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Why do kids care so much about sponsorship?

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flurry*
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,192
These days there are at least 5 posts a day with some 12 year old wanting to be sponsored. They all just want sponsors, money, clothes....blah blah blah. There are race kids at my mountain who all have like 5 sponsors from hookit.com. These kids can't ski that well, and the ones that can will peak early and it won't matter if they're sponsored...why would a kid younger than 18 really NEED to be sponsored? If you are really good, I see the reason you may want it, I see the guys like Nick Goepper are only 19 and in the Olympics but most kids aren't that good. Why do kids these days care so much about sponsors? I say just ski and have fun, wait a little and when you have decent skills, a good edit, and can actually do stuff for the betterment of the company and then see where you can go. What do you guys think about these kids?
Mar 10 2014 4:37PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
It's the illusion that

a) being sponsored means you get to ski for free

b) being sponsored means you get to ski for free forever

c) being sponsored is validation that you're cool

d) being sponsored is extra validation that you're cool

e) being sponsored is super-duper validation to everybody else that you're undoubtedly cool
Mar 10 2014 4:46PM
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,293
Everyone wants to be a pro skier/biker/athlete when they are young, you just choose to care more about it than others.
Mar 10 2014 4:48PM
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TheBigApple
Posts: 1169 - Karma: 488
The one thing kids need to know, sponsors will come to them if they deserve it. If not they better work harder and enter more comps.
Mar 10 2014 4:48PM
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flurry*
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,192
Exactly, you can't, just ski and expect sponsorship. Some kids think they have to be sponsored to validate that they have skill. My neighbor is 16 and is an insanely good skier, and doesn't give a shit about sponsorship, but I'm sure companies will be coming to him.
Mar 10 2014 4:51PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
it's cool getting to brag about getting reduced price/free stuff
Mar 10 2014 4:53PM
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CrapBandit
Posts: 142 - Karma: 861
sponsorship > fame > money > Justin Beiber

Mar 10 2014 4:56PM
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
I think the better question here is why do so many kids care why so many kids care about getting sponsored?
Mar 10 2014 4:56PM
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suup
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 4,367
http://www.worldvision.org/m/sponsor-a-child/?campaign=1193519&gclid=COev5_juiL0CFe87Mgodi2kAsQ ?
Mar 10 2014 5:03PM
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manabadman
Posts: 615 - Karma: 255
spencceuredship?
Mar 10 2014 5:20PM
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caderobinson
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 4,770
Free stuff is always good. Especially skiing stuff. Its expensive as tits
Mar 10 2014 5:21PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51617 - Karma: 162,037
Why do kids dream about becoming a pro baseball player?

It's all dream man. Let them have their fun. The world will crush most of their spirits in a few years anyway. At least them enjoy a little bit of life before it all starts going down hill. Before they knock up some chick and have kids, live in some shitty house, work for the man. They get fired the same day their dog get's hit by a car.


Just let them have their dreams
Mar 10 2014 5:24PM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
Hookit is not sponsorship.
Mar 10 2014 5:45PM
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suup
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 4,367
water isnt for drinking
Mar 10 2014 5:47PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37378 - Karma: 119,894
yeah for real. i competed from when i was like 13 to 16 and i was sold that this is what i wanted to do the rest of my life. well, fast forward to christmas day 2010, i knocked my domepiece real good and i decided i didnt really want to compete any more, just ski for the love and with my friends/family. im only 18, but most certainly your priorities and desires change.
Mar 10 2014 5:51PM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
Hookit has some cool ideas, like that session finder map thingy, but it's tarnished by the fact that it's main purpose is to sell products under the guise of sponsorship. 30% off tees from some random company is not a sponsorship. It's a sale. Signing a contract for 10% off Monster isn't a sponsorship. It's a fucking joke.
Mar 10 2014 5:53PM
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raymondcabral
Posts: 747 - Karma: 1,094
Tits are pretty expensive you know
Mar 10 2014 5:53PM
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BomTurns
Posts: 24 - Karma: 86
Typical gaper question shouted from the chairlift.... "are you sponsored" and "can you do a backflip"..... all day everyday
Mar 10 2014 6:12PM
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Xanadoo
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,237
lost & sigged
Mar 10 2014 6:43PM
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,094
Its in part an achievment,

"I want to get good enough at skiing, that x company gives me a little product for free because i am now an "ambassador" for the company."

