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Why do athletes like to be sponsored?
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This time of year, I see a lot of social media posts about new sponsors. I don't know, I guess to me I like the freedom to be able to try new brands and products if I want. I feel like you can be a pretty high-level athlete without being on the absolute cutting edge 2019 equipment. I'm just mulling why so many athletes seem to seek out sponsorship, when it seems kind of limiting in some ways.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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total shot in the dark - money?

Nah. That cannot be it.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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if you’re talking about pro triathletes it’s more limiting to not be able to eat so there is that option with no sponsors.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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A) They are getting cash from the sponsor
B) They are getting free product from the sponsor
C) They are building up their reputation as a good “sponsor-able” athlete for future sponsors that can offer more A and B

Alex Arman

Strava
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [Grant.Reuter] [ In reply to ]
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I got the impression he was -not- talking about pro's. If he was, ignore my above comments... :)
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....

My bike shop gives me pretty good discounts (some of which are at cost) which easily adds up to over 2k in savings, and I'm just a lowly cat road racer. While I don't tell people I'm sponsored, I shill the crap out of that place because I feel I owe it to them.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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avatar78 wrote:
This time of year, I see a lot of social media posts about new sponsors. I don't know, I guess to me I like the freedom to be able to try new brands and products if I want. I feel like you can be a pretty high-level athlete without being on the absolute cutting edge 2019 equipment. I'm just mulling why so many athletes seem to seek out sponsorship, when it seems kind of limiting in some ways.

I like that freedom to be able to pick and choose. In the perfect world companies would find athletes who already use and love their product and can be authentic ambassadors. Athletes should seek out companies whose product they love and use.


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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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Are you referring to amateur age groupers or folks who race as a significant source of income? Sponsorships play a HUGE role for someone who pursues the sport as a career as it allows them to support themselves financially. While you think of it as limiting, I think of sponsorships as quite liberating given that it probably provides more than the checks the "pros" get from racing (I use the quotation marks since many of the elite folks require other jobs for a living such as realtors, personal trainers, or other jobs with flexible hours).

Being sponsored as an AGer is pretty cool as well. I was a product sponsor many years (and pounds!) ago and got a ton of free stuff and tried products before they made it to the public (backdoor brag alert! - As an example, I had an unmarked pair of Nike Free shoes that I ran in for about a year before they hit the market).
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....

Actually you sound kind of jealous. :)
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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So you don't look like a goof at Kona with a blank jersey like Cameron Wurf.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [trail] [ In reply to ]
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trail wrote:
SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....


Actually you sound kind of jealous. :)

Busted. :)

OK, if they get 'sponsored' by pizza hut, then I'll be jealous!
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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SBRcanuck wrote:
trail wrote:
SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....


Actually you sound kind of jealous. :)

Busted. :)

OK, if they get 'sponsored' by pizza hut, then I'll be jealous!

Pizza Hut? Srsly??

Jessys or Alexandria's, then we're talking!

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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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Me, I'm way too fat and slow to ever be sponsored. But in actuality I would love to. I daydream of getting all sorts of free equipment. Even if it's just a simple tri kit with logos all over it. A really sharp looking one maybe similar to the Road ID kit, with that cool matching visor. Even a helmet that matches too and matching sunglasses. Then I take a swig of whatever drink sponsored me with this tasty stuff that's totally not Gatorade which I know it sucks but it's cheap and I can't really justify using anything else since it's so damn cheap and works for me. Yeah, and it's not piss warms like my Gatorade always is. It's ice cold. Not in one of my moldy bottles either. This is a nice bottle. It's not scratched up with dirt from countless rides embedded into the plastic. It's brand new and shiney and matches my jersey, shorts, hat, and yes.... Even my socks. Sorry I drifted off for a second.

Athletes like to be sponsored for free stuff and it looks cool.

