I’ve been navigating the line of making pro triathlon work financially since about 2017 with a variety of setups if you’re ever interested in chatting. I’ve personally financed things at a loss for the first few years while working mostly full time hours with travel nursing as my career. (Keeping expenses super low we’re less of an option with deciding to start a family at the time). I eventually about broke even and am now generally positive and able to reduce working hours as a nurse in exchange for more training (and family) time.
I’ll say that while Dr Harrison was spot on with representing what a small business can do to support pro athletes, there are a lot of other ways to go about securing sponsorships too. And without necessarily providing direct or measurable benefit to the sponsor. But it’s also worth considering if sponsorship and maneuvering sponsor relationships is worth what you might get in return, compared to self funding and picking up hours in your line of work. Sponsorships can also have the somewhat unintended effect of giving anxiety to some athletes who then feel the pressure to perform or else will be letting others down in some way.
Basically it can be quite complex, but if you want to get a better idea of things feel free to shoot me a message.
Adam Feigh
Pianko Law, Speed Hound, Castelli, Sailfish, Base
Feighathlon.com
I’ll say that while Dr Harrison was spot on with representing what a small business can do to support pro athletes, there are a lot of other ways to go about securing sponsorships too. And without necessarily providing direct or measurable benefit to the sponsor. But it’s also worth considering if sponsorship and maneuvering sponsor relationships is worth what you might get in return, compared to self funding and picking up hours in your line of work. Sponsorships can also have the somewhat unintended effect of giving anxiety to some athletes who then feel the pressure to perform or else will be letting others down in some way.
Basically it can be quite complex, but if you want to get a better idea of things feel free to shoot me a message.
Adam Feigh
Pianko Law, Speed Hound, Castelli, Sailfish, Base
Feighathlon.com