Skateboarding sponsorship

A skateboarding sponsorship is the act of a skateboard shop, distributor, or company sponsoring a talented skateboarder for the sponsored skateboarder to ride a skateboard for their business organisation and thereby promoting it as well.

There are numerous of ways for a skateboarder to be accepted into riding for a skateboard shop, distributor, or company. Contrary to popular belief, it is not all about "sponsor-me" video tapes being sent to the skateboard shop, distributor or company of ones choice. One must prove to the sponsor that they are a talented skateboarder, a video tape of a potentially talented skateboarder riding a skateboard is not what they are looking for, because with the right camera angles one can be made out to be better than one actually is adding to the fact that the footage can be edited to make false assumptions that what they are seeing is the real deal.

Skateboard shops usually rely on word of mouth from local skateboarders and other skateboarders that ride for their shop that see the potential in a skateboarders talent and style.
Skateboarding distributors and companies rely on skateboarders gaining media coverage and word of mouth from existing team members that, at that time, are riding for their company.

Being visible as a driving or positive force in skating as a whole is important for a talented skateboarder with potential to gain sponsorship and begin a future career in skateboarding.

Types of sponsorship

There are four classes of sponsorship which a skateboarder can receive. This is a list of the four sponsorships in the order of reputation a skateboarder may have when approached by a skateboard shop, distributor or company.

hop sponsorship

A shop sponsorship is a local-level sponsorship and is usually the first level of sponsorship a skateboarder receives in their skateboarding career. Shop sponsorship occurs when a shop sees a local skateboarder with talent, and agrees to sell that skateboarder their merchandise at a reduced price.

Flow sponsorship

A flow sponsorship is from either a skate company or a distributor. The sponsored skateboarder receives, at no monetary payment, a small amount of merchandise on a semi-regular basis.

Amateur sponsorship

An amateur sponsorship is given by skateboard companies when the company becomes aware of the skateboarders success and progression as a talented skateboarder. The sponsored skateboarder will receive some promotion as a skateboarder and some skateboarding equipment, at no monetary payment, to use and promote their company by popularising their company and the equipment that they manufacture and sell. The sponsored skateboarder will begin to get incentives after a certain period of time i.e. "Get a photo in a magazine and we will give you this".

Professional sponsorship

A professional sponsorship is given by skateboard companies to talented skateboarders. When a skateboarder is recognised for their skill and abilities when riding a skateboard and also gains some media attention they will be approached by a company to sign with them as a professional skateboarder. Skateboarders who receive a professional sponsorship will receive a paycheck, funds to get to competitions, and "pro model" (professionally modelled) skateboarding equipment. Pro model skateboarding equipment is decks, shoes, trucks, wheels, bearings, clothing, etc. that has the professional skateboarder's name on it, and is usually at least partly designed by the professionally sponsored skateboarder with regards to size, shape, color, graphics, etc. Usually, the first "pro model" equipment that the pro gets is a "pro model" deck, followed by shoes, trucks, wheels, bearings, clothing, etc. The professional skateboarder receives royalties for anything that is sold by their sponsoring company (or companies) that has the professional's name on it.

Over skateboarding's history there have been some notable unanticipated and unprecedented professional sponsorships given to unknown-at-the-time talented skateboarders.

Obligations

Sponsored skateboarders are expected to promote the company they sign with, depending on what level of sponsorship. This can mean, but is not limited to; media appearances, competition entries, demonstrations which are also known as "demos", and for them to be seen in the skateboarding scene as a whole. The skateboarder must also utilise the products, if any, that are provided by the company that sponsors them.

See also

Skateboard Brand

External links

*http://www.board-crazy.co.uk/skateboarding-sponsorship.php