Risk management in the Polynesia Canoe practice

Polynesia Canoe practice – For some time now, human beings have felt the need to resume a life closer to nature. A gap between man and the natural environment occurred over many centuries, due to the constitution of modern society around large urban centers. Therefore, for some decades, the rapprochement with nature has been growing significantly and one of the ways chosen for this was to practice physical activities and sports in natural places, such as: waterfall, cave, forest, sea, mountain, river, among others. .

Sports practiced in open environments and that interact with nature, such as: trekking, climbing, mountain biking, skydiving, canoeing, etc. received different denominations as they became more known and widespread. Among these, we can list: ‘extreme sports’, ‘adventure sports’ and ‘nature sports’.

The first one is quite contradictory because, although ‘radical’ is related to ‘root’ and what is ‘natural’, this adjective is also used to determine actions or situations related to unpredictability, uncontrolled risk and extremism. Therefore, the areas that encompass activities carried out in nature (leisure, health and sport) preferred not to use this term to expand the use of the last two, adopting the term ‘Physical Adventure Activities in Nature’ (AFANs), because, although there are natural adversities that pose risks to the practitioner, there are several ways to mitigate and/or avoid accidents.

Among the main differences between indoor sports (those practiced in gyms, courts or fields, in which nature interference is almost null) and nature sports, we can say that the influence of the environment on the practice is the greatest of them. The practitioner of outdoor activities depends 100% on the conditions that nature gives him to do or not the sport and can also modify what happens during the activity each time it is performed. As well? A group of people can row for ten consecutive days on the same OC6, leaving and returning from the same point on a beach and going through the same path, always at the same time… it can be higher or lower, the waves with more or less energy, the sun more or less intense,

The Polynesian canoe is a physical/sporting activity in nature and, therefore, like all others of this genre, it requires a more complex planning than indoor canoes because in these practices, according to Munhoz (2006, p; 197), “poor planning can cost a life” [sic.]. So, before going out to paddle, it is necessary to be aware of the greatest number of situations that can occur during the tour, class or training so that it is possible to manage the risks.

First, we have to understand that there are three components involved in Polynesian canoeing:

1) Practitioner (from the physical, technical, cognitive and emotional aspects);
2) Equipment (canoe, implements and personal protective equipment);
3) Practice environment (sea, river, lagoon, dam, others. Beach, urban center, countryside city, etc.).

Managing risks first means recognizing their existence and then knowing the components involved in the activity, calculating the variables and controlling the situations, where: a) calculating means measuring based on standards, data and statistics and b) controlling is the same as to have dominion over something, to take the course to be taken. Finally, it is part of risk management to accept that some situations cannot be modified or ignored and, for that, there are different decision-making options.

In the case of Va’a, what can be calculated and controlled? Let’s look at some examples and make possible reflections:

If we look at each component separately, we see that the aspects related to the practitioner and the canoe, implements and safety equipment are calculable and controllable: it is possible to measure the force and shape it through specific training; by performing regular maintenance on the canoe, the quality of the material, the state of conservation and useful life can be evaluated; through devices and applications, references of climate, weather, waves, currents, tide, etc. are obtained. with good quality of precision, but it is worth remembering that speaking of ‘nature’ it is necessary to consider uncertainty and unpredictability.

On the other hand, by crossing two or more components, the scenario can change, for example: during a huli simulation exercise, carried out in circumstances conducive to learning, the student may be able to float and swim with ease using only one arm and holding an oar or object with one hand. On the other hand, in a situation of imminent danger, such as the presence of current, wind or water at low temperature, its displacement performance in the liquid medium may be different. Just as a rower can show excellent evidence of emotional control in favorable environments, but when experiencing a real risk situation due to weather conditions, he can lose self-control.

As there are three components that unfold in many possibilities and diverse alternatives of interaction with each other, the practice in Polynesian canoe requires a good and thorough risk management. If you haven’t already done so, or if you haven’t done it in a systematic way, try it out based on the circumstances your club/base is experiencing where it is located.

Start by making a list of the relative aspects of each component. Then, list the possibilities of crossing to know what are the circumstances that can be experienced during the practice of va’a in your region. Thus, after ‘knowing’, ‘calculating’ and ‘controlling’, it is necessary to foresee the consequences in the cases of adverse situations that involve risks and to project the possible losses – which can be of human and/or material effect.

Finally, after analyzing the possible situations, it’s time to make decisions: whether to go out to row or not, which course to take, which people are prepared to row in certain circumstances, possibilities for changes in the course or goals, and so on.

The examples presented here are only to illustrate the interaction between the components of Va’a. Risk management must be a constant act for all people who are responsible for a canoe, base or club. Much of the success in terms of safety in rowing depends on anticipating human and nature’s inconstancy and understanding and respecting the ‘messages’ it sends.