Jobs in the industry??

[Ricky V]

Hey everyone,

I am graduating from college in Florida this June. I will hold a degree in Marketing. Anyways, in short, I am just wondering if there are any positions of opportunities to work within the wakeboard industry, maybe a Marketing & Sales position with one of the bigger companies. Hyperlite, Liquid, O brien, CWB, etc. My goal is to be in a Marketing or Sales position, and since I know the product (been riding for 6 years or so), have a sponsership with LF, Lived and went to college with many pros, won competitions, been immersed in it awhile and know the territory...etc etc, then why shouldnt I try to get a position within the field I love and also know?

With all that said, do any of you know anyone or of any opportunities like this? If so, let me know, or give me more info on what route to take in order to achieve my goal. I know a bunch of pros and have sent the word out to my rep that sponsers me, but so far, not much help.

Thanks for any input guys,


Ricky

[jryoung]

So wait, you've been immersed in the industry, yet have no idea if there are any job opportunities or where to locate them?

[K-dub]

If you love wakeboarding, the last thing I would suggest is working in this industry....because you won't be wakeboarding much anymore.

I got into this industry because of my love for the sport, and never get to ride becaue I work so much. The same is true for everyone else I know in this industry as well.

Your best bet is to get a job in Marketing in a more lucrative industry, and have your weekends for doing the thing you love...riding.

On my day off, the last thing I want to do is wakeboard....i'm saturated with it every day of the week.

my .02


oh, and ditto to what jryoung posted.

[boarditup]

If you want to wakeboard, get a job in downhill or snowboards - snowmobiles. You need to lag the seasons.

There are sales rep firms that rep a large number of companies that have differing cycles so you don't starve in the off season.

If you really want to start out hard, sell drugs to doctors. The big pharms are always looking for help after they burn out the last crop. Very hard, but a great training ground. Figure 5 years max.

Good Luck!

[Ricky V]

Ill start by assessing the question of how I cant find opportunities even with my "immersion." I have been talking and working with some people on how to get a foot in the door in the industry. Like i pointed out though, no one has been of much help. I used to live next to Randall Harris, and I currently am in close touch with the entire Gator board faculty and most of the riders, but in reality, it does not help. My LF rep could be my best bet, and I let him know my plans.

As for me not being able to wakeboard if I work in the industry...come on. I live in a community here in Ft Myers with three people HEAVILY involved in wakeboard companies. They still ride, believe me. But riding is no longer my number one priority, believe it or not. I am trying to make some money at something I do as a hobby. I can live with riding on weekends only. Plus, its not like an alternative job would provide all this leisure time I could use wakeboarding.


I am only reaching out to this wakeboarder.com community because I used to be a posting junkee on this board back in the day and know how tight and large this community is. I think I will be able to find some connection or good piece of advice here.

Thanks so far guys.

[K-dub]

Ricky V, I think you might have taken some of what I wrote out of context.

Sure I can get out to ride (on occasion), but after a decade of working in this industry all I seem to find myself doing is putting in more and more time to work, and less time to what I really loved doing....which is wakeboarding. My fun/love now has become a JOB....meaning everything that comes along with a job...If I am on a boat on the day off, last thing I want to do is talk shop. Grab me a beer and let me get some sun, please/thanks.

Your friends that are heavily involved in the industry are lucky to be able to still ride as much as they did before they got thier "real" job.

If you are looking for a career that is....

[ontrider]

Right off the bat it would seem like you probably have better connections to the industry than 95% of the people on this board anyway. You're doing the right thing by asking those people you know for a bit of help or at least planting the seed that you'd be interested if a position came up somewhere.

I'm kind of in agreement with K-dub though... you might be better to look at something with a larger company that encompasses a larger market - maybe a sports marketing firm that deals with many different sports/producsts?

[scott a]

[jumalian]

[ontrider]

scott a, tough company to get into. Maybe start at Wal-mart for experience?

[flyhigh]

Hold on let me name drop... umm I met Jd webb once, he was really cool. Arron Rathy and Jeff house we pretty cool too, but noone could get me a job either..

[Brit Rider]

"If you love wakeboarding, the last thing I would suggest is working in this industry....because you won't be wakeboarding much anymore. "

I couldn't agree more! I got into it in a similar way to K-Dub; loved the sport and lifestyle , saw a gap anf jumped into it. I love my job and what I do but I managed
to put 15 hours on my boat last year rarely get to ride any more. My summer is spent driving up and down the country meeting dealers, working on boats and consulting. Just becuase you love an industry doesn't mean you'll enjoy working in it.

