Strange how it all works

Kevin Williams
April 2008
One thing that has always been on my mind is "what about the older riders?"
I started bodyboarding 20 years ago. Yes I did all the contest in my day and I still do. Strange thing is how sponsors tend to forget you as you age. I still compete, all be it in Masters, yet locally I ride against Beek, Otto etc, and give them a run for their money (both are yet to beat me this year). Deep inside I feel us oldies should also have sponsors, as the groms, boys, juniours (and even some pros) still still look up to us as role models and are always asking for advice etc. At SA Champs, we are the ones keeping the team in place, watching over the younger riders and are always on the beach giving support and advice.

Maybe it's just me, but it's strange how we are always overlooked one the dreaded age sets in.

Bodyboarding 1,361 views

20 Replies

Spy Dude
April 2008
totally agree with you, but i dont ride contests though and my fitness isnt what it used to be.
craigtrilivas
April 2008
Ja the older boys do sorta get forgotten hey.
I mean who mentions the cockwells,thiel or any of the tru legends of SA bodyboarding theez days?
Of course we still have the incredible AT but he is not human I mean come now LOL!!!
All the sponsored riders r indeed very young and okes cant believe how old I am when i tell them.

I used to rip like 10 yrs ago when i was 18 and that tends to be the norm now.
When u hit ur mid twenties okes arent as fit as they used to be and the beatings take their toll on the bones
Plus we have drunk way more beer too
The only peeps who will know me from a bar of soap r the sea-point boytjies and Spex whom I used to surf with every weekend at Glen as a grom,yes u heard right spex as a grom!!!

Is there not sum way the older doods could represent in an underground soul kinda way?
That would be kiff

Until then,big up all u older boogers.
Keep taking ur flaxseed and cartiledge suppliments hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!

stay kiff.
Jmo
April 2008
I've always felt that the chase to get sponsored is a bit dissapointing.
There's a Hooley tshirt that sums it all up:

"Self Sponsored Team Rider"
Len at Science
April 2008
hi guys

we at reef and science do help out a few older riders. Riaan Du Preez (science/reef) Mike van Huysteen (reef) Steve polinski (reef) Paul Basson (reef/science) Marcell Hubbit (reef) Brett Simpson (reef/science) Allen Van Heerden (Science) and spy dude is still to young. its was so great two weeks ago, Mike van Huysteen, Marcell and me all 44 and older surfing waves like kids and having fun. there should be a over 38 or over forty devision. then you keep the dads surfing and they bring their kids into the sport. these dads are the bussinessmen that will bring sponsors into the sport. now a 40 year old must surf against a 28year old grom. Gareth White is a master and he does not even shave yet, so is peter lambert, vaughn harris and many older young guys. well just an idea.
April 2008
true in a sense.. enjoy the sponsorship while you are young cause it doesnt last long in this industry!

But then mind you when you get older, who cares about chasing sponsors for a free t-shirt or a stick for our car? Me im much happier making a living and just enjoying what i want when i want without the worry of begging to get something out of my sponsor after telling them my life story / reason for a new item just to get denied or a thats nice have a free cake of wax ... is it really worth it?

or are we all just getting suckered into reaching for sponsors here? Maybe we should just ride and the sponsors should be begging for us to brand there products? think how much easier and better it would be for the riders if the sponsors were stoked to get a good bodyboarder to ride and use there product?

or maybe im just getting old and couldnt care about that side as likes to short to run around trying to hook up a small discount. Maybe im just old school....

whats the upcoming generation think about sponsorship / there sponsors? offense or no offense i dont care but truthfully i think the sponsors suck in the country for supporting there riders / team and thats why bodyboarding also struggles to go anywhere here.

INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THE UPCOMING RIDERS!!
April 2008
true with what Len says there about the divisions. i believe that should be the same for the mens also. only a certain age groups can enter except pros where anyone can give it a shot!

everyone knows the the mens are pushing it as much as the pros, but then you can just get the pros entering both and cleaning up the mens with ease

just make ages groups according to divisions as there is almost always a big difference in riding between a 28yr old and a 17yr old riding in mens..simple yes?! also you would probably get more people interested in entering.. i know lots of bodyboarders who arent that good and more old school that wont ride cause they have juniors etc riding mens division.. doesnt give them the slightest chance..

maybe be more strict and if you want to ride, ride you age group and stop whinning...
Kevin Williams
April 2008
Lens response is the reason that Science and Reef are booming!!!! I ride a MS8 when it's cold enough (in my case hardly ever) I only use Reef. I rode on the Reef team for about 6 years and they were the only people who really look after their riders. I know this from experience. My list of sponsers back in the day is so long, Wave Warrior, Toobs, Frontline, Wap, Flojos, Pro Class, the list goes on....(now I'm giving away my true age - Wave Warrior used to make awsome boards for Myself and Mike!). The old saying is so true "Support those who Support Bodyboarding". May Reef and Science have many profitable years in this industry cause they put in more than other company! Well thats my idea at least.
Spy Dude
April 2008
Len sponsor me a wetsuit.... hahhahhaha jokes. I will wear my reef till it falls apart. How friggin cold was the water yesterday.
I am and always have and always will be self sponsored, excpet for a brief period where Wavescape (God Bless Steve Pike) paid for my film, processing, scanning and trips around Seth Efrika for photoshoots.