I still lapped everyone on the couch!
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [Thomas Gerlach] [ In reply to ]
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Hi Thomas
Very true, finding a current pro, thanking them for using Polar, and they love the fact they are recognized and have a go to person for future needs. This tends to be the best case scenario for both parties. Some pro's have trouble with no financial support which I can understand and it ends up not being a good fit if they can not accept product only. Some well established pro's, especially word of mouth amongst pro's in their training squad are happy to be affiliated with a brand and on occasion tag us in social media. Age groupers who we provide a discount code to really want to use the term sponsored, similar to the bike post above. I use the term product support or product partner in many cases. We understand limitations with professionals but those we have in our circle, are wonderful to partner with and love new product launches and feel special, which they are.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [doublea334] [ In reply to ]
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doublea334 wrote:
A) They are getting cash from the sponsor
B) They are getting free product from the sponsor
C) They are building up their reputation as a good “sponsor-able” athlete for future sponsors that can offer more A and B

Pretty much this. Good friend of mine used to be a sponsored wakeboarder. He got free use of a boat (new one every year) and wakeboards, clothes, sunglasses. It's also more than just being good at your sport, you have to be good at PR and dealing with others. Part of his deal was he had to do all the boat shows in his area, talking to customers and promoting the brands.

You can be the best athlete in your sport, but if you are a wet rag when dealing with people, there is no sponsorship (or limited opportunities). Even more to the point, my buddy would have a hard time winning even a small local competition, but looks REALLY good in magazine shoots (lots of style to his riding, just not as much difficulty), and is very personable.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [JasoninHalifax] [ In reply to ]
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JasoninHalifax wrote:
SBRcanuck wrote:
trail wrote:
SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....


Actually you sound kind of jealous. :)


Busted. :)

OK, if they get 'sponsored' by pizza hut, then I'll be jealous!


Pizza Hut? Srsly??

Jessys or Alexandria's, then we're talking!

If we are talking serious pizza, then it's 'On The Wedge'!
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [Grant.Reuter] [ In reply to ]
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Grant.Reuter wrote:
if you’re talking about pro triathletes it’s more limiting to not be able to eat so there is that option with no sponsors.

Yeah, sorry if I came across as denigrating those who are sponsored. I'm not, I was more just curious about how people make the decision to pick up sponsors.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [bretzky] [ In reply to ]
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bretzky wrote:
So you don't look like a goof at Kona with a blank jersey like Cameron Wurf.

I try to tell every new pro to forget about sponsorship - just focus on swimming, biking, and running and achieving all you want to achieve in sport. You don't do triathlon for the lucrative nature of the sport, you do it because you love it.Triathlon contracts are getting smaller and smaller as companies realize the ROI is minimal and usually a loss. It is hard to calculate the brand awareness/building aspect of it and that is what a lot of budget dollars go to without being able to tie it back. The reality is triathlon is a participatory sport with very few fans so the value pros have is tremendously small and is getting smaller and smaller with social media. The people who are really good at social media and are talented pros likely have someone doing just that for them. It is rare to have someone like Jesse Thomas. At the end of the day there is so much to triathlon beyond swim, bike, and run, pros don't have time to really build their brand the way they should, and most are too small that someone isn't going to want to help them because the piece of the action is not worth.

At some point there is a crossover and it becomes more valuable, but you have to get pretty darn good. Cameron doesn't look like a goof to me, I would rather see someone achieve their dreams, unless having sponsors is really why do you sport in the first place.


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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....

My roadie is a Giant, and I do wear the Giant kit as well, and yes the LBS gives me a discount as I am a regular through the door, but I am not kidding anyone. I am in no way shape or form sponsored or will I ever claim to be! And There are days when i walk out the door looking like a Giant billboard and I do shake my head at myself!

Ask me how much I love my Kiwami LD Aero Trisuit
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [Leavitt] [ In reply to ]
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What you, and the other poster described, is not what I am talking about.
I'm talking about people who got the deals you got, then make it a part of their life to remind everyone, every day, that they are a 'sponsored athlete' (as they get dropped on the local club ride...).....
:)
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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As an AGer...if my social following got big enough like it seems to be for some folks in AUS...if Giant gave me (for free, not discounted) the next Trinity Advanced Pro...then why not?

The more product that I don't have to buy the better. It's not a big deal. We're all trying to get to Kona, right? However, if it's a product that puts you at a competitive disadvantage then I'm out.

Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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A lot of AGers do these "sponsorship" just so that they can brag about being sponsored. I think they are really buying a bunch of stuff and may get some free samples to hand out to people along the way.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [TheStroBro] [ In reply to ]
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TheStroBro wrote:
We're all trying to get to Kona, right?

Nope.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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Isn't there a feeling of worth associated with being sponsored? As in I am a really good athlete see all the companies that are sponsoring me? If you are quite high level its about the money, money, money.

