How to Become a Pro Snowboarder
The road to becoming a Professional Snowboarder is not easy. You need to have something special. You need the drive and commitment to really want it. Personality and attitude can also play a key role. Here are some tips to get you started on your path to becoming a Pro Snowboarder.
Step One - Buy The Right Gear
You need the right equipment. The first thing you need to do is to educate yourself on the type of snowboarding gear that best suits your body type and riding style. Go to a snowboard shop and ask the staff to help you select the right board, snowboard boots, bindings, jacket, gloves and goggles.
Step Two - Learn the Proper Techniques From an Experienced Snowboarder
The next step is to learn to snowboard properly. Ideally, you should take lessons at a snowboarding school. Most ski and snowboarding resorts offer lessons. Master all the basics such as steering, stopping, falling and basic jumps before moving on to more complicated tricks.
Enrolling in professional lessons will help you learn the correct techniques faster and prevent you from developing bad habits.
Step Three - Practice, Practice, Practice
As any pro snowboarder will tell you, there are no shortcuts to success. When it comes to snowboarding, practice makes perfect. Practice as much as you can. Then practice some more.
Keep working on all the moves and tricks you know, then work on developing a unique style to your moves. Snowboarding is constantly changing and the challenges get bigger all the time, so develop a style that fits you.
Step Four - Get Noticed
The best way to improve you skills and get noticed is to ride on a mountain that has a large base of high-talent riders. Surrounding yourself with the right people can make it easier to make a name for yourself, which can bring you one step closer to competing as a Professional Snowboarder.
Step Five - Enter Snowboard Competitions
Once you’ve gained enough confidence, enter snowboard competitions. You can start by competing locally. Check snowboarding websites, ski and snowboarding resorts and snowboard shops for details on competition. Enter as many as possible to help get your name out there.
Next phase is to enter regional competitions. When you are competing, have someone videotape some of your best tricks. These can be shown to companies from which you are seeking sponsorship and put on the internet.
Step Six - Finding Sponsors
Local Sponsors:
You can start small. Take your video to a local snowboard shop and see if they will provide some free equipment in exchange for advertising their company on the slopes. It may take a bit of salesmanship since you have not yet established yourself. Show them your best video footage and convince them they have a ground floor opportunity to sponsor the next version of Shaun White.
Corporate Sponsors:
As you gain name recognition you need to start building Corporate sponsors. To cover the expense of competing as a hopeful pro snowboarder, most athletes look for the support of corporate sponsors. Usually, these sponsors are suppliers of snowboarding gear. Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call a few snowboard builders and ask them what steps are necessary to get them to take a look at what you have to offer.
They will typically defray the expense of competing by helping you with expenses related to competitions such as traveling and equipment. Some may pay you in exchange for promotion of their products or services. Look for sponsorship at snowboard shops, equipment manufacturers and apparel companies.
The road to becoming a Professional Snowboarder is not easy. You need to have something special. You need the drive and commitment to really want it. Personality and attitude can also play a key role. Here are some tips to get you started on your path to becoming a Pro Snowboarder.
Step One - Buy The Right Gear
You need the right equipment. The first thing you need to do is to educate yourself on the type of snowboarding gear that best suits your body type and riding style. Go to a snowboard shop and ask the staff to help you select the right board, snowboard boots, bindings, jacket, gloves and goggles.
Step Two - Learn the Proper Techniques From an Experienced Snowboarder
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| 6 Year Old Learning to Snowboard |
Enrolling in professional lessons will help you learn the correct techniques faster and prevent you from developing bad habits.
Step Three - Practice, Practice, Practice
As any pro snowboarder will tell you, there are no shortcuts to success. When it comes to snowboarding, practice makes perfect. Practice as much as you can. Then practice some more.
Keep working on all the moves and tricks you know, then work on developing a unique style to your moves. Snowboarding is constantly changing and the challenges get bigger all the time, so develop a style that fits you.
Step Four - Get Noticed
The best way to improve you skills and get noticed is to ride on a mountain that has a large base of high-talent riders. Surrounding yourself with the right people can make it easier to make a name for yourself, which can bring you one step closer to competing as a Professional Snowboarder.
- Make a videotape of your performance in a competition and tape some of your best tricks. This can be shown to companies you are seeking sponsorship from. Send videos to smaller companies and local snowboard shops and market yourself on the Internet.
- Become a snowboard instructor. Some resorts may hire a proficient snowboarder to instruct. Many resorts also offer courses for those who want to become an instructor. This is another way to gain exposure and help gain a sponsor. It will also help you earn money while being out on the slopes.
Step Five - Enter Snowboard Competitions
Once you’ve gained enough confidence, enter snowboard competitions. You can start by competing locally. Check snowboarding websites, ski and snowboarding resorts and snowboard shops for details on competition. Enter as many as possible to help get your name out there.
Next phase is to enter regional competitions. When you are competing, have someone videotape some of your best tricks. These can be shown to companies from which you are seeking sponsorship and put on the internet.
Step Six - Finding Sponsors
Local Sponsors:
You can start small. Take your video to a local snowboard shop and see if they will provide some free equipment in exchange for advertising their company on the slopes. It may take a bit of salesmanship since you have not yet established yourself. Show them your best video footage and convince them they have a ground floor opportunity to sponsor the next version of Shaun White.
Corporate Sponsors:
As you gain name recognition you need to start building Corporate sponsors. To cover the expense of competing as a hopeful pro snowboarder, most athletes look for the support of corporate sponsors. Usually, these sponsors are suppliers of snowboarding gear. Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call a few snowboard builders and ask them what steps are necessary to get them to take a look at what you have to offer.
They will typically defray the expense of competing by helping you with expenses related to competitions such as traveling and equipment. Some may pay you in exchange for promotion of their products or services. Look for sponsorship at snowboard shops, equipment manufacturers and apparel companies.
Author: B. Poulos copyright 2012
