1.2.

6-
RISK IN OUTDOOR
EXPERIENCES…
- The variety of personal responses to
risk in outdoor experiences, including
the interplay between competence,
perceived risk and real risk.
DISCUSS… “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out
how far they can go” T.S. Elliot 1931

Tyler Brandt-
White-water kayaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNXh9gXDd2Y

• What is Tyler risking?

• How does he overcome any risks?

 WHAT IS RISK?
Risk can be defined as the potential to lose something you value measured
against the possibility of gaining something you value.
Physical fitness or
biochemical change
Injury or even death
LOSSES VS. GAINS (adrenalin)

Embarrassment at • Physical • Physical Rise in self-esteem

failure • Psychological • Psychological
• Financial • Financial
Reward/sponsorship
Loss or damage of
expensive equipment All risk involves uncertainty. When we take risk we are not sure of
the outcome… In outdoor activities, we often don’t know what will
happen during the activity, and this is a risk.
 TYPES OF RISK
• Absolute risk
- The uppermost level of risk in any situation. Think ‘worst-case scenario’ type of
events. Difficult to prevent.

• Perceived risk
- Things you think or ‘see’ happening. Can be much higher or lower than the actual
risk involved.

• Actual/Real risk
- Risks that actually exist for a particular situation, given that safety has been
considered and controls put in place.
COMPETENCE VS DIFFICULTY
Competence…
is a persons ability to deal
with the situation they are in,
and comes from the skills and
experiences they have.

Someone with more skills,

greater knowledge and
experience is going to be
more competent to deal with
a particular situation.

A useful way to manage risk in outdoor activities is to consider the competence-difficulty model.
TASK- RATING RISK
1. Rate each of the following activities on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = lowest risk, 10 =
highest risk)
2. What factors did you consider in making your decisions? How did you
determine how much risk was involved in each activity?
Risk Activity Rating
Mountain Climbing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Diving off a high board 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Eating fatty foods 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Heavy drinking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Rock climbing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Not exercising regularly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
White water rafting 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Flying in a small plane 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Surfing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Horse riding 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10