This is the first major event of the year for the discipline in France. This weekend, more than 450 participants are expected in Loire-Atlantique for the La Baule coast festival. The event, whose day on Saturday will be devoted to the qualifications of the regions of Brittany, Pays-de-la-Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine for the French championship, will be an opportunity to give a spotlight to a largely unknown sport. but which nevertheless attracts more and more followers every year.
“There is a real enthusiasm, whether for competition or simple leisure, confirms Patrick Pouget, national technical adviser at the hiking federation. There are just over 8,000 licensees in France in nearly 140 clubs. It’s constantly increasing. There are new clubs that are created every year, including far from the coast. And we do not count the probably much more numerous unlicensed practitioners. »
Internationally, too, along the coast (say rather aqua walking) is popular. But what exactly are we talking about? Of these seniors that we see strolling in the water, parallel to the beach, gently waving their arms? Or those sharp, determined walkers whose upper bodies seem to break the swell? Well both at the same time! “Longe-côte is aquatic walking with two essential rules. The first is that the water level must be between the navel and the chest. The second is that it is forbidden to run: we always move forward with one foot on the ground”, explains Patrick Pouget.
Romain Leray, both president of the club of La Baule, length coach and former French champion, brings an additional nuance. “You have to put in the intensity, want to surpass yourself. It’s not walking with your feet in the water. We fight against this image. This confusion contributes to a distorted representation of our sport. »
“Accidents every year, even fatal ones”
Originally, when it was invented in 2005 near Dunkirk, the longe-côte was indeed a bodybuilding method designed specifically for training rowers. But its “conviviality” (you walk in a group) and its “invigorating” benefits quickly made it a popular discipline with fans of hiking and swimming, especially the older ones. “Even today, the majority of practitioners are over 50 years old,” admits the national technical adviser. But the development of the competition for almost ten years makes it possible to attract a new public, younger, more sporty. We have, for example, a lot of triathletes or trail runners who pass along the coast. »
It must be said that the discipline is not lacking in assets. “It’s not expensive since all you need are slippers or shoes and possibly a wetsuit if it’s cold. It has very little impact on the environment. And, above all, it’s excellent for your health,” summarizes Romain Leray. “It allows muscle and cardiovascular strengthening without joint trauma, especially the back. It promotes blood circulation and improves balance and endurance,” explains Patrick Pouget. “Contact with the water, the waves, the wind, it clears the head. It’s exhausting and at the same time very relaxing,” adds Virgnie, 48, who practices regularly in Vendée.
The pleasure would almost make you forget the danger, which is real for isolated people. “Every year there are accidents, even fatal ones. This is why it is imperative to make supervised outings on referenced beaches. The federation has approved nearly 200. There must be no steep slope, no obstacle, no mud. The ideal is a regular sandy bottom. It should not be practiced in the event of a storm. And, of course, pay close attention to the currents. In the Atlantic, there are many dangerous sites, especially in New Aquitaine. “The risk of hypothermia is also to be taken into account in winter, adds the coach from La Baule, who limits outings to 45 minutes.
“Times explode almost every year”
On the technical side, once the pool is submerged (remember, it’s mandatory), it is necessary to adjust the height of the water so that it is as low as possible. “The higher the water, the more difficult it is. Water resistance is seven times greater than that of air. It’s probably one of the most physical activities that exist,” says Romain Leray. Most of the work is done by the legs. The arms are used to perform a crawl movement. “Unlike running, big guys have an advantage, they resist the current better,” observes the coach from La Baule. Some also use propulsion tools (paddles, webbed gloves, pads). “It doesn’t really affect performance,” says Patrick Pouget. In competition their use is limited mainly for reasons of readability. Spectators did not understand why some lengths advanced with bare hands and others with a paddle. »
The competition, some swear by it. Especially in the queen category, that of 18-39 years. A bit like in athletics, the competitors compete on timed courses of sprint (50 m, 200 m) or long distance (400 m, 1000 m). “The times explode almost every year, it’s impressive, notes the national technical adviser. And since the creation of a French team last year, the level has risen again. Some amateurs also ask to create an “expert” or “professional” category to balance the odds. But there are no professionals in the longe-côte. For now, the federation prefers age categories. »
Mediterranean clubs monopolize the best results so far. But the French champion, Benjamin Farcinade, is licensed in Loire-Atlantique. Well prepared, also better structured than the neighboring countries for which longe-coast is an even more emerging practice, France has moreover won most of the medals in the first european championshiplast September, in Spain.
Before dreaming of a possible Olympic future? “It’s just a dream, we are far from it, considers Patrick Pouget. It would first be necessary to reach a wider public and the media. We need to modify our events to make them more visual, so that they can be shown on TV. We start doing this by introducing kills. We will see the competitors better and there will be more suspense. And then do we necessarily have to become a high-level sport? Would we leave as much room for leisure and seniors if that were the case? I do not have the answer. ” The next France championship will take place on June 3 and 4 in Gironde, at Lake Carcans-Maubuisson. Because, yes, in its desire for democratization, the longe-côte now also opens up to the lake environment. Even if it means making the purists wince a little.