Asahan rafting competition<\/p>\n
With regard to the articles published on the Asahan
\nInternational Whitewater Festival on Nov. 9 and Nov. 13, I wish
\nto thank personally The Jakarta Post for featuring this event. It
\nis indeed truly an international event that deserves attention,
\nespecially as it still managed to persuade the big names of the
\nsport to travel to Indonesia to compete, with the world situation
\nbeing what it is.<\/p>\n
However, there were some facts that were incorrect and needed
\nclarifying, as follows:
\n1. Simon Pramono was not the event organizer but the media
\ndistribution coordinator. The event was organized by the regional
\ngovernment of Asahan in conjunction with Suma Terra Holidays and
\nNorth Sumatra's Chapter of the Indonesia Rafting Federation
\n(FAJI).
\n2. Asahan Whitewater Festival is not a rafting event but a
\nWhitewater Festival, combining whitewater kayaking and rafting
\nraces, which are two different disciplines. There were two
\ninternational teams for the rafting competition (Malaysia and
\nJapan), while there were seven nations whose top athletes
\nparticipated in the kayaking event (England, Norway, France, New
\nZealand, South Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia).
\n3. Mike Abbott is not a rafter but a kayaker, who finished third
\nin the head-to-head and rodeo (not second) and is from New
\nZealand, not Australia, just as Jared Meehan (second in the head-
\nto-head) and Mark Eames (second in the rodeo) are from New
\nZealand as well.
\n4. The Asahan river does not have grade 5.8 difficulty, but is a
\ngrade V river. Only one of the rapids can be considered as 5.8.
\n5. The rodeo is not about waterfalls and rocks but displaying
\nfreestyle skills in a wave, a bit like surfing while sitting
\ninside a 15kg plastic boat, with the help of a double-blade
\npaddle to throw figures.<\/p>\n
JHONY H SIHOTANG<\/p>\n
Secretary Asahan Whitewater Festival 2001<\/p>\n
Bappeda Asahan<\/p>\n
North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asahan-rafting-competition-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }