sponsors

So I am at the Los Angeles triathlon expo and I see this guy wearing a champions triathlon t-shirt, a race I won in march in pflugerville.  I go up and ask him if he is from Austin and he says no but I work with Champion systems, we sponsor that race.  We got into a brief conversation and he asks me "do you race all over".  I replied yes, which I definetly do (thank you mom and dad), he hands me a business card and says send me an email maybe we can get you some free gear.  I was so excited I almost fell down.  The man was Scott Kaylin, president of Champion systems.  And Yes they have offered me a sponsorship.  But most sponsorships dont come so easily, or randomly.  I should also say that amateurs are not as limited as you might think in their ability to get sponsorships.  Age groupers can find sponsorships if they look and are adamant about a particular brand and if you don't believe me go look at the hammerbucks program, they pay out big if you like hammer and wear their kit, which I don't to either.

Being the end of the year I set out to find sponsors by hunting around the ol' interweb and it has been  pretty good so far. I have 3 confirmed sponsors, Xterra wetsuits who offer me great discounts 66-75% for myself AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!  if you want one just ask.  I have first endurance giving me discounts on nutrition products including the magic pill Optygen HP which my biology professor said was a drug for its abilities.  As I mentioned earlier I have champion systems providing me with clothes, although those details havent been worked out yet.  But for them to produce the tri suit that is worn by gomez and my idol Greg bennett makes me giddy.  I seriously cannot wait to see it.  I will probably spend a week or two training in it just to see how cool it is, and so everyone can see all the sponsor logos that I am putting on it.  I think I am also going to get free product from Nuun the electrolyte tablets.  I work for them as a sampler and the sales manager said I would get free product,  I will definetly want their logo on my race suit just because I like them that much.

I got lucky with Champion systems, but finding sponsors is really all about showing interest, showing good performance, and showing how you can benefit their company.  Sponsors want to gain something out of it not just give it away because they think your fast.  I would say my best selling point was my coaching and personal training.  Because I do swim coaching and I am connected in the fitness industry of Austin I can market products to my clients the way that my coach marketed to me.  I remember One time James gave me a bottle of endurolytes for free and I used them for two years!  Until I discovered Nuun and realized how much better it was.