Mountain Biking - my first Sponsor

ok, guys, i'm stoked...

for a long time now i've been meaning to write out some emails/letters asking for sponsorship for my various MTB activities -- doing the 8-day MTB stage race the TransAlp Challenge in July, i am a MTB Guide and lead day, multiday tours plus an annual 8-day Transalp tour, plus i give MTB technical riding courses, plus i lead a weekly group ride here in Munich.

anyway, i finally got the time and wrote out a brief draft and sent it to one company - the one where i actually want something in the near future (my girlfriend needs a new helmet) - and sent it last night -- today, less than 24 hours later, i got a call and they are interested in sponsoring me and my girlfriend (the TransAlp Challenge is a 2-person team and she's also a MTB Guide).

anyhow, it's a helmet company and they said we'll definitely get a 2nd of their top-of-the-line helmets for my girlfriend (i already have one). they were also particularly interested because of my other interests - namely snowboarding and extreme skiing as they have a new snowboard helmet this year (i already have one from a competitor, but i could change that)

anyhow, he asked what we want from sponsorship... i never mentioned money directly but i did offer to consider something more like a photo shooting and left it kind of open. From our side i definitely offered to use their logos on our websites, race-jerseys, etc.

the company is in Germany and not very far away, so i wil probably meet personally with the representative in the next few weeks... so what exactly should i be looking for/expecting?

thoughts? ideas? and i'll let you guys know about it when it gets all settled - they have a good product and i'd love to represent them!

Congratulations! I can't offer any advice but I think it's great you got a positive response. Sometimes you just have to ask...

If they are willing, hit them up for travel expenses, entry fees and perhaps some cash if you place, say... in the top 10 not to mention free helmets. Or you could just start with the small things like free helmets and perhaps enty fees.

By the way, you are supposed to be getting the word out for their product, well who are they?

It would not be Cratoni would it?

:beer:

No advice, But SHAWEEEET!!!!!!!

By the way, you are supposed to be getting the word out for their product, well who are they?
well, i was going to, but then since it's not all worked out yet, but i guess it doesn't hurt anything.

Casco helmets, based in Stuttgart Germany. in addition to a lot of regular helmets, what i REALLY like is their lightweight Full Face helmet with a removable chin protector, the Viper MX. it is somewhat simliar to the Giro Switchblade except lighter and no tools needed to remove the chin-guard. it is great for Freeride/mixed tours where a "real" full-face helmet is too heavy. i put the chin-guard and my body armour on my pack and ride with a "normal" helmet. then for the downhill/agressive/technical stuff i put on my armour and snap on the chin-guard...

they also make a fiberglass/kevlar Downhill helmet that i hope to try out...

the Casco Viper MX (black helmet on left is with the Chin-guard removed, but the same helmet as the other 2)

i wish i was sponsored

those are sweet helmets

That's cool nathan, that would be a great incentive to ride even harder.

Congrats. With the amount of riding and mountain sports you do I think it was only a matter of time. You going to start keeping a portfolio and go for more sponsorship?

Congrats. With the amount of riding and mountain sports you do I think it was only a matter of time. You going to start keeping a portfolio and go for more sponsorship?
actually yeah. i've already got 2 additional partial sponsorships this week (Deuter backpacks and - i think - Crank Brothers) -- "just" no-cost equipment... and waiting on a response from another...

unfortunately i started too late as the MTB sponsorship "season" is Oct-Feb... but hopefully with a decent showing in the TransAlp Challenge (i think my goal is 30th in the Mixed - top 10 is impossible as it's all top pros) plus all my guiding and my technical courses this year, next year I should have some chances for even more (maybe even a frame, fork, or component group sponsor)... some day i also need to put together a web site - to list all my creditials and tours online. when i get it set up i'll post to let you guys take a look.

Ever think of coming over here to do the trans-rocky challenge. I believe it is a little 'easier' but is still a huge race. 7 days if my memory serves me (which it never does ;))

Ever think of coming over here to do the trans-rocky challenge. I believe it is a little 'easier' but is still a huge race. 7 days if my memory serves me (which it never does )
actually yeah. last year a friend and i were thinking about the TransAlp Challenge... then waited too long and it was full and we were then thinking about the TransRockies... but decided it was too expensive - you need to fly, plus bascially 2 weeks vacation - time to fly, beat jet lag, get to the race... 7-8 days racing, then fly back... (the TAC i can swing with 6 work-days vacation - maybe 7)

now i've decided to the TransAlp first - and then see.

the TransRockies per the numbers is a little easier (fewer vertical meters, etc), BUT i think it is just as grueling, mainly b/c it is more "wild" with river crossings and you have less support (by the TAC we have minimum 2 food-stations per day + full service each night) not sure if they TRC is so "luxury"... if my memory is right, the TRC has a much higher "did-not-finish" rate than the TAC. _I_ have the impression the TAC is more the "big race" (way more pros ride the TAC) and TRC is more the "big adventure" which is also cool!

also, we'd have to pay for a plane ticket in addition to race entry... but yeah if the TAC goes well, i think the TRC would be a good possibility for 2005... hopefully we do well and i can work on some more sponsoring... plus both my girlfriend and i really want to visit western Canada (she has never been there, i know Whistler/Vancouver from snowboarding and the Sea-2-Summit Adventure Race but not really so much for MTBing) --- IF something cool works out with vacation and $$$ for us, we would like to do a western canada trip in August 2004 (dang i could probably only bring one bike -which one?)... but my vacation is already mostly planned... i think it's more a hope than reality for this year...

Maelstrom: why don't you come over here? the 8-day TransAlp tour i guide is August 13th-20th... we're working on a route simliar to what i did in 2002 but with EVEN more single-trails (although nothing major technical as there is not enough interest in a true "freeride" Transalp) and we're *only* doing 1400-1800meters vertical per day (4600-6000ft) - you can handle that! plane ticket to Munich is all you need!! all costs included: good food, accomodations (hut/hotel) , 2 super guides, return transport to Munich... = about €550-800 for the 8-day tour... plus you could hang with us for a day or 2 afterwards in Lake Garda for some Freeride stuff...

Its an idea but I can't do it this year. Work is not gonna let me have any time mid summer off. Maybe another year as it sounds interesting. But yeah I could probably handle that :)...as for the 'freeride' part of it. At 1400 to 1800metres I wouldn't want freeriding in there as well, that would just hurt haha :)