Measuring Effort in an Era of Trackers and Highlights

“Comparison is a trap, unless it is against your former self.”

Ken Klein

One of the most magnetic things in ocean sports is comparison. It’s why we check trackers, compare speeds on apps, and look at how others handle heavy conditions. It can motivate us to rig up, push through the hesitation, and chase bumps we’ve only imagined. It can also chew us up and spit us out.

The hardest part of it all is that we erase context when we look at others. We ignore age, time on the water, gear setups, local knowledge, and tolerance for risk. There are versions of healthy progression and shared stoke, and there are the ones that drain the joy right out of your session. So what do we need to look for to avoid those traps? How do we keep from being dragged down by our obsession with what everyone else is riding or how fast they’re going?…