Safety–Performance Management in Extreme Sports? A Situated Analysis in Spearfishing Activity

Abstract

The aim of this research is to understand safety-performance articulation in spearfishing through the study of the global, specific, and temporal organization of an elite free diver's activity. Three kinds of data were collected: diary reports, ten elicitation interviews on spearfishing, and two self-confrontation interviews on successful and failed apneas. The results indicated (1) the spearfisher's global organization during the spearfishing set, (2) the alternation of intentions during apnea and periods of stabilization, (3) harmony with the environment, and (4) the strategy of keeping pace with the fish. The article will discuss the specific competence development needed to manage the safety-performance relationship in extreme sports. Drawing on its findings, the article proposes improvements to the safetyperformance relationship in risky activity.

The Impact of Extreme Sports on the Individual and Society: A Short Introduction

“…and political impact refers to: increased interest for organising extreme sports events, introduction of prizes and development of local-host communities for these events -local infrastructure, sports facilities [6], [31] involving an increase in sports tourism, in both practitioners and spectators [19], [22,23], [39]; an increase in the interest for advertising from the part of certain international -but also local and national -brands, thus determining increased consumerism and corporate interest through the emergence of a huge industry [11], [18], [30]; corelation of sports tourism with other activities such asecologic, rural, medical etc, tourism; (re)vitalisation of places / communities; investments in equipment [44]. All these events may be possible if legislative changes areproduced at both national and international level: -adopting laws and regulations to facilitate the management and control of sports events [22], [45], the territorial mobility and the medical insurance for athletes and spectators. Moreover, the exponential increase in popularity and media exposure have led to the inclusion of certain sportsin the schedule of Summer and Winter Olympic Games, thus the fame and prestige of these sports at international level.…”