How do you get a job in this industry (non-Athlete)?

jojotherider · Criminal Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 93 City: Puyallup, WA

Hi all, just a quick question. How do you get a job in the Wakeboarding industy? I'm tired of my 8-5 i've currently got it's not keeping me challenged. I'm starting to look in a new direction for a job and I started thinking about what I like to do. Wakeboarding is definitely high on that list. I'm not good enough to ride with the pros but I want to be involved in the sport at some other level. Does anyone have any suggestions?

RunningWithScissors

needmoreair · Posted: Jul 17, 2003 11:09 am Post subject:

they work at places like this

http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/schools/2001/PineLake.htm

harvest168 · Outlaw Joined: 29 May 2003 Posts: 142 City: PDX

I paired my interests and hobbies with an engineering degree in plastics and materials science. I knew I loved to wakeboard and snowboard so I tried to find a degree that would allow me combine my mechanical apptitude with a couple sports I love.

Or you can always do customer service and try and work your way up. Unfortunately, crappy pay seems to go hand in hand with customer service jobs. Sad

Just start droppin' resumes and get on the phone, you never know what could happen.

good luck!

electricsnow · Posted: Jul 17, 2003 1:10 pm Post subject:

I would say that all hope is not lost, but it definitely depends on who you know. With myself, I just post on here and seem to know what I'm talking about, and I have been fortunate enough to speak with some great people that are sort of giving me some opportunities to be involved in the wakeskating industry. I also know people on here that are repping for companies because of the information transmission of this messageboard.

However, my friend (who is sponsored by hype and rides really well and is an engineer) sent a resume to hyperlite and he didn't get hired. My advice to you would be to develop connections in the industry, whether it's on this message board or travelling to comps or demos and speaking to whomever you can. The more people that know who you are, the better off you will be. Also, I am sure sending out resumes will help too. Scott crumrine at LF got his job because he applied at the perfect time.

Here is one other example. Collin wright was looking for a graphic artist to design the cover for the baker's dozen. As it turns out, a friend of collin's knew a graphic artist so low and behold, this dude had the job of designing the box (I know him, that's why I used this example). NOW GET NETWORKING!! Good luck!

Jon · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1176

My dad and I bought a Mobius and we liked it so much, we are now the newest Supra/Moomba dealer in Arkansas.

Jay Dutton · Posted: Jul 17, 2003 3:27 pm Post subject:

I know w/the snowboarding industry a degree doesn't mean anything. My bro who is now the Quiksilver Team manager worked his way all the way from the bottom of the industry to get to where he is today. Since I've know him was a lift operator>snowboard terrain park manager>snowboard shop employee>half-pipe/park digger at MT. Hood>K2 snowboard team manager now he's w/Quiksilver. He had all those jobs in the six years I've known him.. BTW, I he's got a psych degree..go figure.

Basically it seems you gotta bite the bullet and work for $7/hour and work your way up. I've got a marketing degree and have always wanted to get involved in the action sports industry but I can't affford to start over and work my way up now.

You also need to get involved and meet as many people as you can. The snowboard industry is actaully very very small.. everybody knows everybody.

WakeHOckeyPLayr · Criminal Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 98 City: Houston,Texas

start ur own company selling wake stuff like jon, or design ur own things like this other dude that posted what the hell if you have the money open a board shop get money and then open a water park lmao so much stuff u can do and im just a kid and i have a good ideas to Smile

give me some props

jojotherider · Criminal Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 93 City: Puyallup, WA

Thanks for the input. There's a lot of things to think about. I really like the idea of opening a boardshop and I've actually tossed it around in my head a bit. It just takes a lot to organize it and I'm really not sure where to start. I'll get a biz plan started for sure and then go from there. Anyone have any stories about opening a store that they would care to share? I read an article about how Ambush got started in ATL last year in Level X magazine (is that still around? I can never find it in any bookstores in WA?). It was a really cool article and inspired me.

goinbigg17 · Newbie Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 18 City: Seattle, WA

I think Wileys get Level X, im not sure though. I got one there for free.