10 Tips to Become a Sponsored Skateboarder

Posted on | August 6, 2009 | No Comments

AJ_launch_purpletrees by Anthony Johnson

1. Find companies that fit your personality and skating style. If you have a super punk rock vibe, you probably do not want to send a sponsor-me tape to a hip-hop clothing company and vice-versa. Send your footage to companies that you relate to, and that you will be proud to represent.

2. Make sure your footage is up to par. If you feel like you have what it takes to be a sponsored skateboarder then don’t sell yourself short. Film tricks that would inspire you if you watched them.

3. Keep your footage tape between 2 and 3 minutes. While you are putting your footage together, this will seem very short. It is. Only send in your best tricks. The last thing you want to do is bore a team manager with your footage.

4. Be creative, and be yourself! When you are filming, skate exactly how you like to skate and what you like to skate. Don’t be afraid to get funky with your skating. Show some of your personality. A lot of people get stuck in a rut of trying to skate how they see everyone else skating in videos. Be fresh. Companies like new styles and personalities.

5. Be well-rounded. If you are amazing at skating ledges, and that is all you have filmed, branch out. Team managers want to see a well-rounded skater that can have fun and get creative on anything.

6. Send your footage to the right people. When you send in footage, send it directly to the marketing department or team manager.

7. Follow up. After sending in your footage, call the company directly and make sure they received it.

8. Enter contests. Entering contests is another way to get recognized by team managers. Go out and have fun in them. Whether you get first or last place does not matter. People see your style, and how you handle yourself on your skateboard when you are in a contest. Don’t stress them, just have fun with them.

9. Conduct yourself professionally. Whether you are on the phone, in person or in email, keep your language and manners professional. If you truly want to work with a company, it is a business deal. They want to invest in people who can skate, but also people who are going to represent the company in a positive way.

10. Never give up. If you are determined to take your skating to the next level, stick with it. Put the long hours in at the skate park. Keep sending out that footage. And most of all keep having fun!

House of Cat

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10 Tips to Become a Sponsored Skateboarder

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