Percepción de riesgo en escaladores de roca en Colombia

Abstract

The objective of this article was to analyze and identify the risk perception of rock-climbers in Colombia. An analytical cross-sectional, quantitative study was realized; with the data collection being done in the year 2023, during a period of six months that went from June until December of said year. The applied questionnaire (CPRER) contains 23 questions regarding concrete situations addressing danger during the set-up previous to the start of the climbing, based on this, a descriptive analysis was realized over the characteristics that were considered key by the study group. The questionnaire had a sample size of 136 rock-climbers (consisting of 29 women and 107 men). The most relevant samples of the study, meaning those that presented a higher rate of perceived danger, were the following: Setting up a system without doing a comprehensive checkup of the ropes and knots, rappelling without a thorough revision of the anchor points, deciding to do rappelling without being certain about whether or not all the necessary equipment is present, climbing without tying up the necessary knots, and using a safety back-up that comes from a rental place. In conclusion, the Colombian rock-climbers presented a higher tendency to expose themselves to danger only in situations regarding the climbing itself, as they seem the value the level of risk differently depending on whether it takes place during the activity, or if the nervousness arises during the preparation for it. The athletes with a higher tendency to engage in these types of activities, and more experience, present a lower risk perception.