HOME >> HELP >> SPONSORSHIP

First off, you need to be aware that sponsorship is a tricky thing. For you it may just be getting some free equipment, but for the company its an investment of their product/money. Companies do it for one reason- to help generate sales. If you cannot help them reach that goal then why should they give you product? There are a few ways that you can attain the influence that will generate sales. The first and obvious one is becoming a world class skater. Arlo, Roadhouse, Chris, you say their name and I'mmediately the I'mage of a great skater is evoked. Lots of little grommits strive to be like their skating idols, and skating companies realize this. They wield a huge influence, and therefore not only get sponsorship product, but also cash payment. This is the hardest level to reach, and only has a select few in it.

A second way is any other form of national exposure. Have you been in magazines? Videos? On TV? If you are in front of a national audience some people are bound to know who you are. Companies realize this and often hook these skaters up. This is kind of tied to the first way, but with a catch- you don't have to be a world class skater to be featured. Look at Brooke, AJ Jackson, Mo Sanders, and Mark Shays- about 20 of our local skaters are better than they are. IF you are good (not necessarily great), hopefully have a good attitude, and have some sort of national name recognition it could pay off.

Being known only locally as a good skater or influential skater doesn't get you very far. After all, would a company want to give stuff to a guy who is known nationally or locally? But there are a few ways to do it. First off, be a great skater. That is even more I'mportant if you want to pick up sponsors and are local. Second, have a good attitude. Talk with people in the stores, get to know your local sales reps, be friendly to grommits- it's all about being a positive influence. It also helps to be in a big city where there are a lot of skaters that you can help 'convince' to buy the product. If you are in a podunk town with 10 skaters, don't count on any freebies.

To help start you out on the road of big-company sponsorship, you first should get store sponsored. This is way easy and is cool for everyone. You just need to go up to your local shops and ask if they have a team. If they do, find out how you would go about getting on it. This usually will score you some product and often good discounts if you can land it. But again, you have to be nice and a good skater. They have no reason to give things to an asshole that can't skate.

Since you now know what you have to do to get sponsored, here's a bit of a reality check on the situation. Every single person I know who has gotten picked up- whether it be local or national- has been approached by the company. This means the store or company comes to you and not the other way around. I'm sure that there are cases of skaters calling up a company and getting sponsored, but I sure don't know of any. That is why it is imperative that you get to know people and be cool. It is a very small industry and people talk. If you screwed over someone, everyone else is bound to know about it. But don't talk to people with the goal of getting sponsored cause then it's obvious that you are sucking up. I guess what I'm trying to say is...

There is a method to getting sponsored and almost everyone gets hooked up the same way. If you skate for the love, and don't worry about getting sponsored then it may just come to you. Get your face out there, be seen, help out grommits, just enjoy your sport and it may come back to you. The companies know what's up, and will come to you if they think that you deserve it. So stop begging, and just skate! Remember it is a business decision for them pure and simple- if you are just a good skater they have no reason to hook you up. Give them a reason to want you, then they will come.

So stop scrambling for sponsors and get out there and skate. Have fun, because that's why we all started this sport!