I am a pretty decent triathlete and would like to step it up a notch, ie. I think I deserve some sponsorship. I am good enough to qualify for Kona but am looking to focus on 70.3 or the HFP 101 races in '07 (maybe some Xterra and Oly distance as well). I don’t want to go pro though, at least not yet (heck maybe not at all, my friends on Timex get more than most pros anyway). Basically, I would like to go to some bigger races and some foreign races.
I see that there are some age group teams that are seriously hooking non-pros up, such as:
Team RaceAthlete
Timex
Zoot
Inside Out
etc.
I am hoping you all might know of other teams like these. I am hoping for a bike, wetsuit, race/training clothing, fast wheels/componentry, and either some help with travel or performance bonuses. I am totally willing to do whatever it takes. I can write a blog, start a website, do some coaching…whatever.
I am hoping you all might know of other teams like these. I am hoping for a bike, wetsuit, race/training clothing, fast wheels/componentry, and either some help with travel or performance bonuses.
I am serious here, I know these teams exist. I also know I missed the Timex team for this year (they are sticking with past athletes for the most part). What, do I need to post a resume for justification? All I am asking here is for some help and a point in the right direction of these teams. They are out there and this is obviously the place to get some help.
By the way, for those of you who don’t know.
ROTFLMFAO is Rolling On The Floor Laughing My F’ing A#$ Off.
I’d be perfect for sponsorship. My ass is as big as a billboard and I’m slow. So any print will not only be large it will be slow enough to read and it will be on course for a VERY long time. The per minute advertising rate goes way down. I ate all of the hamburgers that made my ass big. I skipped all the workouts that made me slow. I definitely deserve it!
I’m sorry, I was half-joking, but seriously, you were asking for a free bike, wheels, wetsuit, clothing, and travel expenses, get serious, only a few top pros get all of that. There are age groupers and age group teams that get discounts on a lot of things, but very few people get free bikes or other expensive gear.
www.markallenonline.com is accepting applications for their Elite team. It COSTS $849 dollars to join the team and you receive coaching and some free stuff, and discounts.
OK Ok, fine, deserve, earn, should be graced with… what term would you like me to use. The fact is I am fast enough to get sponsored. I know these teams exist. There has got to be a way to get on them. All I know is that I go to races and see these people totally decked out. The I see them 56 spaces behind me in the results. So, how do I get that kind of help. It is out there.
I hate how the forum geeks have to flame people for “bringing up an old thread” or “we already covered that”. Dan, there are what, 8000 people a day on here? Not all of us are the seasoned experts that followed every thread over the last 6 months.
I am just looking for some info. There are people who know what I am looking for and why it is justified.
Maybe deserve was the wrong word, but I stand by it. I have gone 4:12 for a half. I’m not bad. I almost always finish on the podium in my AG. A little help would be greatly appreciated, both from this list and from sponsors.
4:12 is pretty damn quick. Seriously, check out that other thread, there are some good bits of advice in there…and use the search function to look for some other threads on this subject. A lot has been written.
Focus on what you bring to the sponsor, not on what the sponsor brings you.
“I hate how the forum geeks have to flame people for “bringing up an old thread” or “we already covered that”. Dan, there are what, 8000 people a day on here? Not all of us are the seasoned experts that followed every thread over the last 6 months.”
You sure do seem to know how things work around here considering you only registered here for the first time a few hours ago. Give us your real username why don’t you.
Okay, here’s the deal. On the thread/post pointed to above, Jordan Rapp (a member of Team Timex) openly and plainly states what sponsors are looking for. The things you say you are willing to do if someone sponsors you are the things you should already be doing to get sponsored. Sure, 4:12 is a very good time at the half-IM distance, but the Zipp reps aren’t standing around the finish line area handing out 808’s to everyone that finishes below 4:15. The “I deserve” or even “I earned” attitude has to be turned way down. You can start by helping out at races, contact the RD and let them know you are willing to help with the race for a comped entry and a place to stay. Make a name for yourself, not just through results, but by being a valued member of triathlon society. Do that, and who knows, they might contact you.
It is not just about being fast. If you want a sponsor to give you stuff worth $, you have to show them that they will get that $ back in a very direct and tangible way. Just being fast won’t make people buy the bike you are riding, you need people to walk into the shop and say that eire8tri said that I should come here to spend my 4 on a bike.
I know these teams exist.
Ok, then contact them and get going. I personally don’t know of any teams that give their athletes $10k in product and expenses.
–do you currently have any sponsorship at all? I have learned it seems to make it easier to find the 2nd, 3rd or 4th sponsor. try starting with local companies first…not just running shoe and bike shops but banks, mortgage companies, grocery stores etc. I assume you would accept money, not just product and remember if you are sponsored by MBNA and a local restaurant your bike shop will follow more easily. Triathlon is mainstream now and equated with a health lifestyle, etc. back in my day it was “extreme”.
–depending on where you live think about All3Sports (Atl), Inside Out Sports or NTTC which has restarted a team within the last two years.
–do you have a coach? most are happy to get advertisement from successful athletes and might cut you a deal on fees in return. again, along the lines of getting sponsor #1 then hoping others follow. you want to bring your race jersey in to a prospective sponsor and show them where their logo would be…and you don’t want a blank canvas. have something else on there as well.
–PowerBar has a pretty broad sponsorship program and 4:12 HIM and frequent podiums should get you there.
–going after certain pieces of equipment might be harder than getting more general sponsorships althou some would argue it is much easier to get product than money. I have never gotten one dollar of sponsor money but tons of product and have never won a race outright. If are a leader off the swim or the bike you might appeal to a maker of wetsuits or bikes given potential for exposure.
–key on big performances at the biggest races. winning your AG 20 times in one season would not be nearly as big as a podium at Kona. for me, just finally making it to Kona and being able to put it on my resume really helped my sponsorship quests.
Ok, here is one thing I know for an absolute and total fact.
Team RaceAthlete will be getting:
-A BMC TT02 Time Machine
-Zipp 440 or 606 wheelset
-Powetap SL (maybe two if and 808 is built up with one)
-2XU race gear, wetsuits and training clothes
-NUUN product
-and coaching from D3 multisport
