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I think if you are over the age of 20 with no sponsors/connections but are still actively trying to make it in the skate industry you are pretty much fucked.
I had a friend who was similar to this. Was on flow for a few big brands really was insanely good, but still not good enough to make it. Dude tried until his early 30’s and gave up. Lost his identity and everything, very sad to watch.
no other career path?
Have kinda known some people like this. I guess it's hard to have a career if you're trying to make skating work. Constantly hurt or trying to travel you basically have to put all your eggs in one basket.
I don't know about 20 being the cutoff I think Jake Hayes went pro in his very late twenties and Gabriel summers was in his 30s. Altho I'd rather give up and take any job over doing what gabbers does
There are for sure exceptions but both of your examples had already made a decent name for themselves and were on very reputable companies long before going pro. I’m talkin fools who are maaaybe shop flow, maaaybe a weird smaller local board sponsor, but still think they’re gonna be a big name in the industry. They all do illegal ass fucking tricks too lmao
Exactly, using those few exceptions is like saying that because Alan Rickman, Samuel L Jackson, and Harrison Ford made it later in life that all hopeful actors should tough it out, because that could be them!
Overwhelmingly the main indicator of success in both acting and skateboarding is starting with some amount of privilege. Usually that’s money so that you can afford to do more and you’re not worrying about making ends meet, sometimes it’s in who you happen to know.
If you’ve been at it for around 5 years, not skating but like actually getting sponsored and trying to move up, and it’s not happening, it’s probably time to start seriously considering other options.