Sinlung /
26 May 2010

Dollar Rush For Kayak Tourism in Arunachal

US-based firm keen on promoting Arunachal as water sport destination

By Atonu Choudhurri

Water sport enthusiasts on a river on the outskirts of Itanagar

Itanagar, May 26 : Water sport fanatics, adrenaline junkies and anyone who can’t resist the maddening rush of gushing waters, here’s a piece of news worth any kayaker’s personal floating device.

American water sport experts are ready to dip their fingers and dollars into the rivers of Arunachal Pradesh and turn the state into the ultimate adventure sport destination.

Jackson Kayak, a leading supplier of kayaks, canoes and related equipment, across the globe is keen on teaming up with Donyi Hango, an NGO based in Itanagar, to promote water sports in the state.

The founder of Donyi Hango, Nino Dai, today said two officials — Benjmin Stokesberry, an American and Rafael Ortiz, a Mexican — visited Arunachal Pradesh in December and conducted a two-month recce on all the major rivers of the state.

“The mighty river Siang along with other major rivers — Lohit, Dibang, Subansiri, Dirang, Digaru, Yomgo, Tawang Chu rivers — have also caught the fancy of a 10-member team of topmost kayakers of the world. The gurgling rivers, murderous rapids and tumultuous creeks amazed them during cruises in the state,” Dai said. Scott Ligare, a renowned kayaker and former programme director of another leading US-based Kayak academy, recently made a documentary, The Descent, on kayaking on the Siang.

Arunchal Pradesh also hosted the seventh National Rafting Championship in March this year.

“This was the opportune moment to showcase Arunachal Pradesh’s the vast potential of water based adventure sports to the world. The seventh National Rafting Championship was organised in the state in March this year. In our capacity, our NGO also roped in a trainer-cum-international observer from Australia, Clenn Merrick, renowned kayakers like Takacs Gyula from Hungary to give tips to wannabe rafters from the state,” Dai said.

0 comments:

Post a Comment