Parkour Sponsorships

[EthanK]

-I've noticed the forums haven't sparked up much conversation yet, so I thought of a neat way to start off some really promising discussions.

So here is the question:

"What is your opinion on Parkour sponsorships, or sponsorships in general?"

-About a year back, I remember reading an article on americanparkour which stated there were some traceurs over in Europe that were being sponsored by cigarette companies. Naturally, it brought up a point about sponsorships that were almost completely assaulted in a bad light, nobody said much more then, "damn those people, why accept something like a sponsorship from a cigarette company!" I was more curious as to what sponsorships meant for those Traceurs and for what situation they were in to accept such a thing, even if they did or did not care what image they were making for themselves.

So I have another question:

"Would you accept a sponsorship from a company that you know would put on a bad image for the whole of parkour?"

Although, please don't limit yourself to simply these questions, let the discussion float around a bit and perhaps let it become something that branches off a bit.


~Estmid

[Steven the Red]

Why would a cigarette company even want to advertise with traceurs? the demographic doesn't seem to match up. What exactly does a sponsorship entail? what do they expect for there investment? do you just have to wear shirts with there corporate logo on the back, or do you have to show up for specific events and "perform" in the name of our corporate benefactors? I suppose it would weigh heavily on who the sponsors are.

[EthanK]

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention, I myself am not quite sure on what a sponsorship really entails, so if anybody knows more about this, I would love some light to be shed on this topic.

[charles]

Shade of grey. The kinds of sponsorships you're talking about you don't really see anymore. If someone wants to get sponsored by an energy drink company, whatever. It's not what I would do, but exposure is exposure - good or bad. We know and are representations of positive parkour. We know why we do what we do and the reasons behind it. That influence is greater than that which flows through the media.

So, redbull for instance, portrays freerunning in a more extreme light. You can scoff, but in the end, they're bringing freerunning to the masses who will at some point search us or a community out. We need to be open to that and accept them in so that they can see what it is truly about.

[leanda]

hi, it's a great time you know i've been practicing parkour for two and a half years and i train almost full time. i have been looking into the possibility of a sponsorship to allow me to keep training instead of a full time job. do you know of any companies that offer parkour sponsorships or even what the benefits of a sponsorship would be?

i know a lot of traceurs are against the idea of sponsorship, but i assure you im not trying to sell out, i just need a little help with the bills if im going to keep training on a regular basis. besides id rather it be me representing parkour than some extremest.

[Josiah Salmon]

Ethan, that is a good idea.

Over the next year or two, I would like to develop a Rochester Parkour Team consisting of some more experienced members...maybe sponsorship could occur at that point. With that said, I must agree with Charlie, I would not represent a company I wouldn't personally support.

Cigarettes, no.

Red Bull....eh, doubtful...but maybe.

[christler1992]

what would be the specifications for this said team? whats required?

[Josiah Salmon]

Hey Christler, since it's just an idea right now, there's no official information;however, requirements would include skill, time, and commitment.