[Ben Sampson]

To all my MTB friends!

I've been trying to get sponsored recently and have heard of a number of ways to go about it. I know some of my friends had a significant amount of success on networks such as Soul id getting recognized by teams from Red Bull etc... Do you guys have any thoughts on how to get sponsored? Have you used Soul id? Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

 

[maddog17]

buy knee pads?

 

[cecil]

Become an addict

Go to rehab

Get a sponsor

 

[Westy]

Go to dentist school

 

[StiHacka]

Find a lizard that likes his salad tossed.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

I hear racing sans pants is a good way to garner attention for one's self. Also get some tattoos and circus sized ear plugs. A flat brimmed hat with "this space for rent" should be in your kit as well. Remember, you want to get noticed. And when you do, fake an unplaceable European accent and mumble a lot when being interviewed.

 

[Westy]

Skids

 

[SkaredShtles]

Start eating a lot of SPAM. That's a surefire way to get noticed and spancered.

 

[Kevin]

How long is a piece of string?

 

[StiHacka]

fake an unplaceable European accent and mumble a lot when being interviewed

that hurt

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

that hurt

Oh sorry, I thought you World Cup pros were a little thicker skinned.

 

[jstuhlman]

Skids

AND LEANS!

(don't forget your freeride flicks)

 

[Westy]

AND LEANS!

(don't forget your freeride flicks)

I have a knack for pushing my front end in corners with most of my weight over the bar. It is akin to how my '97 GTI VR6 handled. Perhaps VW will sponsor me.

 

[4130biker]

As soon as you get sponsored by a company with a strong dentist following, wreck the shit out of a rental vehicle and put it in an edit.

 

[slyfink]

AND LEANS!

(don't forget your freeride flicks)

don't you mean earth-based kickouts?

 

[Jeremy R]

Redbull's policy on sponsorship is to only sponsor the top 1% of pro athletes in their given sport.
So yeah, either go really fast or look elsewhere for bro deals.

 

[Westy]

don't you mean earth-based kickouts?

Those are all just adaptations of skids. Master all the skids and all the sponsors will want to sponsor you.

 

[stoney]

Be fast. Be stupid fast and race. If you are regularly on top of the podium at expert/semi-pro levels you might be able to get a local shop to pick up some costs. Most companies have sponsorship programs, but they have become much more frugal over the last decade or so because people abused them.

Realistically though, if you are fast enough or good enough, you will be approached.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Go to dentist school

 

[canadmos]

Redbull's policy on sponsorship is to only sponsor the top 1% of pro athletes in their given sport.
So yeah, either go really fast or look elsewhere for bro deals.

Is that per country?

Half the dudes in the FMB are sponsored by redbull.

 

[Jeremy R]

Is that per country?

Half the dudes in the FMB are sponsored by redbull.

I just looked at their athlete list. It has gotten a lot bigger than it used to be.
We met with one of their regional reps a few years ago about putting on an event.
They pretty much only wanted to sponsor wacky events, and they did not do ANY grassroots
sponsorship on any level. Top pros or bust for them.

 

[Tom Ritchey's Moustache]

You'll have a better shot with nearly any company if you have something else to offer besides just podiums. Things like social media savvy, being a good ambassador, being good at providing product feedback, and of course, sick edits all make a rider more attractive to sponsors, regardless of sport.

 

[stoney]

You'll have a better shot with nearly any company if you have something else to offer besides just podiums. Things like social media savvy, being a good ambassador, being good at providing product feedback, and of course, sick edits all make a rider more attractive to sponsors, regardless of sport.

Point... I didn't win that much, but damn can I talk. Probably one of my few redeeming qualities, actually.

And break things. I could really break things. And send it. Definitely sent it a lot.

Yeah, so scratch what I said. Get a vlog and send it and talk and get subscribers. That's the way to do it. Yeah!

 

[Tom Ritchey's Moustache]

Maybe this applies to girls more than it does boys, but look at riders like Rachel Throop and Hannah Barnes. They don't seem to win much of anything besides social media, and they've got factory rides.

Are there male equivalents of that? I'm honestly not sure.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Asking a bunch of Lounge Lizards advise on getting sponsorship when only a handful actual still ride bikes, let alone compete, classic.

 

[StiHacka]

Are there male equivalents of that? I'm honestly not sure.

Justin Bieber?

 

[Tom Ritchey's Moustache]

Justin Bieber?

I heard that XX1 Eagle was made just for him, originally. In fact, he actually gets very top secret and special platinum cogs, with a diamond-coated 10-tooth. For durability.

 

[maddog17]

Justin Bieber?

F him!! and those whore Karashians

 

[jdcamb]

Asking a bunch of Lounge Lizards advise on getting sponsorship when only a handful actual still ride bikes, let alone compete, classic.

I was going to add that if you're posting here, odds are you're not likely very sponsor material. Sorry.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

I was going to add that if you're posting here, odds are you're not likely very sponsor material. Sorry.

Oh, I dunno. Way, way back in the day, when I was racing xc, the Clydesdale class was introduced. Perhaps some eager sponsors would be interested in a Stay Off My lawn class.

 

[jdcamb]

Oh, I dunno. Way, way back in the day, when I was racing xc, the Clydesdale class was introduced. Perhaps some eager sponsors would be interested in a Stay Off My lawn class.

If they had a because you're afraid of me class I might start racing again. I would surely get sponsored. I can yell at people with reckless abandon. I am pretty loud also. A knife company would be a good sponsor. I feel stabby when I get passed, and thanks to Kershaw I am a winner!

 

[rideit]

Sammy Kershaw?

 

[jdcamb]

Sammy Kershaw?

He makes a kickass knife!

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

If they had a because you're afraid of me class I might start racing again. I would surely get sponsored. I can yell at people with reckless abandon. I am pretty loud also. A knife company would be a good sponsor. I feel stabby when I get passed, and thanks to Kershaw I am a winner!

Ah, I understand. When I raced DH I thought about making a spectator silhouette stencil and painting on the side of the frame. It was almost never intentional, but I've hit a lot a spectators.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Speaking of knives, just sharpened my Gerber. Got to be able to defend myself from aggressive tree branches that want to slap me in the face.

 

[jdcamb]

Ah, I understand. When I raced DH I thought about making a spectator silhouette stencil and painting on the side of the frame. It was almost never intentional, but I've hit a lot a spectators.

Off with their heads! Cheer me on motherfuckers!

 

[jdcamb]

Speaking of knives, just sharpened my Gerber. Got to be able to defend myself from aggressive tree branches that want to slap me in the face.

I think Enduro Racing would really take off if they added weaponry and not so random violence. Make it like WWE on bikes. Mixed Martial Arts biking. I know Kung Fu and have sharp knives strapped to my high dollar carbon fiber bike...

 

[rideit]

He makes a kickass knife!

Isn't that more of a scimitar?

 

[jdcamb]

Isn't that more of a scimitar?

Its a butchers knife. Every kitchen should have one. Makes for a cheaper chicken when you buy the whole bird. Same with cows...

 

[Westy]

Its a butchers knife. Every kitchen should have one. Makes for a cheaper chicken when you buy the whole bird. Same with cows...

Yet another job and angle grinder can do well.


Fun fact: a circular saw does a pretty good job of cutting tubes of frozen ground beef into burger patty size chunks, just be prepared to have maggots slung everywhere when you use a week later.