I'm starting to get into riding a little more seriously so i was wondering whats the best way to get sponsored by like a local shop without already being best buds with the owner? Even if its like just parts at cost or paying for race entrys?
How to get a Sponsor?
- Thread starter Curler
- Start date
if you are sponsored by a shop you most likely wont get more than cost, if you even get cost.
put together your riding resume.
-race results
-past events
-future planned events
-backround of your riding (how long, type, etc)
-pictures/videos
- why you believe you should be sponsored
although thats quite a few things, dont make it toooo lengthy
put together your riding resume.
-race results
-past events
-future planned events
-backround of your riding (how long, type, etc)
-pictures/videos
- why you believe you should be sponsored
although thats quite a few things, dont make it toooo lengthy
Ride harder then anyone else at the races you enter, then come back here and ask again.
Great start!
Community involvement is a big one! Trail advocacy, trails you maintain, etc. If you help with things along the lines of clinics (helping others learn to ride, or ride better), that is definitely something you want to have on your resume.
Figure a sponsor is looking for someone who will best represent them. Attitude is a big one, and so is public appearance. If you can bring your potential sponsor(s) to people through results and involvement while staying positive (Shaums March anyone??) you are going to attract far more attention and interest than someone who only races.
This is rare even for pros.
Being a good representative and always acting like a professional is more important that results.
If you don't have any results, the best way is to form a team. Get a group of buds together and send out some resumes. At this point, you will looking at sponorship for next season.
see if any of the local shops have a grassroots team. that's probally your best bet, if not, you have to do it the old fashioned way. get out to the races and start winning. trust me, the sponsorship road is not an easy one, and not half as glamorous as you might think. only the very TOP pro riders get stuff handed to them.
Kyle,
Kyle,
Have you guys tried Sponsorhouse.com?
All you gotta do is fill out all that info in an online riding resume and then you can search out sponsors or they can find you. I got an offer from 661/Royal/Sunline and now I get like 45% off for riding XC.
Peace.
All you gotta do is fill out all that info in an online riding resume and then you can search out sponsors or they can find you. I got an offer from 661/Royal/Sunline and now I get like 45% off for riding XC.
Peace.
sponsorhouse is a joke. all it does is hurt your local bike shops, and it has nothing to do with your level of riding. I've seen kids on there with TONS of sponsors who can't ride worth a damn. it's a way for kids to run around and say they are sponsored IMO. sure some of the company's give cost on products, but I've seen a lot of kids get 15-30 % off, that is actually making more money for the company, as it is more than they would sell the product to a shop. basically, it isn't a real sponsorship, but that horse has been beaten to death on every MTB forum.
all of my sponsors have been from actually talking to the companies and from companies approaching me. but I guess if all your looking for is deals, then do the sponsorhouse thing, but know that it is basically a scam.
Kyle,
all of my sponsors have been from actually talking to the companies and from companies approaching me. but I guess if all your looking for is deals, then do the sponsorhouse thing, but know that it is basically a scam.
Kyle,
my suggestion is to get a part time job at a shop...then you at leat get deals.
Man, I want to be as cool as Kyle.... KIDDING!!
Always tell a Sponsor that.... "I'm bad ass, you should sponsor me, I'll make you money."
Always tell a Sponsor that.... "I'm bad ass, you should sponsor me, I'll make you money."
then bang his wife right in front of him to really earn respect.
So in other words, lie? Where were you last weekend? I was surprised to see you miss a race...
Maybe that could be part of the sponsorship deal.
Get your hands on a Nov. '05 back issue of Mountain Bike Action magazine. There is an article there that distills down the basics of getting sponsorships - - written by a regular guy who has had a respectable amount of success securing sponsorhips 
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What? You don't have electronic copies of the article available and waiting to email?Get your hands on a Nov. '05 back issue of Mountain Bike Action magazine. There is an article there that distills down the basics of getting sponsorships - - written by a regular guy who has had a respectable amount of success securing sponsorhips
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I've been tempted to; but I'm a bit ticklish about that, since it kinda falls under the heading of copyright infringement.
MBA has it, though, as an electronic back issue (first one they did in fact) for just $3.99:
http://www.zinio.com/gncissue?is=107000311&ns=usa
