Serayu River fitting site for white-water rafting
Serayu River fitting site for white-water rafting
By Mulkan Salmona
BANJARNEGARA (JP): The Serayu is the longest river in Central
Java but has no visitors to speak of at most times of the year.
That all changed last month as young people from throughout the
country descended on its waters for the first national white-
water rafting competition.
Teams from Jakarta, Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Malang, Medan,
Manado, Padang, Jambi and Toraja arrived not to fish, do their
washing or bathe, the river's usual uses. They wanted to befriend
the Serayu, to ride rapids and to master its strong currents.
During the National White-water Rafting Championship 1997 from
Nov. 23 to Nov. 27, hundreds of people living along the riverbank
came out to watch the teams set off in their rubber rafts,
battling natural and manmade challenges.
Teams representing their provinces, nature clubs, university
alumni and sponsors showed their skills in riding the rapids,
steering their crafts, resisting currents and traveling as far as
eight kilometers from Tunggoro village in Wonosobo regency to
Singomerto in Banjarnegara.
Spectators greeted them with a raucous reception along the
way.
The competition was organized by the Indonesian White-water
Rafting Federation and the Marine Corps, in conjunction with the
52nd anniversary of the corps' founding.
Teams were judged in slalom, speed and rescue classes.
Arwana from the Marines triumphed in the amateur category from
48 teams.
They won the Indonesian Arung Jeram Cup and a cash prize of Rp
2 million.
Victorious from the eight professional teams was the Arus Liar
from Kompas daily. It received the Marine Corps Cup and Rp 2
million.
The other Arus Liar team sponsored by The Jakarta Post, seeded
and considered among the favorites, finished fourth after being
disqualified in the rescue event.
It nevertheless attracted special attention from locals
because one of its members was teleserial actor and commercial
model, Ajie Massaid.
Despite heavy rain in the final stages, the competition was a
success, providing a great attraction for the communities in
Wonosobo and Banjarnegara.
Delayed in the past by financial and permit problems, the
competition was well-organized and did much to further the
federation's goal of popularizing the sport among young
people.
The event also showed that the Serayu, previously only used
for irrigation and hydroelectric projects, has potential for
water sports and adventure tourism.