MORE PARTICIPATION WELCOMED: Isabell (third left) receives the Padawan Raft Safari 2011 T-shirts sponsored by JomKayak.com and Duckling Sdn Bhd from Henry Lai (centre) of JomKayak.com. Lo is at fourth right.
KUCHING: Adventure enthusiasts have until 3.30pm this Thursday to sign up for the Padawan Raft Safari 2011, which is scheduled to start from various points in Padawan on Oct 30.
As of last Friday, 93 teams have signed up for the rafting category and 11 teams for the kayaking category, said the organising chairperson Isabell Julau Mejat at a press conference in Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) here yesterday.
The organisers are hoping to sign up more teams than last year’s 102 teams in the rafting and 14 teams in the kayaking categories.
They would love to see more participants in the Expert and Women Open categories.
A total of RM25,450 in cash are up for grabs for those who take on the river as well as the drier activity of a traditional dance competition.
Registration fee (including PA insurance and raft disposal) for the Expert rafting category is RM200 per team.
Prizes waiting for winners are RM3,000 for first place, RM2,000 for second place, RM1,000 for third and 10 consolation prizes of RM200 each.
Other rafting categories — Men Open, Women Open, Government Department, and Hotel and Tour Agencies — come with a registration fee of RM140 per team (including PA insurance and raft disposal).
For the Men Open, prizes are RM2,000 for first place, RM1,500 for second place and RM1,000 for third.
There are also 15 consolation prizes of RM100 per team.
In the Women Open, Government Department, and Hotel and Tour Agencies categories, the first place winner will go home with RM1,000, second place (RM700) and third place (RM500).
There are five consolation prizes of RM100 each.
Registration fee for the kayaking category is RM60 per team.
First prize is RM1,000, second prize (RM700) and third prize (RM500).
There are also five consolation prizes of RM100 per team.
For the Traditional Dance competition, registration fee is RM30 per group.
A cash prize of RM400 and a trophy await the first prize winner.
Second place will get RM200 and a trophy, while third place (RM100 and trophy).
There are five consolation prizes of RM50 per group.
Those interested in signing up can obtain the entry forms from the council’s office or website.
The organising secretary Lim Kim Hin, meanwhile, said that the participants must attend a briefing at 9am on Oct 28.
“We had participants who were disqualified last year because they missed some vital details that were brought up at the briefing,” he said.
The Expert and Kayaking categories will be flagged off by Deputy Speaker and Tarat assemblyman Datuk Roland Sagah at 7.30am at Kampung Annah Rais.
Assistant Minister of Public Health and Bengoh assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil will flag off the Men Open at Kampung Temurang (8am), as well as the Women Open, Government Open, and Hotels and Tour Agencies categories at Kampung Danu (9am).
Tourism Deputy Minister Datuk Dr James Mamit will officiate at the closing ceremony at 3pm at Kampung Git.
PMC chairman Lo Khere Chiang said the council was looking into marketing the Padawan Raft Safari to tourists and also seeking international participation from countries like Singapore.
“The safari is getting better year after year. Having more participants will benefit the local community in terms of promoting their homestays and local produce.”
Lo also said that all measures had been taken to ensure the safety of the participants.