I thought about writing this to broaden the knowledge of what a sponsorship is, what it means to be sponsored and how sponsorships have changed in the past 5 years. Please note that this is NOT a guide on how to get sponsored.

So, what exactly is a sponsorship?

A sponsorship is NOT about getting products for free. If you feel that that should be the case, i suggest getting back to fingerboarding and smiling about it.
A sponsorship may not necessarily be about making a tryout to prove your skills, it may be about a friendship shared or being involved with the community. The latter two will actually help you get a sponsorship, not always how hard you rip. A sponsorship to me is a family away from home, a communal friendship and love for a product, which leads me nicely to the next question..

What does it mean to be sponsored?

Being sponsored may be a shock for some people, as previously discussed it's not about getting a certain product for free. Sponsorship can really be considered as a job. If you have a sponsor and they're not asking you how you like the product, what could be improved on it, etc. then your sponsor may not be as interested in customer satisfaction as another brand. Being sponsored is really about how the team can develop the product, what can be changed and what is ambitious. I've personally been a help in the development of Creekwood Mellow Mold decks, this feedback from the team was sent back, with the preceding decks being up to standards and now they're finally on the verge of release.

And how has sponsorship changed in the past 5 years?

As previously stated, customer feedback and team friendliness are now a BIG part of fingerboard teams globally. You may have noticed more and more teams picking local people who they've met themselves and who have inevitably become a great asset of their team, La Cosca and Yellowood are prime examples. Ultimately it's positivity that will attract sponsors to you.


Please think again when you send Sponsor Me emails to companies, most won't read so don't waste your time

If anyone has any other questions about sponsorship, please post them in the thread and i'll try to answer them the best i can

thank you for this, it will hopefully pave a new way for the aspiring fingerboarder. It will also keep them out of trouble

Nice writing and thanks lol

Great post!

Thom McInally wrote:

So, what exactly is a sponsorship?
A sponsorship to me is a family away from home, a communal friendship and love for a product, which leads me nicely to the next question..

That is the spirit.

I for one think this should be stickied.

stevenfilms wrote:

I for one think this should be stickied.

agreed

I really like this thread and I want to ask you about Oak Wheels.

I have a set of Rainbow V2s but the skinny and centralised bearing thing doesn't do it for me. Have you ever talked to them about making bearing wheels in a traditional fingerboard bearing wheel shape but keeping the same urethane material? I personally think this would be very realistic and a really nice performance wheel, especially as it wont leave the truck axles exposed and cause damage to the axle or the surface.

I do have some more generalised questions on fingerboard sponsorship though.

What kind of relationships with the companies you have been sponsored by did you have prior to them sponsoring you?

Do you have any obligation with any of these companies to produce short videos (eg. once a month)? I assume not but I'm asking anyway.

What specific things do you do for the companies? I assume the feedback part is very important with products but do you receive prototypes? I think you've also done some graphics although I don't know which in particular are yours.

If my memory is correct, you were also once on the Arctic* team. There is no question about this statement but I just think that is really awesome. I would probably still say you are my favourite UK fingerboarder with your involvement in the scene and your delectable switch tres.

Edit: wait a second, wasn't it you that made the instructional videos on Arctic about how to use bearing screws? (thanks if that was you cos I used that)

Very well put Thom. Strong key points too. This was truly a good read.

stevenfilms wrote:

I for one think this should be stickied.

Agreed

Xi wrote:

I really like this thread and I want to ask you about Oak Wheels.

I have a set of Rainbow V2s but the skinny and centralised bearing thing doesn't do it for me. Have you ever talked to them about making bearing wheels in a traditional fingerboard bearing wheel shape but keeping the same urethane material? I personally think this would be very realistic and a really nice performance wheel, especially as it wont leave the truck axles exposed and cause damage to the axle or the surface.

