being pro in 2016...

[DISTANT RUMOURS]

Lately I have a hard time understanding how some people maintain their 'pro' status without even having a board out.
When I was in my 'prime' (if you can call it that) a pro was someone with a board out on a skateboard company. Usually a pro was 100 times better than anyone you had ever seen in real life.

These days it's very hard to understand...

I was talking to a friend and we came to the conclusion that there are two ends of the spectrum:

On one end you have people that still skate a lot, don't have a board sponsor but still have some sort of pro truck or pro shoe out somewhere.
People like Mikey Taylor who are constantly hanging around with other pro's, is still skating a lot etc (yes I know he finally got on SVRN) and has a pro shoe out without having a board sponsor.

But you also have people like Jereme Rogers or Nick Dompierre f.e. that don't even have legitimate sponsors (what the hell is LVFT?) but are 'considered' pro?

Is being pro something self acclaimed now? Or is being pro the same thing as 'I just make money through skating so I can call myself pro', which I could understand as well, since boardsales or sales from a pro shoe are not the main income for skaters anymore (and that's absolutely insane if you think about it). In most cases the most money comes from companies that have no connection to skating whatsoever (energy drinks, etc.)

On the other end you have people like BAM, MUSKA, DYRDEK that had boards on element and AWS, for years without even doing an axle stall on a 2 foot quarter. Berra STILL has a shoe on DC and I can't even imagine him on a skateboard anymore. Yes, I do know there's something like legend status and all that. But that can only go on for so long right?

I'm genuinely interested how this all works from a marketing and business point of view.

[straight]

[Manolo]

[MintySandwhich]

Youtube / Vine / Instagram celebrities ask large companies for upwards of $25,000 to do a video on their page as if it's chump change.
A company only cares if a "pro" is helping the company thrive. Unlike back then where it actually meant having skill.

[JAesop]

I can understand the board part because that was always what made you pro in the past. It isn't true anymore, it's definitely more vague.
I think it's basically if anybody is paying you/ investing in you to ride a skateboard it makes you a pro.
As far as the hanging on too long part I guess once a pro , always a pro.

On a side note-The 100 times better/ used to require skill statements are a little off in my opinion.Skateboarding has always had its share of people that probably shouldn't be considered pro. The 1980's were covered up with vert pros that had like 5 tricks and the 1990's ( esp. early 90's) had the equivalent in street skaters. And obviously there are guys right now that shouldn't be pro. I think every generation has 5-10 guys that are just way above everybody else in skill level.

[MintySandwhich]

NEW THREAD:

THE LEAST PRO PRO'S

ANDY FUCKING SCHROCK

[Swithflip]

tired skateboards

[teekayhitya]

? Market yourself, retain relevancy, make money.

[givecigstosurfgroms]

^ thats rite.  'Branding' yourself is the thing now.  Also, back when the pro thing started contests were respected. Once people stopped caring about contests the lines started to blur there i think.

[Pretender]

While technically a pro skateboarder should have their name on a board I don't believe that's really a requirement anymore. In my opinion as long as someone killed it hard enough to gain the respect of the skate community and continues to skate at a relatively high level they still deserve their "pro status" even without a board. I know comparing skateboard to other sports is taboo but look at someone like Ray Allen, he retired a couple years ago and nobody would hesitate to call him a pro basketball player anymore despite not playing in the NBA.

[MintySandwhich]

While technically a pro skateboarder should have their name on a board I don't believe that's really a requirement anymore. In my opinion as long as someone killed it hard enough to gain the respect of the skate community and continues to skate at a relatively high level they still deserve their "pro status" even without a board. I know comparing skateboard to other sports is taboo but look at someone like Ray Allen, he retired a couple years ago and nobody would hesitate to call him a pro basketball player anymore despite not playing in the NBA.

I would agree.
Specially with all these very well known riders switching sponsors at a drop of a hat and not having a proper board sponsor for more than a few months.

[KUberry]

Skateboarding is different than basically any other sport. In traditional sports, being professional is about one's marketability, skill, and personal conduct. Pro basketball players cant post pictures of rolling blunts on instagram, its about being professional from a sense of accountability too.

Im not saying skateboarding is anything like any other sport (might not even be a 'sport' but there is some athleticism to it), but I coupd find a skatepark kid anywhere with as much skill as say TK, but they might not be marketable or able to handle the pressures of professionalism.

I hate to say it, but to me, guys like moose, forrest, etc. arent pro. They didnt have a long enough run. Guys like Jereme Rogers and Devine Calloway are pro bec of the work they put in, the exposure they had, and other factors that have nothing to do with skills on the board.

Lastly, Jereme was pro for girl and plan B before he made his own boards with his name on them. Guys like Andy Schrock who started their own companies are not pro skateboarders. It has nothing to do with the industry either. Youtube pros might understand SEO and marketability thru social media but they are not relevant in the traditional sense what so ever.

[mynameisnotjeff]

NEW THREAD:

THE LEAST PRO PRO'S

ANDY FUCKING SCHROCK

Well, the guy hasn't made himself pro and although he has pros on his team they definitely shouldn't be. But, it's his brand and he can be as stupid as he wants.

[Monkey_Mcpott]

Anyone can have a pro board, hell somebody here can make a slap skateboards and make slap pals pro models if they wanted.I f you have the money you can literally go out and print a skateboard with your name in it.

[ducky darnsworth]

hey guys i'm turning myself pro at the end of the year so i can be apart of the 2020 skateboarding special  Olympics, it'll be for my own company call runner up skateboards, there will be a go fund me page and the highest donors gets a signed dildo with a note saying go fuck yourself and a spot on the 2018 spring drop catalog.

