Want to Get Sponsored or Turn Pro?
Woodward West Camps
For Active.com
Fans cheering your name. Traveling to exotic destinations. Swimming in free apparel, gear and money. And most importantly, doing the sport you love everyday. That's what it's like to be a pro action sports athlete, right?
Before you start drooling, you might want to hear it from people who have been there. It might not be what you think, but it might also be more attainable than you think.
We asked the BMX, inline skating and skateboarding directors of Woodward West to give us the skinny on the differences between being sponsored and turning pro, and how to do it.
Movie star or just be youself?
"To get sponsored, many companies accept videos that a rider makes of themselves to kind of prove that they're good enough. I don't like that way. I always thought it would be better to get noticed by a company -- by the way a rider rides and how their attitude is.
"If a kid submits a video, many times it doesn't show their personality. If one just does what they love to do, rides a lot, tries hard, isn't an idiot, they'd be better off getting sponsored that way...because if they're just being themselves, companies won't expect anything more.
"It seems really easy to become a pro in BMX. You don't have to qualify for anything or do anything special. I entered a pro contest in '97 and entered as a pro in every contest since then. I guess I just assumed that I was pro because of that. I don't really know what makes one a pro. Anyone can enter a pro contest if they have the entry fee."
--Shawn Dorton, BMX
Love the sport and the sport will love you
"Being sponsored can mean a few different things. You can be product sponsored, shop sponsored or a paid team member. The ultimate goal is to be a paid team member. This allows you to do what you love while getting paid to do it.
"Most importantly, a sponsored rider should always remember to represent their product, shop or company in the best way possible. It's always important to give back to those who give to you!
"Kids turn pro by competing in the amateur circuit and making it to the World Finals. They must then place in the top ten. Some kids eventually become considered pro by being picked up by a skate company as well.
"To me, being a pro means more than being the best in your sport. It is about representation and giving back to the sport you love. You are always going to find amazing talent in many different people and you need that. You need all types of images as well, but most importantly a pro should be someone you can look up to -- a role model.
--Richie Velasquez, Inline
Gear, checks and your name on a deck
"If you are sponsored, it generally means you get free product from a company. In skateboarding, your first sponsor might be a local skate shop that thinks you are a good skater, and they give you some gear.
"Now in the digital age, a lot of kids get their first sponsor by sending the company a "sponsor me" video, which is just a highlight video of the kid's skills. This can be any company -- skateboard, shoe, clothing, wheel, etc. If they think that you are a good enough skater and feel like you can be a marketing tool for their brand, they will sponsor you and give you free stuff.
"The decision to turn pro is usually one that is made by your sponsors. It's basically when a company feels like you give them enough marketing value by representing their company that they are not only giving you free product, but they are also giving you a paycheck.
"Usually the skateboard company that sponsors you decides that you have become "famous" enough in the skateboard world through magazine/video/television exposure that they want to do a line of skateboards with your name on them."
--Neal Hendrix, skateboarding
Each sport is different, just like each athlete. If you want to go pro or get sponsored, get out there, work hard and do what you love. Hey, even if the fame and glory don't follow, it's still a sick ride.