They constantly try to escape from the darkness outside and within
Dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good T.S. Eliot

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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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my initial thought is this...

a professional athlete in this "small" sport needs all the dollars they can get. life isnt free, and the purses for races are not that substantial. the more sponsorship, and more lucrative, the more money in the athletes pocket to live on and also not have to get a day job.

this idea was reinforced when i saw heather jackson's pics on her facebook page when she "hosted" a zwift ride. she had her setup in her garage, and it looked like my garage. nothing fancy at all.

as far as the rest of us, id wager its either ego, the cool factor of having a company give you free stuff to shill for them, or a combination of those two.

80/20 Endurance Ambassador
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

Yup
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....
I think we should define athlete... pro or amateur... agree on the amateur thing with it being ego driven.

When I got into the sport I did well and in year three got invited onto a local "Elite" team with a laundry list of sponsors. There was a bank, SnapOn tools vendor, yoga studio, local artist, talent agency, etc. I'll admit it was sort of cool to be a sponsored athlete and part of the team.

The main sponsor was a bike shop that worked on my bikes for nothing, got me parts at close to cost or below, sometimes even for free... gave me a road bike at/or below cost which was pretty awesome. I did some group rides for them, road with their kit, participated in parades, etc... appreciated them and did all I could do to help pay it back to them!

All of the other sponsors were nothing more than logos printed on the kit... that I didn't have to pay for... which was the only perk for being on the team, the free kit.

After that team folded I applied and got some ambassador gigs... sometimes up to like 50% off of some product and I had to pay for logos to be on a kit... I found myself using things I wasn't really a fan of for a % off.

I now have a kit with my name on it, zero sponsors, zero ambassador gigs and I use what I like, ride what I like, etc. To each their own but this is where I'm at in terms of sponsors and ambassador things.

For Pros it's a whole other gig... I get why they have sponsorship relationships and hopefully they get more than a % off of some product they're really not into.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [len] [ In reply to ]
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Um its to get the chicks...duh

I was a sponsored surfer. You brought a board down without stickers on it and girls didn't pay much mind...you brought one with sponsor stickers on it - suddenly you are turning heads and getting any wave you want. Same person, same skill, different board.

So I am going to go with chicks haha free stuff is cool, but girls are more cool.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [LuchaLibre] [ In reply to ]
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LuchaLibre wrote:
Um its to get the chicks...duh

I was a sponsored surfer. You brought a board down without stickers on it and girls didn't pay much mind...you brought one with sponsor stickers on it - suddenly you are turning heads and getting any wave you want. Same person, same skill, different board.

So I am going to go with chicks haha free stuff is cool, but girls are more cool.

My next kit I'm gonna invent a bunch of sponsor logos for it. Probably feature a large Rebel Alliance logo on the back and chest.

I'll work my wife and kids' names in there somehow too.

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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [Jloewe] [ In reply to ]
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Jloewe wrote:
Me, I'm way too fat and slow to ever be sponsored.
However fat and slow you are, if you really wanted to be “sponsored”, you can. For AGers, sponsorship is less about results and more about involvement/willingness to promote the brand etc.

Personally, I avoid it because I feel is limits my clothing and equipment options-I want to be able to ride and wear what I want and buy it where and when I want at a price I want.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [JasoninHalifax] [ In reply to ]
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JasoninHalifax wrote:
LuchaLibre wrote:
Um its to get the chicks...duh

I was a sponsored surfer. You brought a board down without stickers on it and girls didn't pay much mind...you brought one with sponsor stickers on it - suddenly you are turning heads and getting any wave you want. Same person, same skill, different board.

So I am going to go with chicks haha free stuff is cool, but girls are more cool.


My next kit I'm gonna invent a bunch of sponsor logos for it. Probably feature a large Rebel Alliance logo on the back and chest.

I'll work my wife and kids' names in there somehow too.
I'm about to send off my Kiwami kit for this year to get it printed... back and forth on putting a dragon logo on it... why because I like dragons!!!
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [DFW_Tri] [ In reply to ]
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IMO people are going after the same old triathlon sponsors. Here are some companies I would approach if I was a pro (somewhat tongue in cheek):

Banana Boat Sunscreen
Imodium anti-diarrhea tablets
Jiff Peanut Butter
3M Electrical Tape/Zip Ties
Hormel Bacon
Hostess Cupcakes
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [milkman1982] [ In reply to ]
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milkman1982 wrote:
IMO people are going after the same old triathlon sponsors. Here are some companies I would approach if I was a pro (somewhat tongue in cheek):

Banana Boat Sunscreen
Imodium anti-diarrhea tablets
Jiff Peanut Butter
3M Electrical Tape/Zip Ties

Hormel Bacon
Hostess Cupcakes

Im at work literally dying hahaha
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [milkman1982] [ In reply to ]
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milkman1982 wrote:
Hormel Bacon
Hostess Cupcakes

If you add a nice brewery to this list, we would be off to a very good start...
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [LuchaLibre] [ In reply to ]
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Imodium is the best thing for long course since the invention of the tri bike. i like to take one before bed the night before, and two when i wake up on race morning..

