Being sponsored kiteboarder is all about free gear, a company credit card and first class upgrades right? Not unless you're Aaron Hadlow, and even then the guy has to work for it. 

Chances are, you're definately not gods gift to the surfing world. So sponsors aren't going to come knocking on your door because you're awesome. But by taking notice of how YOU are portraying yourself to the kitesurfing world, you can maximise your chances of getting noticed by one of the big kiting companies. And that's where Mr Pete Cabrinha comes in. With one of the biggest networks of team riders in the business, he's got a few ideas for what he's looking for. 

So take note you kids! Stop asking to get sponsored and start promoting yourself online - because that's where it's at. Here's a few of the key points from a fantastic article posted by Pete Cabrinha earlier this week.www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151155746322240&set=a.384922852239.161911.347387377239&type=1

"On a weekly basis I get approached by people looking for sponsorship. The common questions are: What type of things are you looking for from a rider? What are the deciding factors when choosing a sponsored rider? So I thought I would take some of the mystery out of the process and let you in on things that we at Cabrinha Kiteboarding look for when choosing a rider. These are listed in order of priority. 

While some of this may apply to other companies much of it will not. Cabrinha is company that puts an equal amount of weight on Rider Performance and Lifestyle. We feel that no matter how serious you are about this sport, no matter how good your competition results are, you have to be enjoying it. The passion has to be there.

Talent.

Talent is a pretty broad term and I use it here instead of more defined measurements such as competition results. Whether you are a competition rider or someone who has a way with the media, your kiteboarding talents or skills need to be world class. Talent is king and this is the first thing that will get us to look your way. Sometimes we bring riders on board early in their careers because we recognize that they have talent and we can see the potential in where those skills will take them. Other times we pull directly from the competition talent pool where their results speak for themselves. Either way you must have the skills that represent today’s high level of riding.

Attitude
We put this one high on the list because if you have talent and a great attitude, the rest of it will fall into place much easier. Having a great attitude doesn’t need much explanation. If you have it, your friends will know it, the media knows it, the people at your beach know it, and we’ll know it. Its about your ability to showcase and share the sport with everyone. Especially with the people you don’t know. When looking at it from a brand’s perspective, a good attitude reflects on the brand in a way that is measurable and valuable to us. 

In today’s changing media landscape you, the rider, have far more control of your media destiny than ever before. You have the ability to broadcast your game to the world in photos, video and written form. This is HUGE for both you and us and doing this well can elevate your status within our team. Once you are established, this alone can be the factor in what keeps a sponsor interested in you." 

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151155746322240&set=a.384922852239.161911.347387377239&type=1

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