Mar 10 2014 7:46PM
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Gherbs
Posts: 530 - Karma: 903
SO much this
Mar 10 2014 7:52PM
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uyghur
Posts: 993 - Karma: 2,028
Its such a genius business model though... Get kids hyped on sponsorship, then they will go and tell their parents that they are sponsored and must buy this brands products. Badabing badaboom hookit is raking in the royalties.
Mar 10 2014 7:58PM
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jibnut
Posts: 3038 - Karma: 304
the only thing fueling me now is miley cyrus
Mar 10 2014 7:58PM
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flurry*
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,192
Thinking I should make a company on hookit, haha. It is great business for those small companies, and not really any skin off the companies nose. Great idea, hookit. Well played
Mar 10 2014 8:04PM
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littlelyonsman
Posts: 181 - Karma: 365
This thread again

Click for larger image
Mar 10 2014 8:05PM
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flurry*
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,192
says the man that joined yesterday
Mar 10 2014 8:08PM
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,094
Yesterday and one year ago.
Mar 10 2014 8:09PM
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Abu_Hajaar
Posts: 2749 - Karma: 3,907
Because its every young skiers dream to be pro and small sponsorships give everyone a taste of that dream
Mar 10 2014 8:10PM
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flurry*
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,192
oh shit. forget I ever said that
Mar 10 2014 8:11PM
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littlelyonsman
Posts: 181 - Karma: 365
Click for larger image

ehem?
Mar 10 2014 8:12PM
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,133
says the man that joined two months ago
Mar 10 2014 8:29PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51617 - Karma: 162,037
says the man who says "says the man"
Mar 10 2014 8:36PM
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-RB-
Posts: 1225 - Karma: 941
Says the man who says "says the man who says "says the man"."
Mar 10 2014 9:12PM
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Xanadoo
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,237
Click for larger image
Mar 10 2014 9:51PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
This.

Too many kids think being sponsored is all about them. It's not all about throwing down and looking cool, you need to portray a brand accordingly as well.

If you're trying to get sponsored as proof that you're a good skier, chances are you are self-absorbed and companies will definitely see that.

Also, if you need to ask how good you have to be to get sponsored, you're probably not good enough.
Mar 10 2014 10:03PM
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milk_man
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 5,983
David Lesh doesn't agree
Mar 10 2014 10:13PM
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quinnw
Posts: 867 - Karma: 5,332
Only reason being sponsored would be cool would be to not have to drop 700$ every season on a whole new set up cause you keep growing.
Mar 10 2014 11:46PM
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c4t_l0ver
Posts: 5485 - Karma: 810
at the top of the park some kid asked me and my buddies if we were sponsored. It felt good to think someone thought we were good enough ahhaha . Wow
Mar 11 2014 12:36AM
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hank.ski
Posts: 1130 - Karma: 3,788
Click for larger image
Mar 11 2014 1:48AM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
This is a stupid attitude, quite frankly. Just because something is clever doesn't make it good. That kind of scummy business model has no place in our community.
Mar 11 2014 1:53AM
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hank.ski
Posts: 1130 - Karma: 3,788
Completely disagree. It gives kids an opportunity to afford skis and feel a direct connectivity to the industry. It gives the brands an opportunity to promote themselves and provide jobs in the ski industry, and it gives the industry a bigger playing field, so it isn't a monopoly of the top 10 brands and we never see and style diversity. Punk ass mow'fkuh, swerve.
Mar 11 2014 3:31AM
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Steamboiz
Posts: 343 - Karma: 2,525
OP and others are over thinking it. sponsored smonshered, I just wanna ski hard, if I get a free pair of skis next year Ill go harder because I know someone can recognize talent/ passion.
Mar 11 2014 3:37AM
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littlelyonsman
Posts: 181 - Karma: 365
Grandparents/parents/siblings

Family = the greatest sponsor ever
Mar 11 2014 8:30AM
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johnblaze
Posts: 1477 - Karma: 2,598
I don't think about kids you fuckin chomo
Mar 11 2014 1:16PM
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FerrisBueller
Posts: 8280 - Karma: 5,173
Says the man who says "Says the man who says "says the man who says "says the man".". "
Mar 11 2014 2:38PM
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Xanadoo
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,237
i was very confused and probably read this post like five times before realizing that it wasnt me who posted it
Mar 11 2014 3:01PM
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-Dan
Posts: 7129 - Karma: 51,705
Its not only kids, though it tends to be. The real distinction is maturity/experience. At some point people realize that they'll have the most fun with their skiing when they do it for themselves and the fulfillment that brings rather than skiing for recognition or achievement. Thanks to Kieran McVeigh for that bit of wisdom.
Mar 11 2014 6:28PM
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Rumi.
Posts: 1231 - Karma: 556
never wanted a sponsor until i got to college, now i could really use some free shit.
Mar 11 2014 6:55PM
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casey_cope
Posts: 675 - Karma: 3,398
Kind of a self confidence thing I guess. I mean the free shit is an upside but to me if I got sponsored I would be really happy with myself.
Mar 11 2014 7:32PM
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yeahmon
Posts: 481 - Karma: 276
But u r sponsored dude
Mar 11 2014 9:31PM
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