Cambodia to hold first-ever roller downhill competition

PHNOM PENH - The Cambodia Roller Skate Federation (CRSF) will hold the first-ever roller downhill event in the kingdom this month, an English-language daily newspaper reported on Monday.

The 1st Cambodia Roller Downhill, the event's official name, will be held at the Bokor Mountain in southwestern Kampot province on Feb 29, the Khmer Times reported, citing an organizer.

The route of the race will see the competitors rolling downhill on the Bokor Mountain road for 15 kilometers. The picturesque mountain area is regarded as a perfect spot for roller sports and other sporting activities.

More than 20 roller skaters from different parts of Cambodia are expected to participate in the quirky competition, which is open to both Cambodian nationals and foreigners.

"The main purpose for holding the event is to promote and develop roller sports in the kingdom," CRSF's founder Kann Veasna was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

"The competition will be a venue for skaters to meet and make friends with their fellow athletes," he added.

In roller sports, players propel themselves forward either by rolling or by using various pushing techniques. There are many disciplines that fall under roller sports, including inline skating, roller skating, roller derby, jam skating, road skating, grass skiing, freestyle scootering and skateboarding. Some of these disciplines are classified as extreme sports, especially when they involve rolling downhill.

There is a growing interest in roller sports across the nation, particularly with the country's youth.

Sports activities like marathons, endurance races, golf tournaments, football competitions and many others are already bringing many visitors to Cambodia.

But Veasna said holding new competitions, such as the Cambodia Roller Downhill, will aid the kingdom's effort to attract even more visitors, while showcasing the potential that Cambodia has in these kinds of sports.

"We want to show to the world that Cambodia can do it," he said.