Comments on: Being Sponsored Is A Sin?

By: keu

keu — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:27:55 +0000

A great thread and topic. 100% agreement with the Joe Kinder comments. I would add Sonnie Trotter to the same list. I’ve never met either of these climbers and don’t know them at all. But I *feel* like I know them, as well as who their sponsors are. Why? Because they blog frequently, project a friendly, outgoing personality, and speak often and positively about the sponsored products they use. They come across as professionals, and this is a good thing for the sponsor, the athlete, and the climbing community.

I agree also about the Dave Graham comment Mark makes. There was a time when Graham had a great presence with various pro blogs, etc., but now has dropped out of view, or maybe into Facebook land where I don’t tread. To that list I would add Daniel Woods. I’ve followed so many dead links and false blog starts associated with him that I’ve given up. His sponsors should actually be glad I don’t know who they are (North Face, La Sportiva) because in the context of the Internet he does such a poor job representing himself I actually have a negative association with his name. Interesting to consider that a recent good video featuring Woods in a sponsorship role was done by Joe Kinder.

Sponsorship is a good thing. But in the Internet age, with so many eyes upon them, sponsored, pro or semipro athletes need to recognize the dirtbag days are over and take the time to represent themselves professionally and consistently.

By: gre

gre — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:48:57 +0000

not doubting it. but at least in other industries its defined. i mean in climbing where does that stand? espcially when viewed in like the media etc.

By: ike

ike — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:49:32 +0000

Many companies have tiers of sponsorship. Not every “sponsored athlete” receives the same perks, but they are all expected to represent their company(ies) in the most positive possible light.

By: interesting

interesting — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:33:51 +0000

Most of this was just rambling but it touched on some issues that are very important to certain folks. think there is nothing wrong if your goal is to be paid for something you love. I do agree with the point brought up at the end about the human factor causing pressure for athletes getting paid. Even though it is not always a life and death factor in the popular areas of bouldering and sport, it was pushed many many pro athletes to far and they have ended up hurting themeleves. Some where I read that beth, pringle, and someone else all had to get shoulder surgery. Case and point.

Wish everyone to reach their goals….and quickly make new ones!!

By: greg

greg — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:33:58 +0000

also most companies are sooooo stacked with sponsored climbers, that has the dilute the image a little bit. i mean shit mad rock has like a billion strong team.

By: greg

greg — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:31:49 +0000

i think the true problem lies within the how the industry defines there professional athletes. take a look at skateboarding for example. we have pro riders the best of the best, am’s the so so guys, and kids on flow meaning they get free product and the company sees interest in them to become pro/am boarders. how would that work in climbing idk. fiveten has recently started an elite team? dont no much about it. but its jsut something i wanted to throw out into the discussion.

By: Les is more

Les is more — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:51:24 +0000

“I know more about sticky rubber than you do.”

By: mongo

mongo — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:31:07 +0000

This is a classic example of why are sport sucks. You young privileged self absorbed turds think sponsorship is all about ability. It isn’t and it shouldn’t be. As Shane pointed out, it is about selling product, so self promotion is part of their job as sponsored athletes. A sponsored athlete is a walking billboard. Their job is to get exposure. They are just like the guys standing on the corner with signs prompting drivers to “Try Taco Loco’s 99 cent burrito” or the girls in Daisy Dukes trying to get you to pull in for a car wash.
This is why they “work” to get in the mags. JM points this out in his comments above.

I think we place to much stock in climbing ability and not enough stock in how those climbers impact the ones around them. Sponsored athletes that work hard to get noticed and interact well with fellow climbers of equal or lesser ability are the one’s that should be held in the highest regard by their sponsors. Their accomplishments and good personality will go a long way in giving others a good feeling about the products that “pro” endorses.
On the other hand, elitist athletes that walk around with sticks wedged far up their ass, climbing V14 don’t do much to improve a company’s “stock”.
Unfortunately, the above description is fairly common. A company would be better served sponsoring a 5.12 climber who is really supportive and nice, coaches a local climbing team and organizes local events as an alternative.

By: JM

JM — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:04:36 +0000

I agree with the Joe Kinder example. Sponsored climbers are not being paid by companies to advance the sport, they are being paid to sell product. In many cases, climbers making major advancements in the sport do make a big impact of product sales. A great example is when Sharma did Realization. This was cutting edge at the time, and his then-sponsor 5.10 took good advantage of this by advertising-heavily-that Sharma was wearing Ansazi Velcros to do this route. Sure enough, there was a period of a few years afterwards when a lot of people bought Anasazi Velcros. In this case, the advancement of the sport was enough to sell the product.

Joe Kinder, on the other hand, is climbing at a top level, but not at the very utmost cutting edge. What he does well, however, is serve as a product representative. He is valauble to sponsors not just because of the level of his climbing, but because he is a skilled salesman who does a good job leveraging the attention that his ascents get. And what is wrong with companies hiring salesmen?

By: opTIMistic

opTIMistic — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:57:28 +0000

OMG DRAMA!