Quantcast

sponsorships?

caeagle16's picture
Posts
47
Member
854 days
started by caeagle16 on July 9, 2008

Just curious as to how many of you are sponsored, and if so, by whom, for how long? What are your thoughts on it (pros/cons)? Oh and what your status is (amateur, semi-pro, pro, etc.)

Just curious.

Joe_H's picture
Posts
248
Member
2396 days
Joe_H posted 19 weeks ago.

I'm a BOP amateur and am not sponsored this year. have gotten lucky in the past and got team uniforms and cool schwag and discounts for being on Degree's Deodarant's Team and Inside Tri Mag. Age Grouper team.

StephenPDennis's picture
Posts
143
Member
185 days
StephenPDennis posted 19 weeks ago.

At various points in my running career I have been sponsored by my parents... does that count?

brittda's picture
Posts
1764
Member
1394 days
brittda posted 19 weeks ago.

StephenPDennis wrote:
At various points in my running career I have been sponsored by my parents... does that count?

I am hubby sponsored......ahahahhahah

trigirltina2's picture
Posts
464
Member
141 days
trigirltina2 posted 19 weeks ago.

Personal checkbook... Though the century ride with the team in Nov. I will get donations for the event to support LLS from family and friends. I've been recycling for nine months and have about $300 now for the race.

StephenPDennis's picture
Posts
143
Member
185 days
StephenPDennis posted 19 weeks ago.

caeagle16 wrote:
What are your thoughts on it (pros/cons)? Oh and what your status is (amateur, semi-pro, pro, etc.)

Just curious.

In seriousness though, I like to think about the effect my racing has on others and not myself in that respect. I currently try to raise about 2k a year for charity (mostly from races in which my fee supports a charity, like the "montauk-we-hope" century later this year). Don't get me wrong, I'm not a 'giving-nut' or a particularly charitable person otherwise, I just think that racing is something I do for fun and health and not something I would feel okay being reimbursed for. I would feel really uncomfortable if someone actually paid me (or gave me gear, etc) for my activities, I'd much rather someone donate $50 to a worthy charity than give me a tacky bib or a new set of shoes.
But this goes full circle too now though, so many races give out fancy tech shirts that I can actually find them in the local Salvation Army.
Oh, in case it's not obvious, I am most certainly an amateur.

Hans's picture
Posts
10
Member
856 days
Hans posted 19 weeks ago.

Not quite sure about the status- It's my last year competing in the Junior age group, hoping to win the Estonian triathlon cup and the nationals both in triathlon and duathlon. Until this year i've had some sponsors just to cover certain expences like training camps, but this year a local dealer put me on a Cervelo P3C for most of the starts. For now it's just for the season, but hopefully it will go on like this in the following ones too. The store also gives major discounts.

As my own bike is a Wilier Escape from 2006, with a frame way too big for me, this deal helps me get through the bike leg way faster and more comfortable, the chance to get wheels and aerobars or what ever i will need at a price they offer, is nice too.

I can't think of any con's, i do have to wear their logo on my trisuit and cycling jersey, but that's the least i could do for them for such a big help and that really does no harm what so ever.

UFTriGator's picture
Posts
1127
Member
973 days
UFTriGator posted 19 weeks ago.

I have one-year contracts with trisports.com and Zipp, an indefinite contract with First Endurance, and I've had one-time pro deals (non-contracted) with 2XU and Ridley, as well as some pretty generous support from my LBS. The only companies I started working with before I went pro were trisports.com and my LBS.

I think sponsorships are a great opportunity for both parties. The athletes get the support that makes training and racing competitively easier while the sponsoring company gains exposure. Everybody wins.

The only con I could see would be that some athletes go out looking for sponsors just to say that they are sponsored. They don't actually stand behind the company that they're supposed to be working with, but only push the wares because they have to. I think this is just sleazy. I would only seek out a sponsorship with a company that I have had past experience with and know for a fact that they either make an excellent product or perform an excellent service.

______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.

Joe_H's picture
Posts
248
Member
2396 days
Joe_H posted 19 weeks ago.

jeff henderson's time as a pro triathlete:
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/features/henderson/dime.html

a lot of ITU pro racers have to do a lot of travelling to try and make it ITU world cup races all over the planet. pro triathlon is a tough life

beads1985's picture
Posts
4910
Member
1714 days
beads1985 posted 19 weeks ago.

I don't ever get sponsored but I apply to everything when it comes around. At the worst I got some free product for my time filling out the form ;-)

It's all about the schwag, isn't it?

Nothing to it, but to do it

NotAsFast's picture
Posts
138
Member
1129 days
NotAsFast posted 19 weeks ago.

Self sponsored. It's amazing what you can talk yourself into giving yourself if you can really justify it to yourself.

Just gave my sponsored rider a new set of wheels. He really appreciated them, especially since he got them for free.... LOL....

Ironmom's picture
Posts
629
Member
720 days
Ironmom posted 19 weeks ago.

I ride on my LBS's team. It's not really any kind of full sponsorship, but we get breaks on equipment and maintenance, and stuff like that. And cool biking kit.

Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/

Tri Fanatic's picture
Posts
112
Member
815 days
Tri Fanatic posted 18 weeks ago.

Looking to hopefully get on my LBS's team some day. I spend way too much time and money down there anyways. Just gotta get better and I can start getting free schwag

ChunkyB's picture
Posts
997
Member
401 days
ChunkyB posted 18 weeks ago.

I'm looking into getting sponsored by Jelly Belly, but we're still working out the details. There's a lot of red tape.

"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice

My Blog

iamtb13's picture
Posts
217
Member
219 days
iamtb13 posted 18 weeks ago.

Beads sponosors me. Every year he sends me .03 and I promise not to go visit him.