Rafting World Cup Series Coming Soon in Kampar

14 March 2024

After a four-year hiatus, the largest white water festival in Malaysia, Kampar River Festival, is set to make a comeback between May 24th to 26th featuring the International Rafting Federation (IRF) World Cup Series on Whitewater Rafting for the first time.

As a key part of Kampar sports tourism, the event will be hosted by the Kampar District Council in collaboration with International Rafting Federation (IRF) and the Malaysia Rafting Association.

Speaking to Kampar Daily, coordinator of the event, Mr. Mohd Hasrol Bin Kamis noted that the festival was first held in 2019, and the status of the main event - International Whitewater Rafting Race has been elevated to be part of World Cup Series this year.

“We have been chosen as the organiser of Whitewater Rafting World Cup Series in Asia ahead of Australia, and New Zealand, while Kampar River was selected as the venue.”

According to him, the purpose of having the festival is to create awareness on environmental preservation among the public, and attract attention from all related parties, especially the Ministry of Youths and Sports and local government to view rafting as an activity that can provide benefits to the local community.

“We hope the authorities will be able to see the potential of nature-based sport activities like rafting, we do not need a big-scale field or sports arena to carry out the activities.

"We can simply use rivers as the venue while bringing a positive impact to the locals, such as increasing their income,” Hasrol added.

He further encouraged the public to join this event as they are targeting 3500 participants. 

“Though rafting is only open to professional teams, Kayak and Tubing Race are open to all experienced players. There will also be multiple interactive events including Geopark Conference, River Conservation, Cultural & Heritage and Campers Gathering, all free for everyone to join,” he said.  

The competition features seventeen local and international teams in both the open and under-23 categories. Some of the international teams expected to take part include teams from Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Philippine and Nepal.

暌违四年，全马最盛大的白水漂流嘉年华——金宝河嘉年华（Kampar River Festival）将于5月24日至26日重磅回归，为期三天的嘉年华除首办国际漂流联盟（IRF）白水漂流世界杯系列赛外，还将同时进行白水皮划艇和橡皮艇漂流公开赛。

该嘉年华是今年金宝体育旅游的项目之一，由金宝区议会主办，国际漂流联盟（IRF）及马来西亚漂流协会协办，目标达到3500位参与者。

嘉年华活动协调员莫哈末哈斯罗卡米斯在受询时指出，该活动是在2019年首次举办，而当时的主要项目国际白水漂流赛在今年已成功列入世界杯系列赛。

“我们今年被选为亚洲、澳大利亚和新西兰白水漂流世界杯系列赛的主办方，而比赛场地就在金宝河。”

他表示，举办该嘉年华是为了提高公众对于环境保护的意识，同时也呼吁相关单位，尤其青年与体育部及地方政府提高对当地水上项目的关注。

“我们希望他们能看见此类体育活动的潜力，不需要建造大规模的体育场，只需善用河流便可进行运动，既能发展体育，还能给当地人带来积极影响，增加收入。”

值得注意的是，白水漂流世界杯系列赛的公开组和23岁以下级别，预计将获得17支本地与国际队伍的参与，其中包括来自印度尼西亚、文莱、泰国、菲律宾和尼泊尔的国际队伍。

哈斯罗亦鼓励所有民众一同前来共襄盛举，前来观赛及参与互动活动的同时促进当地经济。

“尽管漂流只开放给专业团队，但皮划艇和橡皮艇漂流比赛将开放予所有有经验的选手报名。

现场也将设有多项互动活动，例如地质公园会议、河流保护、文化遗产和露营者聚会，供民众免费参与。”

Photo cr. Kampar River Festival 

Reported by Lee Yi Ling l 报道：李依霖