Coverstory

Wicked Wild

Story by Jessicha Valentina & Andra Wisnu
Illustration by Eko Bintang

From skyscraper jumping to giant fish wrestling, there is no shortage of ways to spend your weekend. Here are our top picks to how you can spice up your leisure time.

NOODLING

Illegal in some of states due to possible threats to the catfish population, the US is nevertheless the only country in which this sport is currently being offered as a tourist attraction. Noodling is an unconventional way of fishing that involves using one’s bare hands as bait. The most common targets are large catfish, some of which can weigh up to 45kg! Noodling enthusiasts first dive in search of promising catfish holes, some of which lie 20 feet down on the bottom of rivers. They then place their hand inside the hole and pray!

WHAT YOU NEED

		Hands Your main lure. And the fish bite no matter how big or small your hands are.
		Shorts Or swimwear of some kind, or indeed any attire you don’t mind getting wet in.
		Guts Because putting your hand into something for the purpose of getting bitten can be a touch scary.

WHERE TO LOCATE

KY Hand Grabbin
4560 Witty Lane, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, 42240
t. + 1 270 887 8945 or +1 270 498 2435
www.kyhandgrabbin.com
Big Fish Adventures, LLC Temple,
Oklahoma, 73568
www.wecatchbigfish.net
Big Tennessee Cat Fish
711 New Hwy 68 Sweetwater, Tennessee, 37874 t. +1 865 258 9514
www.bigtncats.com

BASE JUMPING

If you ever want to know how a flying squirrel feels, then this is the sport for you. BASE jumping is the act of jumping off buildings, antennas, spans (bridges), or earth (cliffs), hence the acronym BASE. The sport is somewhat similar to skydiving, except the altitudes are much lower, making the jumps considerably more difficult. A more exhilarating version of BASE jumping employs a wingsuit, which allows you to glide through the air before you have to deploy your parachute.

WHAT YOU NEED

		Helmet Preventing serious injuries is an obligation for all extreme sport enthusiasts.
		Wingsuit For experts only. This completely optional suit allows you to glide through the air.
		Parachute Always check for defects to ensure that the parachute works properly.

WHERE TO LOCATE

KL Tower BASE Jump
Managed by Australian BASE association
GaryC71@gmail.com
Manado Adventure
Jl. Stadion Klabat, Manado
Contact Person: Franky t. +62 813 4000 8185 www.manadoadventure.org
Molde & Romsdal
Tourist Office Torget 4, 6413 Molde t. + 47 71 20 10 00 www.visitmolde.com

SANDBOARDING

Sandboarding is said to have originated in Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs, and apparently the Egyptians would slide down dunes on pieces of wood. Origins aside, this is a perfect replacement boarding activity for those who can’t or don’t feel like travelling to a snowy landscape. So if you don’t like bundling up for the cold and yet don’t mind getting a little sand in your shorts, then prepare for some serious thrills, as you can reach speeds of up to 82km/h on a sandboard.

WHAT YOU NEED

		Helmet ...as well as knee and elbow pads to keep from getting too badly injured.
		Sandboard These comes in different materials, lengths, styles and costs, but this is all you need to get you started.
		Sand Dune Because the thrill of sandboarding comes from the tallest and smoothest of sand dunes.

WHERE TO LOCATE

Adventure Tours
Kangaroo Island, Australia t. 1800 068 886 or +61 8 8132 8230
www.adventuretours.com.au
Rayna Tours & Travel
205, 206 Old Labor Office Buidling, Abu Hail, Deira, Dubai
t. +971 4 2699900 www.raynatours.com
Yogyakarta
Open to public, bring your own board

SNUBA DIVING

Snuba diving is basically a combination of snorkeling and scuba diving. All you need is a diving mask and you’re ready to explore the beauty of some of the deeper parts of the ocean. Breathing is facilitated by a long hose that is attached to an oxygen tank placed on a raft up on the surface of the water. This is a perfect introductory sport for those who want see what scuba diving is like, as no license or certification is required. Basic swimming skills are all that one needs.

WHAT YOU NEED

		Oxygen tank One oxygen tank can serve multiple divers.
		Diving Mask To see the beautiful underwater scenery.
		Fins or Flippers A pair of classic fins should see you swimming with both speed and grace.

WHERE TO LOCATE

Maui Classic Charters
1279 S Kihei Rd. # 110 Kihei, HI 96753-5222 www.mauicharters.com
Aloha Ocean Adventures
Royal Phuket Marina, Thepkasattri Rd., Koh Kaew, Phuket 83200
t. +66 81 91 76822 www.snubathailand.com
Islands Snuba Excursions, LLC
Po Box 831, St. John, VI 00831
t. 888 294 1083 or +1 340 693 8063 www.visnuba.com

CAVE TUBING

This sport combines body rafting with caving and can be a relaxing yet challenging activity. There is a sense of adventure as you wade further into the darkest parts of caves and as you attempt to control your balance so as not to fall off your tube. Moreover, a plethora of caving wonders, such as stalactites, bats and waterfalls, add an educational element to cave tubing.

WHAT YOU NEED

		Life vest To keep you afloat should you accidentally fall off your tube.
		Float Tube Not the ones you bring to the pool but specialised big tubes the size of car tyres.
		Helmet & Headlights The helmet protects your head from bumping on cave ceilings, while your headlights allow you to see the wondrous sights.

WHERE TO LOCATE

Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.
585 Waitomo Caves Road Otorohanga 3977 t. +64 800 228 464
Gunung Kidul
Managed by Karang Taruna Dusun Gelaran I Contact Person: Haris
+62 859 5965 6561
Kalisuci Cave Tubing
Contact Person: Muslam +62 877 387 94513 www.kalisucicavetubing.blogspot.com

KITE-BUGGYING

Similar to many power-kite activities, kite-buggying involves a three-wheeled buggy with a steerable front wheel and two fixed rear wheels. The two bars on the front wheel let you steer the buggy with your legs, while your speed depends on the wind and how skillfully you use your power kite. Some of the crazier setups involve strapping yourself to the buggy and waiting for a big wind to pull you up into the air, which allows for some awesome acrobatics.

WHAT YOU NEED

		Padding A must-have for any extreme sports enthusiasts. Stay safe!
		Kite Buggy Is what distinguishes this sport from other kite surfing sports. Always prioritize comfort when choosing a buggy.
		Traction/ Power Kite These large kites are a staple of any kite surfing sport.

WHERE TO LOCATE

Bali Kitesurfing
Jl. Cemara No. 72 Sanur 80280 – Denpasar t. +62 81 33 823 5082
www.bali-kitesurfing.org
No. 28 G/F. Sha Po Kong Tsuen
Lung Kun Tan, Tuen Mun, HK. t. +852 2424 1010
www.kiteboard.activity.hk
Mobius Kite School
Perranporth, England t. +44 1637 831 383 www.mobiusonline.co.uk