Well i don't know if you've seen the prototype pictures, but Ricardo is definitely keeping the central bearing position, the shape will evolve to push the material outwards, but i think the axles are still going to be exposed ever so slightly, these new finalised wheels will pop up soon

Quote :

What kind of relationships with the companies you have been sponsored by did you have prior to them sponsoring you?

All of them before I joined have been friends, bar Creekwood. It's always been like that actually, a few years ago i was on Arctic hardware due to me being friends with Martin Illsley.

Quote :

Do you have any obligation with any of these companies to produce short videos (eg. once a month)? I assume not but I'm asking anyway.

Good question, i was waiting for this to turn up! I don't personally feel a pressure to film, but others may. The company owner has every right to ask the member to make a mini. As was with me a couple weeks ago, i dedicated a short to CW, i just felt i haven't been supporting them as much as i should, but i'm back on track now

Quote :

What specific things do you do for the companies? I assume the feedback part is very important with products but do you receive prototypes? I think you've also done some graphics although I don't know which in particular are yours.

I've had/tried prototypes from every company i've been a part of, apart from Arctic, due to it being hardware and there's only set sizes for fingerboarding. Prototypes aren't always as shoddy as some people make it, some are really good, some fade out. You might remember the old Blosom with concave in the room at Manchester?
EDIT; Just realised i didn't answer the initial question, haha. Well with most companies it's exactly that, place feedback. With nearly all, you should expect the rider to promote the products, what would be the use of having a sponsor if you're not going to use the products? With Blosom in particular, i maintain the site, update it and handle emails.

Quote :

If my memory is correct, you were also once on the Arctic* team. There is no question about this statement but I just think that is really awesome. I would probably still say you are my favourite UK fingerboarder with your involvement in the scene and your delectable switch tres.

Edit: wait a second, wasn't it you that made the instructional videos on Arctic about how to use bearing screws? (thanks if that was you cos I used that)

Hahaha, thanks dude! I only learnt switch tres a few weeks before Cyclone

Stickiiiied. This is a really sick post, props thom

legit!!!! Thom you're a G !!

great post Thom.

might i add, as ive had experience with this, since starting up blosom, but its died down a hell of a lot now (thank god).....what im talking about is the 'sponsor me messages'.....

it seems these days any kid who can do a kickflip and a switch heel thinks they should be sponsored and thats all they strive for....to be sponsored.

i dont think anyone got sponsored by asking really....if anything id say it weakens your chances with that company...it makes you seem desperate, and straight away that tells the company owner you want to be sponsored for the wrong reasons....

if your active, post regularly, are active in the scene, make videos and rip, and i guess are a nice guy/gal, then a sponsor will already be watching you and even speaking about you.....pestering company's is not the way to go.

id say fingerboard for fun. and then when the fun shines through, a sponsor will come knocking.

lol sponsor messages are the most annoying shit

thanks bro
helped me alot

This is so true Thom!
Some people need to just remember why they started fingerboarding; it's fun, a good way to pass the time and the thrill of learning new tricks is just awesome ;D

But it's when people get too involved with the scene and are constantly watching sponsor pack unboxings which makes them think they need a sponsor, which is just stupid!

A genius post.
Fingerboarding for fun There are a lot of fingerboarders out there in the world who don't have sponsors, they don't even have videos on their channel, its becuz' they fingerboard for fun not for others amusement or attention. I am currently not sponsored, and I am not asking to be. I just wanna make videos and do it becuz' I enjoy it. Once again great post Thom.

arggggh, kinda drives me maaad!

great post!

words of wisdom thom, keep the good posts coming

this is pretty sick i have been fingerboarding for over a year now this has opened my eyes to sponsors

I missed this first time around. Good read

Great thread,great sticky.

I hate when some "homemade" companies ask me to be on their team.
I got like 20 sponsorship request where they were planning to send me paper fingerboards and other useless stuff.

I'm not looking for a sponsor, it'll come if I deserve it, but if I had one I wanna it to be legit as possible.

Anyone want join my company - xIIsuperwoodIIx, we sell pivot cups and stickers?