Chris Daniels

Jun 15, 2022

How to Get Sponsored by a Fingerboard Company

Alright, alright. Sponsorship time. This is the most talked about subject in fingerboarding. How do I get free fingerboard stuff?

I've been fingerboarding since 1998, and landed my first sponsor in 2000. I've been sponsored by the most visible companies in the fingerboarding scene such as Flatface, Blackriver, and Berlinwood. What I tell you below is as applicable now as it is today.

First things first, the advice below is simple, straightforward, but probably not what you want to hear.

• Knock it Off: Quit with the "Can you sponsor me?" stuff. That's a huge turn-off. Company owners are peppered with these questions daily, and it makes it really easy for them to blacklist you for asking. Fixating on being sponsored is a lousy way to enjoy this hobby.
• Get Out There: Fingerboarding is a social activity, now more than ever before. Get your booty on over to some in-person events! This is easily the best way to get sponsored. If a company owner really likes you, chances are down the road they will consider sponsoring.
• Contribute towards building fingerboarding: This is just as important as fingerboarding skill. Help by hosting an event, make "How To" videos, build a local community group, provide advice to newbies on Reddit/r/fingerboards, get the drift? A company owner will notice that you care about fingerboarding beyond yourself. Hint: I didn't get sponsored by Blackriver or Berlinwood by just posting YouTube videos.
• Buy and use their product: If there is a company you want to be sponsored by, use their product and tag it in your video. The point is that you should be a fan of the product and enjoy using it.
• Build Your Brand: Post regular fingerboard content and build your following. This is important because you are representing a company, and the company should get something back, which is exposure to your audience. To do that you need to have an audience already built before a company will take a chance on you.
• Have Fun! This is the most important thing. Don't fret about getting free stuff. The best part about this hobby is you get out what you put in.

These tips all helped me land amazing sponsors over the years. Next time I talk about sponsorship, I'll give you tips on you how to support your sponsor big!