Rafting can be dangerous, but fun<\/p>\n
Even though rafting has been present in Indonesia since the
\n1970s, not many people have delved into this sport. The high risk
\nand expense involved are just two factors that mean it not as
\npopular as other outdoor activities.<\/p>\n
However, as time has gone by and the economy of the country
\nhas improved, there has been a growing number of people,
\nespecially professionals, eager to try this water sport. The
\nJakarta Post's A'an Suryana joined a rafting event recently on
\nthe Cikandang River, organized jointly by Nature Trekker
\nIndonesia, Jakartabiz Rafters' Club and Amphibia Outdoor
\nProvider, and has written a special report on rafting. This is
\nthe first of three articles on rafting in the country.<\/p>\n
Obeying an order from the raft captain, a man in his 40s paddles
\nfaster and stronger.<\/p>\n
While swinging the paddle, the man, who is sitting on the left
\nside of the rubber raft, shouts to boost his colleagues' spirits.
\nApproaching a big rock in the middle of river, he stops rowing
\nwhen the captain orders him to do so. \"People on the right,
\npaddle stronger,\" shouts the raft captain, who sits in the center
\nat the back of the raft.<\/p>\n
The raft quickly goes left, passing a big rock on the left-
\nhand side, and then rushes down the drop, making everybody's
\nadrenaline level shoot up. The six rafters, including the
\ncaptain, shout elatedly as the raft passes down the drop.<\/p>\n
The raft then moves into the calmer water. The man is clearly
\nrelieved and takes a moment to enjoy the beautiful scenery along
\nthe banks of the Cikandang River.<\/p>\n
However, he cannot enjoy the moment for very long as he must
\nprepare himself for other rapids and drops.<\/p>\n
\"Overcoming the challenges -- the rapids and the drops -- is
\nthe main reason why I go rafting. I am always fond of those
\nmoments,\" says the man, Arwin Sulaksono.<\/p>\n
What he says is true. Rafters are always seeking new
\nchallenges to overcome. Their passion for new and steeper drops
\nand wilder rapids makes the rafters addicted to the sport of
\nrafting.<\/p>\n
\"My colleague from France quickly decided to try rafting on
\nthe Sigura-Gura River in Sumatra after I told him how challenging
\nthe rapids and drops were,\" said Arwin, who has been enjoying the
\nsport since 1999.<\/p>\n
Besides the physical challenge, another factor that draws
\npeople to the sport is the beautiful scenery.<\/p>\n
\"With the clear water and green trees, rafting provides an
\nopportunity for people to escape from the routine and stresses of
\neveryday life,\" said Arwin, an executive with an advertising firm
\nin Jakarta. Along the Cikandang River, for example, one passes
\nthrough a beautiful andesite canyon.<\/p>\n
One can also enjoy the fresh air of Garut and the clear water.
\nAfter reaching the end of the trip, the rafters pass through the
\nbeautiful scenery of the river estuary and finally arrive at
\nCijayana Beach. After rafting, they can take a walk along the
\ncoast, which is known for its furious waves.<\/p>\n
\"Last but not least, rafting can enhance people's sense of
\ncamaraderie. People become closer to each other after they go
\nrafting as rafting is all about cooperating with each other to
\ndefeat the rapids and drops.<\/p>\n
\"People also work together to save each other's lives if the
\nraft is in trouble and this cooperation makes rafters become
\ncloser to each other,\" said Lutfi R. Zakaria, a man in his 50s
\nwho has been going rafting since he was a senior high school
\nstudent.<\/p>\n
White water rafting was popularized by U.S. scientist John
\nWisley in the 1860s. However, rafting only came to Indonesia more
\nthan a century later. It first emerged in public here in the 1970s
\nwhen rafters participated in the Citarum Rally. The rally,
\nhowever, was a total failure and drew condemnation from various
\nquarters as it took seven lives after one of the rafts capsized.<\/p>\n
People denounced the rafters and the organizers for going
\nrafting without proper safety equipment, including helmets and
\nlife jackets.<\/p>\n
The rafters were also criticized for a lack of knowledge about
\nsafe rafting, as was evident by the fact that they had tied
\nthemselves to their rafts, making it impossible for them to swim
\nto safety if a raft capsized.<\/p>\n
\"At the initial stages of development, people lacked knowledge
\nand were not informed about the importance of safety in rafting.
\nBut, the understanding of safety in rafting improved as time went
\nby,\" said Amalia Yunita, the deputy chairperson of the Indonesian
\nWhite Water Rafting Federation (FAJI).<\/p>\n
In 1990, rafting regained its popularity. Seizing the
\nopportunity, a number of rafting operators emerged, especially in
\nBandung and Bali. Rafting accidents have rarely occurred since
\nthe operators imposed high standards of safety in rafting. The
\nenthusiasm for rafting was also shared by rafting clubs.<\/p>\n
Both the clubs and the operators have explored dozens of
\nrivers around the country for rafting, including in West Java,
\nBali, Lombok Island, North Sulawesi, Sumatra and other areas.
\nSuch exploration is still going on today.<\/p>\n
As the number of rafters has risen, rafting enthusiasts
\nestablished a federation in 1996 to make rafting more popular
\namong the public. Since 1997, the federation has been holding
\nnational rafting competitions every four years, and has
\ncampaigned widely for safe rafting though basic rafting
\neducation.<\/p>\n
\"Although the water sport has not been included in the
\nNational Games (PON), we have been able to send Indonesian teams
\nto a series of international events held by the International
\nRafting Federation,\" said Amalia.<\/p>\n
The federation now has eight chapters, 24 branches and
\nhundreds of clubs nationwide. There is a growing number of
\nrafting enthusiasts.<\/p>\n
\"When we held the national rafting competition on the Citarum
\nRiver in 2001, 88 clubs participated in the competition. But, we
\nbelieve there are many more rafting clubs out there now,\" said
\nAmalia.<\/p>\n
As more people delve into rafting as a hobby, the concerns
\nabout rafting safety are growing. The public and rafting
\noperators understand that any rafting accident will affect their
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n
The operators received a tragic but invaluable lesson two
\nyears ago when a raft flipped over on the Cisadane River and took
\nthe life of Raymond Van Beekum, the spokesman for the Indonesian
\nBank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).<\/p>\n
\"The rafting business was badly affected at that time. The
\nmarket went down by 25 percent,\" said Arwin from the Jakartabiz
\nRafters' Club.<\/p>\n
Aware that safety is a main concern of the public, rafting
\noperators have taken steps to seriously address the issue. They
\nprovide training for raft captains and provide rafters with
\nsafety equipment, which includes life jackets and helmets.<\/p>\n
They also hire trained rescuers. The operators stress that
\nthey do not play with people's lives. \"Client safety is our
\npriority,\" said Oemar Syarief alias Bonky Prasetyo, the executive
\ndirector of the Bandung-based Amphibia Outdoor Provider.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rafting-can-be-dangerous-but-fun-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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