‘Yep, you need this piece of watersports equipment. Definitely. Don’t look at anything else. It’s the best. Better than anything else. It works great. You’ll love it’
How many times have read comments similar to the above? Social media can be a great resource for information but when you’re looking for opinion it needs to be remembered that it’s opinion you’ll receive – not gospel.
In many cases a question is asked relating to a specific watersports discpline and associated products. You may get a realistic answer somewhere within the white noise but often this’ll be diluted and hard to pick out among all the hype and/or affiliated riders giving their two penneth based on which brand/brands they’re getting support from.
Team riders are two a penny these days, and not always obvious. In days gone by to be sponsored you were most likely competing in your chosen watersporst discpline. Of late, however, competition riders aren’t as important as those who post frequently on social media and are active online in promotion of their supporters’ wares.
Watersports gear, by and large, is pretty good these days. It all works well and there are few ‘dogs’ about. The thing to keep in mind, however, is all watersports hardware is optimised. Some equipment will suit general locational conditions and rider styles better than others. Rider weight and experience will also play its part. The upshot is (and we appreciate the complication of sifting through gear details and trying to pinpoint what equipment’s right for you) there’s a lot of research involved when in the market for new or upgraded watersports kit.
The world of pro watersports only adds to the confusion. Unlike bog standard supported riders, who probably get a big discount rather than free kit (although a small don’t have to pay) pro guys and girls are employed to promote their supporting brands. Often these individuals will be producing applicable content, such as photo and video, showcasing the equipment in action. It’ll mostly be snippets and moments in time featuring the best session (or part of the session) that puts the kit in its best light. Everything will have been meticulously scrutinised and then edited for maximum positive effect thereby making the whole picture seamless. As an onlooker this promotes perfection and stoke which ultimately leads to want and desire – even if what’s being promoted isn’t your best fit.
Finally, you have to consider any opinion being given is often based on limited experience. By this we mean very few riders will have been able to test and compare multiple watersports products to get a true broad picture. A very small minority of watersports riders have this experience globally and they’re not always the ones giving their opinion (unless specifically asked). Punters might not also be aware of who these people are.
The best course of action when in the market for new gear is to research, research, research. Ask questions, sure, but get as many different takes and views as possible. Cross reference this often. Where possible demo the kit you have your eye on. Be honest with yourself about personal wants/needs, experience and general conditions you’re most likely to be using the gear in. Ultimately filter the hype. Know what hype vs actual fact is and dismiss it, instead searching for proper facts. It’s tricky but with time spent digging hopefully you’ll be able to make a sensible decision and end up with watersports gear that fits your application better than if you just follow trends.
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