What is the definition of a pro rider?
- Thread starter Hardass
- Start date
S
Sno Junkie
Active member
From what I have seen since I joined Snowest, is that everyone on this board is a pro-rider....at least they have opinions like they are.
how long before someone says "i went to school last year for snowmobileing thats how i got sponshured"
if you can ride is one thing, if you can ride wrench, guide, teach, and keep people from freakin out along with it then you have pro potential. but id guess actual "pros" have made a career of it and it is not just a nasty addiction like mine
I guess it depends. Generally I'd say if you're "pro" it probably pays the mortgage/rent... meaning people or companies pay you to ride. Film companies are a dime a dozen these days since cameras are relatively cheap, and it seems the number of "pro" sponsored riders in wrapped sleds has sky-rocketed in recent years. I don't think many people are earning a living off of snowmobiling, probably just a handful. Even then I'm willing to bet a lot of them subsidize their income in the summer working construction or doing something else as well. Chris Brown is probably the only person in Whistler making a decent money off of snowmobiling, there are a lot of "athletes" up here, but I don't think many get paid to ride, just gear.
It's completely different from skiing or snowboarding, where sponsors actually pay their riders travel budget to help them film and go on expeditions for magazine articles. An entry level travel budget is ~$5,000 from a single sponsor, and someone at the top is making $50-60,000 a year retainer/contract from their outerwear sponsor or ski/board sponsor on top of travel which can be in the tens of thousands if theyre doing Heli skiing trips to AK. Then there are photo incentives where athletes get paid from sponsors for every photo they get in magazines, or covers.
Major eyewear, outerwear and ski companies also shell out large money to film companies for them to use their athletes. They pay a title sponsor fee, then a per athlete fee. Depends on the film company, and other things. (it's not unusual for film companies to charge an athletes sponsors a fee of $10,000 or more before travel fees for them to work with that particular athlete)
I haven't heard of anything like that existing in snowmobiling.
It's completely different from skiing or snowboarding, where sponsors actually pay their riders travel budget to help them film and go on expeditions for magazine articles. An entry level travel budget is ~$5,000 from a single sponsor, and someone at the top is making $50-60,000 a year retainer/contract from their outerwear sponsor or ski/board sponsor on top of travel which can be in the tens of thousands if theyre doing Heli skiing trips to AK. Then there are photo incentives where athletes get paid from sponsors for every photo they get in magazines, or covers.
Major eyewear, outerwear and ski companies also shell out large money to film companies for them to use their athletes. They pay a title sponsor fee, then a per athlete fee. Depends on the film company, and other things. (it's not unusual for film companies to charge an athletes sponsors a fee of $10,000 or more before travel fees for them to work with that particular athlete)
I haven't heard of anything like that existing in snowmobiling.
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R
RockyMtnKing
Member
If you generate more income snowmobiling than you spend snowmobiling, I would consider that a profession. (And since I spend a lot of income and don't generate any with this sport, I'm very much an amateur!)
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Nads has it dialed and is connected to both sports at elite levels.
There are likely 6 western riders who sled for income. And a handfull of Snoxers as well. After that most will have summer or year round employment.
The ski/board biz is a tad diff.......based on demographics and sheer volume. The only cool thing is every "Pro" skier or knuckledragger owns a sled. Probably bought by one of their sponsors to shoot backcountry footy rather than heli time on chill days.
So yes there are "Pro" sledders.....but not many. Pro skiers/boarders in the hundreds if not thousands.
Personally have worked with both sides......if they love snow so do I
Cheers
RS
There are likely 6 western riders who sled for income. And a handfull of Snoxers as well. After that most will have summer or year round employment.
The ski/board biz is a tad diff.......based on demographics and sheer volume. The only cool thing is every "Pro" skier or knuckledragger owns a sled. Probably bought by one of their sponsors to shoot backcountry footy rather than heli time on chill days.
So yes there are "Pro" sledders.....but not many. Pro skiers/boarders in the hundreds if not thousands.
Personally have worked with both sides......if they love snow so do I
Cheers
RS
S
snowmobiler
Well-known member
im here to answer questions.
Most graduate from college before becoming a real "Professional"...
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I am a professional. I snowmobile. But my "Profession" isn't snowmobiling.
I think Burandt is the only "PRO" rider, as all of the others still have to work normal jobs to pay the bills.
Rasmussen, Entz, Dyer, Brown, Adams. They all have real jobs in the dirt season.
I think Burandt is the only "PRO" rider, as all of the others still have to work normal jobs to pay the bills.
Rasmussen, Entz, Dyer, Brown, Adams. They all have real jobs in the dirt season.
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