THE Sarawak Regatta has always been an annual spectacle that draws crowds from far and wide to witness the prowess of paddlers navigating the meandering river.
Despite being the oldest sport in Malaysia, it appears to have an enduring charm with participation from local and international teams growing from year to year.
This is because for many, the Sarawak Regatta is more than just a race, it is a deeply ingrained family heritage that flows through their veins like the very rivers they navigate.
Continuing Family’s Heritage as a Paddler
According to Mohd Idris Sadam, a paddler from the Pantai Damai Beladin team, his family has been participating in the said watersport since way back when his grandfather was still a teen.
For him, being a paddler is a way of life that has been coursing through his veins from an early age.
“Every male member of my family since my grandfather’s generation are paddlers and they have participated in multiple regattas. This sport has become a legacy to us,” he said.
As he watched the sport from close quarters since he was very young, his interest in the sport grew, leading him to dive into the world of competitive rowing when he was just 16 years old.
“During my childhood days, I remember my family would often bring me to watch the regatta. Be it the international level or even the district level.
“We would go there to support my father during his races. The intense competitiveness and relentless cheers from supporters are two of the many things that fascinate me,” he said.
Guided by the wisdom of veteran paddlers in his family, his journey began with paddling in wooden boats to the current trend of using fibre boats.
“I believe the support given by my family members and the bond within our team has led me to have a deeper passion for this watersport.
“Furthermore, being a paddler also gives me a chance to continue my family’s legacy,” he said.
Meanwhile, for a paddler from Bintawa named Aziz Maulana Amit, his interest evolved after his students talked him into it.
Recalling that he was captain of a football team named Villadin Tigers, he said at that time, aside from football, his students were very active being part of the regatta.
“I went to each of their competitions to show my support for them but I never imagined myself to be part of the watersport until my students talked me into trying it.
“During my first training session as a paddler, I felt adrenaline rushing in my veins. I was amazed by the passion and perfect rhythm set by the team during the training.
“From being curious about the sport, I now started to put my all into it. I went to training everyday and learned new techniques from my seniors,” he said.
The 48-year-old said his passion for the sport grew even more when a well known team in his area was crowned ‘Raja Sungai’.
“Seeing that the title was achievable even by the teams in the urban area, I began to formulate, plan and implement new strategies for my team in the hope that one day, we too can be bestowed with such a title,” he said.
It’s All About Teamwork
Similar to any other team sport, teamwork is of paramount importance in regatta racing where coordination, communication and collaboration among team members can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Regatta racing, which involves multiple boats competing against each other, demands a high level of teamwork due to its complex and dynamic nature.
According to veteran paddler Johan Mawi, in regatta racing, if any of the team members does not execute his role properly, the paddling rhythm for the team will be disrupted and it will decrease the boat’s speed.
“That is why, to get the perfect rhythm for the team, the team must start their training at least three to six months before competition.
“This sport is all about teamwork and their consistent technique and rhythm together. That is why it is impossible for teams to train for only one month and hope to be on the podium. Commitment to this watersport is very important,” he stressed.
With more than 20 years of experience in regattas, Johan pointed out that each competing team has their own techniques.
”If the helmsman messes up their rhythm even a bit, it is over for the rest of the paddlers. This is because the helmsman is one of the most important roles in the team,” he said.
Aside from that, he said another role that could determine the winning and losing of the team is the paddlers seated at the front of the boat.
“That is why, most teams would usually appoint those who have higher mental endurance to be at the front.
“The collaborative efforts of team members, combined with effective coordination, communication, strategy, and adaptability contribute to a competitive advantage on the water.
“With the selected people in the team and playing their respective roles perfectly, the team will be able to function well and also be able to maximise their chances of victory,” he said.
Encouraging Youth Participation
It is undeniable that the lack of youth participation in regatta racing in Sarawak is a multifaceted issue that stems from a combination of factors.
One of them is due to cultural shifts where the cultural significance of regatta racing might not be as emphasised as it once was.
As the world heads towards modernisation, the youth perceive regatta racing as irrelevant to their modern lives, leading to a decline in interest.
Looking at the situation, Binladen regatta team manager Kamarul Zaman said encouragement and efforts to promote the sport is needed to bring more youth to partake in it.
As a former paddler, the 45-year-old could see that this sport was not promoted as much as before among the youth, hence, the current youth do not see its significance at all.
“It is saddening that this sport is not given enough exposure to them. As a manager, our team did our part by inviting and encouraging the youth to join us.
“Whenever we bring them out to competitions, even if they did not manage to win any placement, we still appreciate their interest and commitment to want to join.
“But our team’s lonesome effort in bringing the youth to be part of the sport is barely enough. Sarawak is a vast state. Therefore, we need more teams to step in and encourage more youth to participate,” he said.
Sharing the same view, Aziz elaborated that for his team, he had planned for their development.
For starters, to encourage the youth, they are targeting to approach youth between 16 and 19 to participate in the watersport.
”Meanwhile, for the long-term plan, we are looking into establishing a back-up team consisting of teenagers between 13 and 15.
“To make this effort a success, we have invited some famous team coaches from Sambas and Kapuas to guide them in paddling,” he said.
Hopes for the Government
For an over century old sport, the Sarawak Regatta has gone through a lot of changes throughout the years – from being a local sport to being an international event.
Looking at the sport needing a lot of money spent just to participate in it, another Binladen team manager Sapudin Baseri expressed his hope that there will be financial aid given to the local teams to keep the sport alive.
“This sport is mostly participated by villagers who have to travel from far and transport their boats around just to compete.
“Aside from many other expenses, transporting the boats back and forth alone requires at least RM3,000.
“Therefore, I hope the state government will look into the matter and allocate some funds for the local teams to help them with their expenses,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kamarul hopes the Sarawak government will establish a special association for the regatta teams so that the management of the teams including related issues can be handled properly.
He pointed out that with the establishment of the association, indirectly all the regatta racing teams in the state will be under one umbrella and this will make it easier to organise anything related to regatta for the whole of Sarawak.
”Through the establishment of the association as well, team members can give suggestions in upgrading the sport’s system.”
He pointed out that the regatta competitions throughout the years have been organised and managed by teams from certain villages or organisers.
“That is why, in every single race, we are subjected to the ever-changing laws and regulations provided by each organiser. In the long term, this will raise a problem.
“As such, with the establishment of the association, it will act as a platform for the local teams statewide to voice out their opinions and suggestions,” he said.
