Serayu River fitting site for white-water rafting<\/p>\n
By Mulkan Salmona<\/p>\n
BANJARNEGARA (JP): The Serayu is the longest river in Central
\nJava but has no visitors to speak of at most times of the year.
\nThat all changed last month as young people from throughout the
\ncountry descended on its waters for the first national white-
\nwater rafting competition.<\/p>\n
Teams from Jakarta, Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Malang, Medan,
\nManado, Padang, Jambi and Toraja arrived not to fish, do their
\nwashing or bathe, the river's usual uses. They wanted to befriend
\nthe Serayu, to ride rapids and to master its strong currents.<\/p>\n
During the National White-water Rafting Championship 1997 from
\nNov. 23 to Nov. 27, hundreds of people living along the riverbank
\ncame out to watch the teams set off in their rubber rafts,
\nbattling natural and manmade challenges.<\/p>\n
Teams representing their provinces, nature clubs, university
\nalumni and sponsors showed their skills in riding the rapids,
\nsteering their crafts, resisting currents and traveling as far as
\neight kilometers from Tunggoro village in Wonosobo regency to
\nSingomerto in Banjarnegara.<\/p>\n
Spectators greeted them with a raucous reception along the
\nway.<\/p>\n
The competition was organized by the Indonesian White-water
\nRafting Federation and the Marine Corps, in conjunction with the
\n52nd anniversary of the corps' founding.<\/p>\n
Teams were judged in slalom, speed and rescue classes.<\/p>\n
Arwana from the Marines triumphed in the amateur category from
\n48 teams.<\/p>\n
They won the Indonesian Arung Jeram Cup and a cash prize of Rp
\n2 million.<\/p>\n
Victorious from the eight professional teams was the Arus Liar
\nfrom Kompas daily. It received the Marine Corps Cup and Rp 2
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The other Arus Liar team sponsored by The Jakarta Post, seeded
\nand considered among the favorites, finished fourth after being
\ndisqualified in the rescue event.<\/p>\n
It nevertheless attracted special attention from locals
\nbecause one of its members was teleserial actor and commercial
\nmodel, Ajie Massaid.<\/p>\n
Despite heavy rain in the final stages, the competition was a
\nsuccess, providing a great attraction for the communities in
\nWonosobo and Banjarnegara.<\/p>\n
Delayed in the past by financial and permit problems, the
\ncompetition was well-organized and did much to further the
\nfederation's goal of popularizing the sport among young
\npeople.<\/p>\n
The event also showed that the Serayu, previously only used
\nfor irrigation and hydroelectric projects, has potential for
\nwater sports and adventure tourism.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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