Getting Started With Pro Skateboarding
Skateboarding is today a big time sport and pro skateboarding can bring in a lot of money – even in the millions. Prize money in pro skateboarding today is really good, but beyond that is the chance to earn in six figures and more through sponsorships or video game involvement. Of course, very few skateboarders manage to reach those high levels, but anyone who has talent, begins with the right basics and plans their progression has a shot at the top levels of the sport. And if you are among the best in pro skateboarding, you can be assured of earning enough to support you after you retire from the sport.
The first and most obvious step is to constantly practice – skate to school or work or wherever you can – make the most of skateboard parks and other places where you can practice advanced moves and techniques in safety. An injury can cut short your pro skateboarding career so make sure that you always use the right kind of safety gear – you will fall while working on new moves and there is always a chance of serious injury if you are not protected. It’s important to target your technique- search for companies that sponsor skateboarding and read up on what are the specifics they are looking for – each company will want a different image. Spend money hiring a professional cameraman and editor and make a video of your best moves – spend time on this and don’t cut corners; it is what is going to sell you to the sponsors. Your skills will keep improving so keep investing in new videos of your increasing skill levels – it will be like a models portfolio and keep posting updated videos online.
These videos are great for learning – watching yourself will enable you to spot flaws in your technique and errors in your style so you can correct them quickly and move up to the next level. Do not expect to find success in a week or a month (that very rarely happens) but use your rejections from sponsors as part of your learning – studying those who got sponsorships that you were trying for will tell you what they did that you didn’t. Never let the fun go out of skateboarding – if it becomes a grind you will become stale and flat and that will spell the end of the creativity and innovation that you need to be a top level pro skateboarder. Always keep in mind that your sponsorships are as much for your popularity as for your skateboarding skills and never let success go to your head and build a barrier between yourself and the people who support you.
