Why not jetski to the next island?<\/p>\n
By Ivy Susanti<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is known for its beautiful beaches. At
\nthe beach you can feel the breeze, watch the beautiful view and
\nhear the roaring waves.<\/p>\n
But if you want to enjoy the beach and the sea in a different
\nway, try jetskiing. Jetskiing is like riding a motorcycle. The
\ndifference is, you ride it on the sea.
\n To popularize the sport a new program that allows middle and
\nlong-distance journeys to be made on jetskis will soon be
\nintroduced.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Jet Sports Association (IJSI) executive
\nchairman, Ishak, said the association would launch the program
\nearly next year.<\/p>\n
"With the program, those who want to travel from one island to
\nanother like in the Seribu Islands (Kepulauan Seribu), can do so
\non a jetski," he told The Jakarta Post in an interview at his
\noffice in the Artha Graha building on Jl. Sudirman in the central
\nbusiness district.<\/p>\n
The association has already set up the operating schedule and
\nfacility, and is now preparing the marketing scheme by
\ncooperating with travel agencies to promote the program among
\ndomestic and foreign visitors or anyone who enjoys adventurous
\nsports. Instructors and sea planes will be provided for the more
\ntimid.<\/p>\n
Separately, organizer of the jetski club at Horizon Jet Sport
\nClub (HJSC) Jennifer Armand Supit, said jetskiers in her club can
\nmake the journey to nearby islands by themselves.<\/p>\n
A new jetski cost more than Rp 70 million (US$7,400). But you
\ndo not have to buy one. HJSC has six jetskis for rent at Rp
\n300,000 for every 30 minutes. There are more than 100 jetskis
\nbelonging to 80 members of this club, which is jointly run with
\nthe Navy.<\/p>\n
"Some members have two jetskis," said Jennifer, formerly a
\njetski athlete.<\/p>\n
Jetski was first introduced at Horison Hotel as part of a
\nwindsurfing program at HJSC.<\/p>\n
Since many people fell in love with the sport, some jetskiers
\ndecided to set up the jetski club under HJSC in 1995. At first,
\nthe sport was only run at resort hotels, including Horison Hotel
\nin Ancol Dreamland complex in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Now, jetski clubs are mushrooming throughout the country,
\nespecially in big cities.<\/p>\n
The association has registered up to 500 jetskiers across the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
The youngest member of the association is a nine-year-old
\nwhile the oldest is a 40-year-old.<\/p>\n
"Jetskiing is like boxing. It has age limits. The ideal age to
\njetski is from 14 to 35," Ishak said.<\/p>\n
HJSC alone has about ... members.<\/p>\n
Jennifer said the club's membership has sharply increased
\ndespite the economy crisis since 1997.<\/p>\n
"People say Indonesia is experiencing an economic crisis but
\nmany people are still visiting shopping malls and buying branded
\nproducts. Here, we have many new members who bring their own
\njetskis," she said. However, she added that there were some older
\nmembers who withdrew their membership and sold their jetskis.<\/p>\n
Other jetskiing clubs include Pantai Mutiara Club, Slippery
\nTeam and Diablo Marina in Jakarta, and the Bandung Jet Sports
\nClub in Bandung. There are also some in Makassar, South Sulawesi,
\nBenoa cape in Bali and Sukabumi in West Java. Unfortunately the
\nones in Bali and Sukabumi are not active.<\/p>\n
Oosye Djojorahardjo, 24, started jetskiing when she was 17,
\nand cannot give it up.<\/p>\n
"My family loves this water sport. I have tried many water
\nsports like windsurfing and diving, but none of them are as
\nthrilling as jetskiing," she said.<\/p>\n
The thing that attracts her most is not only the water nature
\nof the sport, but also the opportunity to be able to race on the
\nsea.<\/p>\n
"There is a difference between racing on land and on the sea.
\nThe land does not move but the surface of the sea is constantly
\nmoving according to the waves," she explained.<\/p>\n
Oosye joined a club in Anyer, West Java, when she had just
\ngraduated from high school in 1994. After practicing for a while,
\nshe decided to leave behind the thoughts of furthering her
\neducation in order to focus this sport. She is determined to
\nbecome a jetski athlete and wants to be the best athlete in this
\nfield in three years.<\/p>\n
Her parents have given her their blessings although they are
\nworried about her safety as she had once met with an accident.<\/p>\n
"Jetskiing is a tough and dangerous sport. In 1995, I was hit
\nby a jetski and my hip bone was dislocated. But it did not stop
\nme from riding the machine," she said.<\/p>\n
Indeed, jetskiing is only for those who have the guts to face
\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
Jennifer recalled how some jetskiers roved far from the Ancol
\ncoast and landed on a nearby island.<\/p>\n
"They were discovered by fishermen after spending a night on
\nthe island. Luckily none of our guests have gone missing," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, the club is prepared for such a scenario.<\/p>\n
"We know how long it would take to travel from one island to
\nanother around the Jakarta cape. We have done some surveys. If a
\njetskier fails to arrive within a certain period, we know that he
\nor she is lost," said the mother of two.<\/p>",
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