In front of the Gave de Pau, the sports company in bright waters “Tom Rafting” is “in the front row”, says Marie Legeay. She and her companion Thomas have seen, for almost twenty years by the Pyrenees river, their play and work field change. They adapt.
“”Since 2021, we find ourselves with moments when navigation is very difficult or even almost impossible because we have a cumulation of phenomena: important floods that have extended the bed of the river, which means less bottom“She explains.”With some boats, we don’t go“She tells AFP.
“”We leave with mini-rafts of 4/5 people instead of RAFTS of 8“, She adds. They also reduced the size of the convoys” of a third party “, says Thomas Legeay, who plays the role of” River Guardian “for the French Canoe-Kayak Federation (FFCK), taking carefully on the ecosystem.
Manager of a design office after working at the FFCK, Antoine Dubost tells “increasingly severe droughts and rivers where can no longer sail“While between”Between 3 and 3.5 million people are canoeing once a year“.
Complicated management
In 2022, the Gorges du Verdon dry, such as the tanker trucks transporting the water in small villages, had marked the summer, and the spirits.
Droughts but also torrential rains or violent floods.
“”People can be surprised and there is a more important accidentology“explains Antoine Dubost, also being one”increasingly complicated water management“In particular with hydroelectricians. Another effect of heat:”The development of cyanobacteria“Building navigation prohibitions as on the Erdre.
Expert Climate and Sport, Maël Besson worked on a national climate adaptation plan in sport published in December by the Ministry of Sports. “On sports in the wooded environment such as mountain biking, trail, the risk of fire can reduce the capacity of practice,” he explains to AFP.
The WWF Foundation had published in 2021 a report believing that the French could lose “up to two months of activity per year” in a world at +4 degrees “and” 24 days “in the +2 degree scenario.
“”We will have the problem of adapting sports equipment“Note Maël Besson, while some poorly insulated gymnasiums are real ovens.”You have to prepare B plans“, he also recommends.”I am a sailing instructor when there is no wind we make theory, we do technique, repair“He said.
Air pollution
Adapt, as does the trailer Hillary Gerardi.
Grown in the Vermont in the USA and installed in the Alps for several years, she sees the impact of warming in her practice when she thought “sheltered trail”. “We have more frequent and more intense summer heat waves, I aim for training early in the morning, late at night,” she told AFP.
“”From the middle of summer, we can no longer count on fountains and rivers so we have to wear much more water with us in the mountains“, explains this holder of the female record for the ascent of Mont-Blanc. Another observation:”Erosion of trails“Due to” extreme events “. Last summer a race of + Skyrunning + (race in high altitude) in Austria was” completely changed “, because of” snow followed by a lot of rain “.
While alpine valleys also experience pollution peaks, all the more formidable in the event of heat, it also looks at the “air quality” card before putting on its sneakers.
In Paris, the younes athlete Nezar, co-founder of the collective of “climatosportifs”, also has an eye on fine particles. “”In Ile-de-France, the stages are on the outskirts of the periphery and when there are pollution peaks, this has an insidious effect“He explains to AFP.
When the temperature increases, “It is rather on jogs over 40 minutes that the heat will have an impact, you must choose the moment when you do it otherwise you can die“Recalls this sprinter.”You have to change the schedules, the route, dress in clearer and lighter clothes, better hydrate“Recommended this committed athlete.
Public Health France recently recalled that beyond 32 degrees it was not recommended to run.