Ruptly
"Every weekend, thrill-seekers gather in the misty mountains of Mount Arjuno-Welirang in East Java's Malang for the 'Fun Race Gledekan' - a captivating sport-tourism phenomenon where racers zoom down steep, twisting hills on homemade, non-motorised carts. Footage captured on Sunday depicts hundreds of participants swarming the hilly roads that link the highland areas of Tretes and Palembon. They eagerly await their turn to take on the thrilling incline on wooden contraptions known as gledekans. These traditional Javanese wooden vehicles function as gravity-powered, non-motorised racing carts. The racing atmosphere transforms the tranquil mountain roads into a vivid spectacle of sound and sight. Spectators line the narrow, winding asphalt paths as the air echoes with the deafening noise of homemade carts racing side by side down steep gradients. Febri Kay, an enthusiastic participant, stated, "I play gledekan quite often; I’ve probably tried it around 10 times," adding, “The price for this gledekan equipment varies from 400,000 to 2 million rupiah (US$22 to US$110), depending on the customisation." Azila expressed her excitement, "This is the gledekan gang! I love this activity because it counts as a sport; it’s very unique and thrilling." She continued, "It’s special because, while it used to be made of wood, it’s now modernised with iron. I adore it for the adrenaline rush. I come every Sunday since that’s when many friends gather. It’s way better to be here than getting caught up in negative things." Without engines to propel them, drivers rely solely on gravity to achieve exhilarating downhill speeds, adding to the thrill as carts jostle for position through tight curves. Conquering the steep 500-metre descent demands extreme reflexes and courage, as these gravity sleds lack conventional braking systems. Drivers use basic hand-lever friction brakes or drag their rubber-soled shoes against the tarmac to navigate sharp corners, often leading to tumbles at high speeds, as seen during the Sunday event. Originating from a grassroots Ramadan tradition where village youths crafted wooden sleds for entertainment, gledekan has evolved into a major weekend attraction."
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