Now we need more of that, Gareth White is doing his best. I actually got sum bucks for a few photos from the Cape Classic, it wasnt much, but was definatly a shit load more than i have ever recieved from the bodyboarding industry in my entire career of shooting boogers. People wonder why i threw in the towel for a few years, i will tell you why, Goat boaters know how to say thanks, boogers (until now) didnt. It sux to put your heart and soul into something and for your own family to kick you in the balls.

Gareth went out of his way to make sure the photos reached the mags and newspapers, no one else lifted a flipping finger, that dude worked it big time and the end result, we score sum bucks and in this world, where money talks and bullshit walks... ya well, nuff said.

So my sponsors are: Me myself and I and Mr White when he is feeling generous.
Kevin Williams
April 2008
I'm actually considering riding pros as well as Masters in the Wimpy Rossi. Wouldn't it wonderfull to see a "Ballie" from Masters beat a couple fo our pros? I wont win pros, definatly Masters, but I recon I could give some pros a run.Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Kevin Williams
April 2008
Don't forget Factory 7 and Surf M'ocean. Derik and Martin are putting in so much here on the coast and across the country. Support them - they support us!
craigtrilivas
April 2008
I think the age group thing is an awesome idea.
Cos is a 17yr old really a man yet???
I was actually thinking of riding masters cos Im almost 29 but i thought the younger doods would think it was lame cos im not that old u kno?
So I decided to ride mens next yr instead.

I hav been skating since I was 7 and surfing since I was 12 and believe me my lower back is SOOO not wat it used to be & neither r my knees after motorbike accidents,kickflips off sets of stairs and backflips etc....
So ja I second that there should b age groups instead of divisions current.

But could this kinda thing ever even b considered is another question.
Len at Science
April 2008
spy dude, you must come in so that we can measure you, no ways that you will be a standard suit. ha ha
Pi bodyboards
April 2008
ja manne kom ons gaan braai!! lat die laaitie vi ons i dop gooi!!
craigtrilivas
April 2008
LMAO!
Elementree
April 2008

Spy Dude wrote:
So my sponsors are: Me myself and I and Mr White when he is feeling generous.

Thanks for the props Spy, but lest we forget that it was actually the WPBA or should i say the sponsors of the Sport Unlimited Cape Classic who payed you.

Sure i was given the media budget with which i could do whatever i chose too, but it was the sponsors who put forward the cash for the event and the WPBA Exco who ensured that there was a media budget.

Credit has to go to many more people than merely myself.

As for sponsoring the ballies...

If you rip and perform well at contests...eg Mr Taylor...companies would be silly not to offer you something.

If you're just in it for the fun...then who cares - as Mark Clark said.

As for me being a Master...well i might be a Master based on age, but if you as any of my buddies, i stuff up way too many sections to be considered a "Master"...

I surf in search of the perfect ride...getting closer to that goal while having fun is my aim.
Chinnychinchin
April 2008
The big name "surf" companies out there are clothing companies and clothing is trend orientated, this means fashion trends actually rule, look at how the fit of the trusty ol t-shirt has changed over the years including colours and graphics/print style. If they were to start sponsoring ol bullies like us, it would look like a freak show!! Mutton dressed as lamb......ha ha ha ha ha I doubt that a crusty ol sea-cat wearing a bad fitting, lumo t-shirt is gonna make the laaities go out and support their brand....ha ha ha ha (we see tourists dressed like that every summer season......ha ha ha ha )
craigtrilivas
April 2008
Dont even get me started on those Euro-sandals!!!
SilverMystic
April 2008

Quote:
Lens response is the reason that Science and Reef are booming!!!! I ride a MS8 when it's cold enough (in my case hardly ever) I only use Reef. I rode on the Reef team for about 6 years and they were the only people who really look after their riders.

Ja en Nee...

You check them all over the beach, sure. Do you see any of their top riders besides Mark Mc overseas? No... they spread all the kontant over 100+ riders so there's nothing left to even pay for transport or entry to comps out of town - dunno if that's supporting or cashing in - se tjulle vir my

Not tjuning they're bad or anything but just asking: "What is support?" - Like Mark Clark said "A cake of wax"?
SilverMystic
May 2008
fkkn funny hoe you sissies all shut up when you get chirped shyt u dont wanna hear
Jmo
May 2008
I agree with Silver Mystic, I reckon sponsorship should be judged on the costs that get completely covered by the sponsor.
1 board a year, 2 boards, 10, 50... depends on your deal. Same deal with fins, wetsuits, clothes, etc.
If your sponsor wants you to ride contests, then your entries and maybe travel should be covered. If they want you to get mad pictures then they should replace the board you broke on that 8ft closeout invert you boosted for the photogs.

In the kiteboarding industry, even in the early days when there was no money in it, the sponsored riders would get a full range of kit worth 15 grand to ride and a box of clothes every 6 months to wear at the beach. The bottom feeder sponsored riders would at least get a range of demo kites to use for a season, then trade them for new ones each year. As kiteboarding grew the 2 brands that put the most into sponsorship were the biggest sellers by far... reaping the rewards.

Likewise those okes getting free kit should work hard for what they get. If you hit the couch and the Pringles,and ditch province trials to play your Nofrendo all day, then you shouldn't get free gear.

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