[wattscain]

Since pro is short for "professional", then by definition it's anybody who gets paid/compensated for their work. Basically, anyone who gets paid for skateboarding is a professional skateboarder. But we all know that seems weird when skateboarding is compared to other sports. I think the only way to trim the fat of "professionals" in skateboarding is to create a governing body. I don't know if I would be down for that personally but that's how it would happen

[doublesteveburger]

Anyone can have a pro board, hell somebody here can make a slap skateboards and make slap pals pro models if they wanted.I f you have the money you can literally go out and print a skateboard with your name in it.

Interesting

[concerned_parent]

Skateboarding is different than basically any other sport. In traditional sports, being professional is about one's marketability, skill, and personal conduct. Pro basketball players cant post pictures of rolling blunts on instagram, its about being professional from a sense of accountability too.

Im not saying skateboarding is anything like any other sport (might not even be a 'sport' but there is some athleticism to it), but I coupd find a skatepark kid anywhere with as much skill as say TK, but they might not be marketable or able to handle the pressures of professionalism.

I hate to say it, but to me, guys like moose, forrest, etc. arent pro. They didnt have a long enough run. Guys like Jereme Rogers and Devine Calloway are pro bec of the work they put in, the exposure they had, and other factors that have nothing to do with skills on the board.

Lastly, Jereme was pro for girl and plan B before he made his own boards with his name on them. Guys like Andy Schrock who started their own companies are not pro skateboarders. It has nothing to do with the industry either. Youtube pros might understand SEO and marketability thru social media but they are not relevant in the traditional sense what so ever.

what i think of with the recent rank changes of cromer and sebo.

[RollingThunder]

You are pro in skateboarding when a legitimate board company decides to give you a pro model. Once you've had one, you aren't demoted to amateur status if you lose your board sponsor. I think ISUCK summed it up like that for Forrest and I agree.

[wattscain]

You are pro in skateboarding when a legitimate board company decides to give you a pro model. Once you've had one, you aren't demoted to amateur status if you lose your board sponsor. I think ISUCK summed it up like that for Forrest and I agree.

The situation you described did happen to Stevie Williams. After turning pro for FIT skateboards, FIT went under and Stevie went to Chocolate as an am.

[The Ghost of Lenny Kirk]

stop worrying about the industry and enjoy all the options you have before its gone

[RollingThunder]

Expand Quote

You are pro in skateboarding when a legitimate board company decides to give you a pro model. Once you've had one, you aren't demoted to amateur status if you lose your board sponsor. I think ISUCK summed it up like that for Forrest and I agree.

[close]

The situation you described did happen to Stevie Williams. After turning pro for FIT skateboards, FIT went under and Stevie went to Chocolate as an am.

He might not have a pro model for Chocolate but I would still consider him a pro skater. On second thought, I don't even remember FIT so maybe it doesn't count.

[lampshade]

^ thats rite.  'Branding' yourself is the thing now.  Also, back when the pro thing started contests were respected. Once people stopped caring about contests the lines started to blur there i think.

I agree with the contest observation.  My friends and I started skating at 10-11.  Back then Thrasher and Transworld always had contest articles.  We were coming from "Traditional" sports like baseball, so we just assumed whoever won the contest that month was the best skateboarder.  It was so funny to read the contest articles when first place was like $1,000 and pros were sleeping four dudes to a hotel room.  When the money came back into skating, that was the real game changer.  Tony Hawk's video game, energy drinks, Nike/Adidas/Cons, You Tube, Instagram, etc.  Guys have also figured out how to stretch out their careers.  Way back when, you went pro at 15-16 and were done by 25. 

[pabloalvarado]

Expand Quote

Anyone can have a pro board, hell somebody here can make a slap skateboards and make slap pals pro models if they wanted.I f you have the money you can literally go out and print a skateboard with your name in it.

[close]

Interesting

I want a Tracer pro-model Slap Skateboard on my wall.

[jomeara1]

You are pro in skateboarding when a legitimate board company decides to give you a pro model. Once you've had one, you aren't demoted to amateur status if you lose your board sponsor. I think ISUCK summed it up like that for Forrest and I agree.

 I look at it like being a free agent for the NFL or something.  You're still technically pro, but if you're not getting picked up by a team, well, then eventually you should retire and start looking into a new line of work.  Dudes like Pappalardo are like the "free agents" of skateboarding.

? Market yourself, retain relevancy, make money.

This, this, and this.  Also, just being at the right place at the right time in whatever era of skateboarding.  

[lampshade]

Expand Quote

You are pro in skateboarding when a legitimate board company decides to give you a pro model. Once you've had one, you aren't demoted to amateur status if you lose your board sponsor. I think ISUCK summed it up like that for Forrest and I agree.

[close]

 I look at it like being a free agent for the NFL or something.  You're still technically pro, but if you're not getting picked up by a team, well, then eventually you should retire and start looking into a new line of work.  Dudes like Pappalardo are like the "free agents" of skateboarding.

Expand Quote

? Market yourself, retain relevancy, make money.

[close]

With other sports, the money is just so different from skating.  Sure skating has its stars pulling down good cash, but it also has pros sleeping on dude's couches.  You can ride the bench in the NFL, never see the field, and make $300-$500k.  One of my wife's best friend's husbands is a consummate NFL practice team guy.  6'4" in shape guy, played football in college.  He only plays on the practice squad of a random team every other year or so and makes over $100k.  The rest of the time he just works out and does random construction/blue collar jobs.     

This, this, and this.  Also, just being at the right place at the right time in whatever era of skateboarding.