I cannot wait until we have the "Imodium Ironman World Championships" it is just a matter of time.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [DFW_Tri] [ In reply to ]
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DFW_Tri wrote:
Jloewe wrote:
Me, I'm way too fat and slow to ever be sponsored.

However fat and slow you are, if you really wanted to be “sponsored”, you can. For AGers, sponsorship is less about results and more about involvement/willingness to promote the brand etc.

Personally, I avoid it because I feel is limits my clothing and equipment options-I want to be able to ride and wear what I want and buy it where and when I want at a price I want.

Back in the days when I was sponsored by my LBS, I could get a better price through the team discount than anywhere else. I "could" buy from anywhere else if I wanted to at whatever price I could get, but I rarely did because it didn't make sense, only exception was when it was a product that they didn't sell. The owners were awesome guys and really flexible with us, I didn't "have" to ride one of their brands. During mountain bike season I rode a brand they didn't sell (Specialized) because I already had it. I usually rode with a helmet and shoes that they didn't sell either, cuz I have a funny shaped head and hard to fit feet.

The only thing I was really locked into was the team jersey. I usually rode the team shorts, but there were guys who rode their own plain black ones too.

Sponsorship isn't necessarily limiting your options.

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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [milkman1982] [ In reply to ]
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milkman1982 wrote:
Imodium is the best thing for long course since the invention of the tri bike. i like to take one before bed the night before, and two when i wake up on race morning..

I cannot wait until we have the "Imodium Ironman World Championships" it is just a matter of time.

Do you have a TUE for that? ;-)

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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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I am just a lowly age grouper.... but I get sponsorships, because it gets me huge discounts on the gear I use. Why pay full price when you can request a sponsorship and get great rates?

For age groupers, it really isn't a sponsorship, but a Pro Purchase and influencer program.
Last edited by: Etexag: Apr 4, 18 7:37
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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SBRcanuck wrote:
Ego.

I get a good laugh at people who tell me they are 'sponsored' by Giant, because their LBS got them a discount on a bike. So now they feel obligated to wear their Giant shirt everywhere and talk about it.....lol
I'll get flamed for that....

Well, I guess since Giant bikes are sold at the Giant store in HFX now, technically they are sponsored by "Giant". Just not the factory.

Even when I was sponsored by my LBS back in the day, I never used the term "sponsored by". I wasn't that good to warrant "sponsorship". I just said I rode for that team, and wore the jersey to / from races and Sunday training rides if there wasn't a race that weekend.

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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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avatar78 wrote:
This time of year, I see a lot of social media posts about new sponsors. I don't know, I guess to me I like the freedom to be able to try new brands and products if I want. I feel like you can be a pretty high-level athlete without being on the absolute cutting edge 2019 equipment. I'm just mulling why so many athletes seem to seek out sponsorship, when it seems kind of limiting in some ways.

sponsored, ambassador, free socks and bottle atheletes and all ...

Illusion for non pro athletes to feel like pro. Also a way for companies to get relatively good exposure for fraction of what real Pro would ask for.

You need to define some meanings:

Pro athletes make a living out of sport , they do not work, they get paid to race, some make quite good living out of it.

Sponsored\ambassador crap...Again illusion for non pro athletes to feel pro, another marketing tool to sell more stuff to them.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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avatar78 wrote:
This time of year, I see a lot of social media posts about new sponsors. I don't know, I guess to me I like the freedom to be able to try new brands and products if I want. I feel like you can be a pretty high-level athlete without being on the absolute cutting edge 2019 equipment. I'm just mulling why so many athletes seem to seek out sponsorship, when it seems kind of limiting in some ways.

Having been sponsored in a different sport, because I suck too much at triathlon to be sponsored, I can tell you that I did it because I got gear I would have been buying anyways for free, trips that I probably couldn't have afforded to go on for free, Etc.

