Paddle first
Get a good feel for the groundswell before you decide to go for it. Start looking at the innovation quietly and remotely. Do your research online and through peer network conversations. Read reports and probe stories. Be a ‘mystery shopper’ for early versions of the innovation. Don’t get too close, too early to those people marketing the concept – because once they sense your interest they will sell you two wetsuits, a dune buggy and a board rack for your car before you have really decided to go for a surf. There’s nothing more gullible than an over-equipped rookie and nothing sadder than the garage sale that usually follows. Experiment in your own way, wearing your old shorts and using a second hand board you borrowed from a friend. Keep your initial experimenting cheap, cheerful and private until you gain confidence. If you like the feel of this innovation, you can invest later.
For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post
