Help! No local competitions or sponsors =,(

Roflcopter · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 63

So i'm a fairly experienced wakeboarder(book-wise), all i ever want to do is wakeboard... ever.. literally. I'm only 14 now and would like to hopefully start riding competitively and get sponsored in the future. over the summer i'd try to get out at least 4 times a day but now it's the offseason and it's dragging by slowly )=
But out here in Massachusetts the wakeboarding scene is pretty non existent, which make it pretty hard to get sponsored by local boardshops with little competition going around here in MA. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how i should pursue getting sponsored in the future by local shops (besides moving out to florida Razz

)
One more question...
Well i feel like i've been starting WB'ing fairly late in my life which is kind of a bummer when i see kids 10-12 year olds popping tantrums and backrolls when i feel like an old man who can only w2w hs 180 (progressing really fast) I guess rusty malinoski is a pretty good inspiration, only starting when he was 14 with a crappy boat and such(i've been blessed with a house on a lake and a wakeboarding boat). but do you feel there is a certain age you must start at in order to be good enough to become pro?

thanks for reading

colefooter · Posted: Jan 19, 2010 6:51 pm Post subject:

I just turned 20, and also just got my first sponsor. I wouldn't really worry about getting sponsored. Just keep riding and having fun. Ride to have fun, and if you love progressing you will get noticed. I would imagine the wake scene is similar there as it is here in Ohio.

Also ufc fighters and football players last until they are like 40, so don't get wrapped up in that. Starting at 14 is plenty early. I still have aspirations to go professional myself even though I am 20 and still have a ways to go. Just wakeboard to have fun, don't try to progress for the wrong reasons.

scottiekarate17 · Criminal Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Posts: 53 City: ithaca

I agree 100% with colefooter. You should wakeboard because you love it. Yea getting sponcered and winning contests is cool, but thats not what its all about. It all about having fun and helping the sport progress even more. And if your 100% die hard about trying to become pro, I'd start heading down south for the summers. Go to some pro camps and events down there. Thats how I would try to get myself on the radar.

Medina · Posted: Jan 20, 2010 2:21 am Post subject:

Hohoho man, youre not old, i started at 19, and am progressing aswell, this winter i have met my frist sponsor (yeah) so dont worry, just have fun, youll own if you have fun.

Roflcopter · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 63

Great responses guys, i really appreciate it.
Great thing is that i have neighbors i ride with on the lake who are about equal skill which pushes me to do better than everyone else xD

NorthwestRider · Posted: Jan 20, 2010 11:27 pm Post subject:

Roflcopter, Being sponsored isn't as cool as you'd think. Most places won't take care of you or give you much product or help promote you. Just ride for fun and you won't be let down.