KUCHING: The CanRoll Festival is more than just a sporting event, serving as a platform that promotes freedom of movement and the growth of urban sports, organisers said.
Now in its second year, the festival brings together more than 200 athletes from around the world and continues to expand through international collaboration.
Against that backdrop, local rider Ayeesha Alffian, 23, delivered a standout performance by clinching first place in the jetski 130cc category in what she described as her first official race.
Ayeesha said she did not expect to top the podium after placing second in the opening race.
“I feel amazing. It’s my first official race and I didn’t expect to get first place. I really thought I would get second because I placed second in the first race,” she told Sarawak Tribune post-competition on Saturday (April 11).
“But everything went well today. I guess God was on my side.”
Ayeesha said her involvement in jetski racing began at a young age, having grown up around water sports through her family.
“I was raised in this sport. I grew up watching my father and uncles take part in jetski and other extreme sports like powerboarding. I was always around Sungai Sarawak,” she said.
She officially entered the sport at 18 after getting her own jetski, which she also used during the competition.
She credited her father and uncle for guiding her into competitive racing.
Balancing her studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) with training, Ayeesha said time constraints were her main challenge ahead of the competition.
“I stay in the dorms, so I don’t really have much time. I usually train on weekends when I go back,” she said.
Despite the limitations, she said the win has motivated her to continue improving in the sport.
“Yes, definitely I want to continue. I’ll be training more and focusing on my fitness,” she added.
