It all started in Kampung Esok and Kampung Puom in the district of Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia where a natural river with a good location for the whitewater race has become an attraction to all kayaking enthusiasts all over Malaysia and many kayak club members came here to have a try and they loved it and this place became an attraction to all whitewater sport enthusiast because of the natural source for the recreational activities that exist in this region.
In 1993 - The First Kenaboi River Challenge was held in 1993 and organised by the Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Negeri Sembilan (Fomerly known as the Drainage and Irrigation Department). The first event took three days to travel from the starting point to the finishing point.
On the first day, it was paddling through the rapids from Kampung Esok to Kampung Puom. On the second day it continues from Kampung Puom to Kampung Sungai Buloh and on the third day they continue the kayaking from Kg Sungai Buloh to Triang a small town in the state of Pahang located just outside the border of Negeri Sembilan. Since this was the first kayak event, support from all communities make the kayaking activity very interesting.
In 1994 – The Kenaboi River Challenge made another kayak event and this second event was made simple in two days time. On the first day they have The Rapids Challenge from Kampung Esok to Kampung Puom and on the second day it was The River Challenge. Participated by kayak club members and open to all and they came in a big crowd to support this programme. The kayakers really like the Kampung Esok rapid challenge much because it was the most challenging but not everybody has got the guts with the rapid challenge because only experienced kayakers can make their way out of this dangerous task all the way down through the fierce running river.
In 1995 – The kayak event follows as the previous year with the Rapids Challenge and the River Challenge.
In 1996 – No Event takes place.
In 1997 to 2001 - The event took place was just the same as in 1994 and in 1995. It was the two days event, the rapids challenge and the river challenge.
In 2002 – The River Challenge made a surprise by changing it's location to the district of Port Dickson and it was called The River Challenge Isa Trophy. The route started from Tanjung Agas to Pengkalan Kempas and continue by turning back towards the starting point in Tanjung Agas as the finishing point. It was a very tough long journey kayaking upstream against the flow towards Pengkalan Kempas and then making a ‘U‘-turn towards downstream along Sungai Linggi which is considered the biggest river in Negeri Sembilan.
In 2003 – The River Challenge was called The River Challenge Isa Trophy and it started from Pengkalan Kempas and the finishing point at Tanjung Agas. This event was not so tough as the previous year because kayakers only control the downstream flow of the river towards Tanjung Agas. They only need to speed up their kayak so as to win the race.
In 2004 – No Event takes place.. (Election)
In 2005 – The River Challenge make a return to have The Kenaboi River Challenge making a come back to where it started and will forever makes this place the location where all kayakers are waiting anxiously during the monsoon season. Only one event takes place and it was only the River Challenge from Kampung Puom to Kampung Sungai Buloh without the Rapid Challenge.
In 2006 – The event was the same as in 2005 where The River Challenge takes place from Kampung Puom to Kampung Sungai Buloh and there were demands from the kayak club to have the rapids challenge so as to make this sport a real challenge and to attract more experienced kayaking club members to participate in this event to make it more lively and that's where the real challenge is.
In 2007 – The Kenaboi River Challenge makes a return with a two days event as requested by the kayak club members of Malaysia for the Rapid Challenge and it was once again included in The Kenaboi River Challenge. On the first day they have the Rapids Challenge from Kampung Esok to Kampung Puom and on the second day it’s the River Challenge participated by kayak club members and open to all kayakers and they come in a big crowd to support this programme. The paddlers like the Kampung Esok rapid challenge much because it was the most challenging but not everybody has got the guts with the rapid challenge.
