Race Resume

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by allison

B - good info below.

Unfortunately for those of us that are just getting into racing late in the season there isn't much to provide for companies that are opening up sponsorships for the 2008 season.

Sign up for a Sponsorhouse account if you are interested in possibly getting other sponsors.

But, shoot me an email with your resume doo-hickey and I'll see if I can add anything.

email sent

[jeffj]

I hate to be a wet blanket here, but the bottom line is that there isn't a whole lot of susbtance to sink a tooth into in the resume you've presented.

You don't just dump some really great tomato sauce in a pan, heat it up and call it spaghetti sauce. Nobody wants to eat that. It takes seasoning and time to cook or it's just a waste of really great tomatoes.

Right now, you're asking for more than you're able to prove you can offer. It comes off as naive at best and someone looking for a handout at worst.

Sponsorship rarely works that way. Your competition will easily eclipse what you've offered at this time. And with even a few lower tier sponsors, you'll spend considerably more time and money to keep those than they are actually worth.

I don't know you, but from what I've seen here, you seem like a nice young man and it appears that you truly have some potential, but right now it's just unrealized potential. Plenty of that going around and nobody is buying. Get some seasoning and let yourself simmer in the pan for a while. You don't want to be remembered for bringing weak sauce to the table.

It's difficult to write this, but I think it's a POV you should consider. Good luck and I look forward to meeting you and watching you leave me in your dust ;~)

JMHO

Regards,
Jeff

[Skeeter]

Good start, like was stated before race results and total entries are key. For my sponsorship w/ Cervelo I have to commit to a minimum of 8 tri's per year. That makes for a really busy season for me on top of any races i might want to do for myself.

[cru jones]

The best way to get sponsored is to get a part time job at a bike shop. There, youll be able to order product from BTI,QBP, and get pro level deals on bikes and frames.

[bobk]

If your really serious about racing 4x, as your resume states, then head down to your local BMX track and race cruiser on your mtb. It will give you an opportunity to improve your skills and also start getting some race results. I was just looking at last seasons 4x results from Southridge and every class winner has a BMX racing background. Good luck!

[denmother]

Here's my words of wisdom:

For those of you looking for sponsorhip who are new to racing......The 1st team I was on was No Brakes Racing out of Arizona. I met the team captain at Sea Otter through some friends. The only requirement was to race 5 races, to support the sponsors (at races and while riding) and to act in a responsible manner. I was very new to racing and did not have much in the way of race results. I raced for them for 5 years and loved every moment of it!!! I moved up in the ranks and went from the B Team to the A Team. I raced a Turner DHR the 2nd/3rd years and a Morewood Izumu for the 4th/5th years.

My suggestion is to look for a bike shop (like Incycle) or a local team that offers grassroots sponsorhip (like Yeti). It may not be the best discount, or exactly what you are looking for, but it will give you exposure and something to put on your resume for the following season!!!

Remember, you have to earn your dues!!!

[S54MCoupe]

i would be a manager for an STR team if we ever got it started.... lol..... but im only 15... although some companies look for up and comers to the sport...

That's what you're going to need to find, a company who is looking for a rider with the potential for development.

Good luck.

[Flat Broke]

I think Cru hit the nail squarely on the head. A little while back, werent' you asking about jobs and cutting down school etc? Don't take this the wrong way because I'm not trying to be negative; but I think you're kinda all over the place and just really feeling the initial stoke of racing. This is driving you to want to live the whole scene and in the process you're kinda missing the big picture.

The only reason you want a sponsor is to defray the cost of your activity. As it has already been stated, EP (Employee Pricing) deals on many products will cheaper than what you could get them for on an amateur sponsorship deal. So right there, you start to see why maybe you're putting the cart before the horse. Are you looking for sponsors to "be sponsored" or to genuinely defray from the cost of your activity? If your answer is the later, your best bet (which will also serve you better in MANY other capacities) is to get a job at an LBS that has a race team or would be willing to help you out with employee pricing progams etc.

By working at a bike shop, you'll have access to a broader base of experiences, learn how to wrench your own ride which in and of itself will save you $$, and in most cases have a broader selection of products you can get at deeper discounts than if you were just sponsored by ABC frame company etc. You're 15, so your first priority should be school. I raced BMX every week when I was your age, but I also made sure I was doing well in school. Break your life up into the things that are important for you. For the sake of argument, lets say school (whether you like it or not) and Bikes. Now within bikes you have multiple facets to address. Paying for the bikes, keeping them in a good operational state, racing, practice, getting more exposure to the industry, riding for fun, etc. etc. When you look at it that way, a job at an LBS covers at least 3 of those points directly, while riding with other shop employees etc may cover other aspects. There are only 24hours in a day, and you want to make sure you get the best bang for your buck in terms of what you can accomplish with that time.

Stay in school and do well there, have fun, and remember that you're 15 and a lot of the people you are talking to and riding with are at a much different point in their lives. The right foundation now could mean not sweating dropping full retail for your race rig at 30. As opposed to becomming absorbed in the biking deal now, and becomming shackled to the industry and discounts/sponsorships to be able to afford your habbit/lifestyle down the road.

I've rambled a ton, but the long and the short of it is: Do what you have to do in order to do well in school and to afford to be able to ride/race. Have fun doing that, and let the other stuff, (sponsorships and the related obligations/headaches) work itself out in time. If you want to be "part of something" or on a team and you just can't land the LBS gig, there are plenty of people here that will be racing the Southridge series, so in a sense you already ARE part of a team.

Chris