How to get sponsored: Ski team managers explain the do's and don'ts!

How to get sponsored: Ski team managers explain the do's and don'ts!

If the route you're going is the edit route, then don't put out crap just to have it out there. Have a good filmer/editor, or as good as you can find. Have the edit show who you are—your personality, your home mountain, your style. Basically after you watch this video, you want an idea of who this person is both on and off their skis. If comps are your thing, go to every single comp you can. And I mean every.

The Scott Illest Edit is a great idea. We don't have time watch every video that comes our way so having someone/thing filter these to a top ten is great. We may not have time but we will definitely check out the winner and/or top three.
Keep your parents out of this. They can come in after there is a deal (money/contract) in place. TM's know who they want to hook up anyway, so be patient.
Try to meet TM's in person. Don't be shy. If a TM likes you and the two of you have good rapport, it will only help your cause. Certain athletes fit certain programs, so ask yourself, "do I fit this brand?" before you submit anything.
If a TM doesnt get back to you, don't re-email, it seems like a nag, this is where meeting people in person helps.

•Do use spell check.


•Do take a shower before approaching me.

•If you see that I am in a meeting or talking to someone else, be patient.

•If I ski better than you, you should take up another sport.

•I can be persuaded by platters of burritos, and pallets of PBR.

•If you become sponsored, don't be a pain in the ass, be mellow.

•Let your actions speak for you, don't be that guy that is always talking about how rad they are.

•Don't name drop.

•Stay off the weed.
•Be aware of your surroundings, both on an off the hill.

•Go to summer camp; if you are really good you probably will get spotted by a pro and that's the best way to do it in our program.


•Don't email back again and again, email Josh Bishop, our Team Manager once.

•Make sure you have a video and make sure it's posted to YouTube or Vimeo, and you aren't trying to email a 30MB file of high res photos and video, that's douche style.

•Do not use hip hop in your video, it's tired and everyone does it, so be different.

•Photos are funny, but that's all I do is look at photos every day for the past 17 years so don't send them.

•We've picked maybe 3 athletes in 10 years from a "sponsor me" package or a video, it's almost always word of mouth. So if you aren't Travis Steeger, you probably won't make the cut by sending in a video, so get to know an Armada Rep or Regional, Am or Pro Athlete first (see step 1).

•Do not submit promos via Facebook, Twitter or other social media outlets. That's a sure way not to get recognized.