So, for me it broke down to free trips, free gear, and more time spent doing a sport I love in exchange for the brands that sponsored me using my image/endorsement. All the brands that offered to sponsor me I would have endorsed anyways, because I like their product and I like the people making them, so I guess I was lucky there.

If you really want to get down to it, sponsorship is a great example of capitalism. The athlete values the benefits of sponsorship more then freedom to choose whatever gear they want, and the company doing the sponsoring values of the ability to say said athlete endorses them more than they value the product, travel, pay/whatever they give the athlete.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [sebo2000] [ In reply to ]
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sebo2000 wrote:

Pro athletes make a living out of sport , they do not work, they get paid to race, some make quite good living out of it.


Well, speaking of pro triathletes, probably most have a side gig. I don't think very many exist purely off of sponsorships and prize-purse dribblings.


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Again illusion for non pro athletes to feel pro.

I don't see any problem with that though. All amateur racing of every kind is an illusion to feel pro. It breaks us out of our dreary daily existence and lets us get outside. You get to feel like a racer for a few hours. Nothing wrong with that. And getting stuff for free is fun.

*Acting* excessively pro is another story. I agree some people go away over the top with stupid hashtagged FB posts, etc.




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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [milkman1982] [ In reply to ]
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milkman1982 wrote:
Imodium is the best thing for long course since the invention of the tri bike. i like to take one before bed the night before, and two when i wake up on race morning..


I cannot wait until we have the "Imodium Ironman World Championships" it is just a matter of time.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5565161/Man-29-died-overdosing-ANTI-DIARRHEA-medication-mimic-opioid-high.html
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [sebo2000] [ In reply to ]
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sebo2000 wrote:
avatar78 wrote:
This time of year, I see a lot of social media posts about new sponsors. I don't know, I guess to me I like the freedom to be able to try new brands and products if I want. I feel like you can be a pretty high-level athlete without being on the absolute cutting edge 2019 equipment. I'm just mulling why so many athletes seem to seek out sponsorship, when it seems kind of limiting in some ways.


sponsored, ambassador, free socks and bottle atheletes and all ...

Illusion for non pro athletes to feel like pro. Also a way for companies to get relatively good exposure for fraction of what real Pro would ask for.

Harsh. I'll be 61 this year and sponsor myself. I can buy what I want to buy, and I travel internationally on my own dime to race. It wasn't always that way. In my 20s I was a pretty decent runner but with a young family to feed. I was sponsored by a local running store in a large metro area to include 8 shoes per year, kit, running clothes, and all my local race entries paid. It had nothing to do with feeling like a pro, but simply a means to reduce the expense of my hobby/addiction. To the extent that Age Groupers can use a sponsorship to reduce out-of-pocket expenses in a very expensive sport then more power to them.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [HuffNPuff] [ In reply to ]
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Quote:
To the extent that Age Groupers can use a sponsorship to reduce out-of-pocket expenses in a very expensive sport then more power to them.


This is where I am at.... Helps a ton
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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Pros = money and best newest gear they otherwise could not afford.
Age Groupers = cool to say you are sponsored when most "deals" are just discount codes on the sponsor's products.

Ryan
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [HuffNPuff] [ In reply to ]
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HuffNPuff wrote:
milkman1982 wrote:
Imodium is the best thing for long course since the invention of the tri bike. i like to take one before bed the night before, and two when i wake up on race morning..


I cannot wait until we have the "Imodium Ironman World Championships" it is just a matter of time.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5565161/Man-29-died-overdosing-ANTI-DIARRHEA-medication-mimic-opioid-high.html


holy cow that is awful
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [JasoninHalifax] [ In reply to ]
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I'm assuming by "back in the day", that was before Ebay and ST classified were a fantastic option to collect new and used gear at a great price, before the advent of Flo wheels and the increased competition, and thus dramatic price drops in powermeters etc. I'm not saying it could never be cheaper. I could develop a list of companies I would be thrilled to legitimately sponsor me and exactly zero of them would do so!! At at least on the local level, I just watch so many "sponsored" athletes pay more money for slower equipment.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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I am a MOP athlete at big races and a FOP athlete at local races. I am technically sponsored by a LBS. The shop sponsors a handful of people at a variety of different speeds and ages via a shop "racing team". The majority of my local shops do this. You might see a difference between being on a shop "racing team" versus being "sponsored". But, I don't really see the difference so long as I am not paying to be a part of it.

