddle to move across the water surface—is now in Singapore.
Hot: The paddle’s hefty and maintaining a strong level of inertia while in the position you’re in can be quite tricky, so the whole experience is bound to give you an excellent full-body strength and resistance workout.
Not: You can do this in any body of water, including lakes and even swamps, but the Stand Up Paddling School here conducts its lessons out at sea so you’ll need to be a strong swimmer.
The SUP Stand Up Paddling School is at Tanjong Beach, Sentosa.
What: Trust the Americans to turn a passion for something so morbid into an actual sport. A zombie run is (usually) a 5km race where ghoulish-faced humans chase runners round an obstacle course. Malaysia launched its first, jungly zombie run—localized with broken walls and “abandoned huts”—in February. We suspect it won’t be long before we follow suit, especially after the success of zombie comedy Warm Bodies, which screened here in March.
Hot: Everyone who once thought running was a boring sport can now eat their words. Not only do you have to overcome stuff like inflatables and ropes, you’ll also have to run away from “zombies” bent on ripping your running tag off, rendering you disqualified.
Not: We’d rather pay to participate in an actual marathon than for a glorified version of “catch.”
Read more about the original zombie run, the US-based Run for Your Lives, here.
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