If you want to keep Wakeboarding going, then I'd get a job that fits around that, not involved in it.

i.e one that leaves summers or weekends free.. not a job that munches those times up

[K-dub]

Brit Rider, exactly.

[Ricky V]

Thank you guys!

I really appreciate the input, and it has been really helpful. Let me explain a little bit...

What you guys are saying about getting a job in the industry, I already kind of had that same notion before I asked the question. I just thought I might have been wrong, so I wanted everyone else's opinion. I don't really see much money or huge opportunities come out of working within this industry alone. Maybe a sports marketing.management firm, like someone previously mentioned, would have more credibility.

I am still going to inquire and everything with all the people I know just to see whats out there, but everyones input has been great.

If you guys who say you work in the wakeboard industry dont mind, could you explain what you do?

[scott a]

I peddle water boarding equipment. See the myspace link in the sig.

[STPHNSN23]

my experience has only been summer jobs during college. i've worked at a camp as a wakeboard/ski instructor. i've worked at a marina running deliveries. i've worked at another marina selling skis and boards and pumping gas. all of them have been awesome jobs, but when i got home from work, the last thing i wanted to do was go back out onto the water and ride. i love getting home from work and doing booze cruises, but by the end of the first week at each of those jobs i was completely over riding and skiing.

[Brit Rider]

Ricky V, I distribute boat accessories in the UK; if you want to know more just drop me a PM.
Like I say though, I'm UK so there will be differences between the UK and US markets - my business is based mostly on shipping in American product, lower end Chinese stuff and working with larger automotive suppliers (Audio mainly) in this country who offer marine stuff but don't have a marine division to support it.

I wouldn't say don't get into the Marine industry but think carefully about WHY you're getting into it first. When the sun shines and everyone else is out relaxing I can guarantee that I'll be busy. When its raining and cloudy I'll be sitting in the office doing paper work or on here

[ontrider]

You should be Brit_Worker then.

[scott a]

[ontrider]

Reminds me, I need to PM Ed to change my username to Ronix_Rider08

[K-dub]

got into the wake industry after about 6-7 years in the snowboard industry, working at a shop, worked up to management, then started sub-repping on the side.
Alot of my snowboard connections also worked wake in the summer, they got me started in the wake industry just like scott a, in one of the largest proshops in the nation....now working more than full time in the boat side of things for the same company....just dealing with alot larger dollar amounts.

[Brit Rider]

ontrider, Maybe I should get onto Ed for a name change

[Chad H]

I think the only job i'd be interested in, that involves the industry is being a rep for one of the companies. Get a boat, and get to tour around an area of the country and enjoy life and meet new people.

[Brit Rider]

Chad H, Again, a really mis-informed view....

[Chad H]

Brit Rider,
I'm sure it is. Just from what i've seen, that seems like an ok job. But i could guess the kids asking for this and that will annoy you.

[ontrider]

That equates to 10-year olds thinking that testing video games would be a fun job.

[scott a]

Charlestonrider- good anarogy.

[flixmaster]

Ricky V,

Good luck on finding a job in the industry. I think for some it works out to be the best job they ever have. For some you do spend more time working than playing but I always say it beats the regular 9-5.

If you are looking for a rep position for a good company those are pretty hard to find. The LF, HL and Ronix spots normally do not become available. But maybe a sub-rep position might. I have seen many guys work under the main rep and then spin off into another fulltime rep position. I have seen this happen for my local area for a few sub-reps. You can try and rep for a smaller company in the industry but making a steady income will be hard. I know guys that have had 5 lines and still not be able to make it a fulltime job.

If I hear of anything I will let you know via PM.

[scott a]

Yep...good point made by Flixmaster.

It definitely takes a certain type of person to be a successful sales rep, especially in as small an industry as ours! And then you need a little bit of luck...

[x vegan x]

[Josh R]

I've spent almost every weekend and a fair few full weeks this summer in a boat or at a rail jam or... somewhere wakeboarding was at, watching it through a viewfinder. I had my first ride in three months the other week.

ontrider, yeah that was pretty spot on.

[knelems]

Try Ronix for a southeast rep. I know I called them back in August and they said they didn't have a rep for the southeast at that time, they may have one now. Also hit up the SurfExpo in Sept. I think this will be a down year for the total industry so you may see several openings available.

[pooser]

I don't want to hijack the thread, but what about engineering jobs "in the industry". That's what I'm majoring in right now and I feel like working for a boat or board company would be more interesting than designing parts for toasters or something like that.