Why do these shops do it? Because they want to show that their shop is accessible to everyone from pro athletes to average Joe's (and in particular, Janes).

So what does that mean for me?
I get free bike kits and race uniforms, free bike tunes and servicing, discounts on everything in the shop, and free or severely discounted race entry into local tris.

What do I give them in return?
I promote their shop by racing in their gear. I attend their weekend group ride as much as possible (or at least start out with them). I post on social media in promotion of the shop, etc.

So why do I do it? Because this sport is really effing expensive and I have no problem being in a relationship with a shop (that I would likely go to anyways) that makes it less expensive for me. I don't care about saying that I'm "sponsored". I just personally enjoy not having to pay 80 dollars to a tune-up every time I have a race coming up.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [DFW_Tri] [ In reply to ]
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DFW_Tri wrote:
I'm assuming by "back in the day", that was before Ebay and ST classified were a fantastic option to collect new and used gear at a great price, before the advent of Flo wheels and the increased competition, and thus dramatic price drops in powermeters etc. I'm not saying it could never be cheaper. I could develop a list of companies I would be thrilled to legitimately sponsor me and exactly zero of them would do so!! At at least on the local level, I just watch so many "sponsored" athletes pay more money for slower equipment.

But you're missing the point that I was never under any obligation to purchase from that shop. this was late '90's and early '00's eBay was around, and back then there were probably better deals on eBay than there are now. ST classifieds were probably around then too, maybe?

(It also wasn't a team that you had to pay to be a member of, but I digress).

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2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [JasoninHalifax] [ In reply to ]
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JasoninHalifax wrote:

(It also wasn't a team that you had to pay to be a member of, but I digress).


This goes hand in hand with you never saying "I'm sponsored by"... that doesn't matter, its perception. Everyone on EMJ and Team Timex all know what they are trying to convey by being apart of these teams. They'll never tell anyone how it actually works; they just want everyone to see them with the logos. It's a begging for attention, stroke my ego, "cool factor".

When we're talking about amateur athletes, I have far more respect for someone who is not apart of a team or "have sponsors". To each their own but I also don't give a shit how many "likes" I get on social media.
Last edited by: BrentwoodTriGuy: Apr 4, 18 11:28
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [milkman1982] [ In reply to ]
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milkman1982 wrote:
IMO people are going after the same old triathlon sponsors. Here are some companies I would approach if I was a pro (somewhat tongue in cheek):

Banana Boat Sunscreen
Imodium anti-diarrhea tablets
Jiff Peanut Butter
3M Electrical Tape/Zip Ties
Hormel Bacon
Hostess Cupcakes

haha that's funny. honestly that's kind of what I was thinking, that the sponsors people should get aren't bikes and helmets, it's the consumables: nutrition (actually pretty common I guess), brake pads, chains, body lube etc.
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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I can tell you why I want a sponsor... because I'm sick of having to buy my own shampoo, soap, and men's grooming products.

@floathammerholdon | @partners_in_tri
Last edited by: cloy: Apr 4, 18 12:32
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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Why do athletes like to be sponsored?


What level are you talking about here?


For small list of A-List athletes in the sport (maybe about 20 in the whole of triathlon) who have a high profile, who win/place in big races and get great media coverage, it's not a question of "Like", it's part of their job. Brands who partner with these athletes, know, they are going to get a certain amount of exposure for their brand, by the natural and organic actions of these athletes. Most of thew athletes in this small group, get it. They know their is an obligation on their part to do certain things - appear at media events. Do photo shoots. Show up at VIP events etc . . away from competition and training. All equipment is given or on loan, and they have a retainer they are paid with a race performance bonus on top of that - usually only for the bigger races ie IM Kona!


On the much bigger B-List of athletes here it get's a bit tricky. The athletes don't have the media profile. They only get on the podium occasionally. Here it behooves the athlete to create more exposure and profile through, their own efforts. These days with Social Media, this is "easier", but even here, Social Media is so crowded and busy a space now, that it takes A LOT of work to create that profile and exposure. Obviously at this level now what you do AWAY from competition and training, has to take on a certain BIG priority, and you have to be CONSTANTLY selling yourself. At this level there is very little money but usually OK product either on loan or to keep.


