All About Sponsorship

23 Mar All About Sponsorship

This must be the most popular topic we get asked questions about so to help you out (and save our fingers typing the same e-mail over and over again!!!) we’ve laid all the facts out here once and for all. Enjoy.

• How do I get sponsored?

There isn’t some tried and tested guaranteed way to become a sponsored skateboarder – despite the myth that it’s all about “sponsor-me” tapes. What it comes down to is proving to the sponsor you are a good choice – not just in terms of your skating abilities which needless to say better be very slick (or good for your age), but also in terms of a person who they can market and sell off the back of – after all most of them are here to make money, not make a few lucky kids dreams come true – so before you go sending off your tape, remember that won’t cut it. Ultimately you want to be be seen to be a visible, driving and positive force in skating and whether it’s through magasine coverage or by word getting back to them through their team, a sponsor will generally find out and approach you. So in a nutshell, don’t even start off by thinking how do I get sponsored – because if thats all you’re looking for – chances are you won’t. But if you have a good mental attitude and truly love and live skating, you might just get sponsored.

• What are the different levels of sponsorship?

There are four levels of sponsorship. The first, shop sponsorship, is basically when a shop sees a skateboarder (usually a local) with talent, and gives that skater products at a reduced price. Next is flow sponsorship, from either a skate company or a distributor. The sponsored skater receives a small amount of products on a semi-regular basis. After that, a promising skater might receive amateur (Am) status, where they receive some promotion as a skater and some product to use. They often start to get incentives at this point, too; “Get a photo in a magazine and we will give you this”, for example. A really good Am who proves his or herself can then become a Pro, receiving a paycheck, a “pro model” with their name on, funds to get to contests, and royalties for anything that is sold with their name on.

• What does it take to become a Pro?

Back in the day, a pro skateboarder was the top dog, someone who had moved up through the contest rankings, dominated the contest circuit, was generally a good guy overall and able to promote the company in a good way as much as possible. Nowadays it takes less and less to become a pro skater; since street skating came in during the late 80’s, for many companies it is now about who’s image is easier to sell and will make the most money. While there are many companies out there who still give their pro sponsorship to truly deserving skaters, I know there are many who will take you pro just if you are “the next big thing”, or fit in with the current trend. Those guys often become just another flash in the pan and disappear in time. It’s up to you how you want to go.

• What does a sponsored skater have to fo?

It doesn’t matter how you are sponsored, as a skater you are expected to promote the company. This may mean appearances in magazines, at competitions, on television, or just in the skating scene as a whole. During all this, the skater must use and wear products provided by the company that sponsors them. If you are not promoting the company, they have no reason to give you products or help your career. Chances are that you won’t have to do anything you weren’t doing before anyway – so in your sponsored skating life you can do whatever you want to do – enter competitions, do demos, tour, meet lots of cool people, and basically enjoy life. It is entirely down to how you want to live and how you act as a person – and whether it will change you. When describing his sponsorship, I think it was Tony Alva that said something like “We were on summer vacation for 10 years”. However, this can be good or bad. Look at some of the old pros; Hosoi and Jay Adams both went to jail for drug offenses, and Gator ended up going to jail on a murder charge. Meanwhile, Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen both started companies and basically lead good lives.

• What else is there to consider?

As a general rule, the higher up the sponsorship ladder you go the more time you need to invest – therefore if you’re at school or in a regular job you might get a lot of clashes of priority. Some sponsors will allow time for your education, some won’t. As with everything, you get good sponsors and bad ones. The good ones will nurture you and support you as a person, and have a close-knit team that has good communication with the owners. In some cases, usually if you become a very successful pro, a personal tutor is a good idea. Again, good sponsors will help you sort this out. In terms of where you live, this isn’t usually a problem. If you’re from a litle village in the middle of nowhere, it doesnt matter, as long as you’ve got the skills and are happy to travel they’ll sort you out.