At the C-Level, there is zero regular media profile. Almost no race podiums or exposure that way. So the C-level athlete has to do all of what the B-levels do, AND probably also work some form of affiliate sales/discounting structure and work via their own network of people in their club, who they coach, through social media, it's all a bit huckster-ish, and here it's rare to get stuff for free-free, and there is NO money. The best you can hope for is some form or "Pro-deal", which is often the wholesale cost (1/2 MSRP on most things and about 30% off on bikes)


The above is all for Pros Age-Groupers are a whole other thing. Normally here, the goal is to win over AG athletes through some form of discounting via a club or team. Often a brand will have a group of Ambassadors who get a better discount and in turn sell/promote lesser discounts to a wider audience. Although even here, these can back-fire and the Ambassador, spends all their time telling people how they can get THEIR discount - which is NOT the purpose.














Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [avatar78] [ In reply to ]
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I think because it shows gratitude for what the athlete contributes to the sport and the sponsor.

When I was in charge of sponsorships for a bike shop the best sponsored athlete was a 13 year old kid. He wasn't much of a rider then but did he have attitude and passion. in one year he brought in over $30,000 (NZ pesos) in business. Either bringing in customers or making sure we knew he had referred them.

As I said at the time (2008) he wasn't much of a rider. In 2015 he was part of the NZ team that won a World Team Pursuit title and today races for a World Tour Team and finished 2nd in a major event today.

There's the hugest Warm Fuzzy factor going on for taking a punt on a kid just on his character alone.

Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [bretzky] [ In reply to ]
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bretzky wrote:
So you don't look like a goof at Kona with a blank jersey like Cameron Wurf.

I thought he looked bad a** honestly. then again, I was the outcast in Middle school
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [Kiwicoach] [ In reply to ]
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Kiwicoach wrote:
I think because it shows gratitude for what the athlete contributes to the sport and the sponsor.
When I was in charge of sponsorships for a bike shop the best sponsored athlete was a 13 year old kid. He wasn't much of a rider then but did he have attitude and passion. in one year he brought in over $30,000 (NZ pesos) in business. Either bringing in customers or making sure we knew he had referred them.
As I said at the time (2008) he wasn't much of a rider. In 2015 he was part of the NZ team that won a World Team Pursuit title and today races for a World Tour Team and finished 2nd in a major event today.
There's the hugest Warm Fuzzy factor going on for taking a punt on a kid just on his character alone.

That's a really cool story Hamish, thanks for posting it.


"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [BrentwoodTriGuy] [ In reply to ]
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BrentwoodTriGuy wrote:

When we're talking about amateur athletes, I have far more respect for someone who is not apart of a team or "have sponsors". To each their own but I also don't give a shit how many "likes" I get on social media.

Agreed. Forced social media posts extolling the virtues of some product or store are at once nauseating, hollow, fake, and absurd. I'm almost embarrassed for the folks that are willing to post drivel like that in order to save a couple hundred bucks. If you're a starving college student or a starving and aspiring pro... okay. Do what you gotta do. If you make a six figure income as a dentist, accountant, lawyer, engineer, etc... shut the fuck up.

Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One
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Re: Why do athletes like to be sponsored? [The GMAN] [ In reply to ]
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Agreed. Forced social media posts extolling the virtues of some product or store are at once nauseating, hollow, fake, and absurd. I'm almost embarrassed for the folks that are willing to post drivel like that in order to save a couple hundred bucks. If you're a starving college student or a starving and aspiring pro... okay.

Like many things, Social Media is changing and moving quickly. Just few years or so ago, you could probably get some form of "sponsorship" by having lots of Facebook and Twitter friends and followers. However, now it's Instagram that rules in the endurance sports and fitness space. Recent research by Multisport Research has revealed that in the fitness/endurance-sports space Instagram get's the highest level of engagement!


I find the bike/tri business to often be woefully behind the times when it comes to marketing. Just recently I was talking to an event that said they were, "putting everything into Facebook" this year for their marketing. I'm sure it will help a bit, but for it's impact with this, Facebook peaked about 3 years ago!


Whatever the channel, the WAY you go about things matters A LOT - if it's just straight up pandering, and non-stop soliciting - people will be turned right off. You have to be creative. You have to weave the brand messaging subtly into your content. You have to be unique. Now, with all the social media noise, whatever the channel, you have to stand out!


Social media is now not new. It's become almost like breathing - it's what people are involved with and checking in on multiple times each day.


Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog
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