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AustinCooper
Dec 12, 2010, 11:45 PM
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Hello fellow climbers. I am looking into getting a low level sponsorship (like pro deals) with La Sportiva and I want to know if I'm even good enough to have a chance. I am 17, I climb mostly indoors although I would love to get out more. I do mostly bouldering. I've always had a passion for climbing things, but I've only actually been doing rock climbing for about 5 months (4-5 days a week, 2-3 hours a day) My gym is said to be the strictest rated gym in Colorado by many people I've talked to from different gyms. I can easily flash V5, usually flash V6, V7 takes a few tries, V8 takes a couple days, and V9 is a project. All my friends at the gym say I'm getting really good really fast but I want to know an outside perspective. What do you think?
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DuckBeard
Dec 12, 2010, 11:47 PM
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No
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gosharks
Dec 13, 2010, 12:08 AM
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AustinCooper wrote: Hello fellow climbers. I am looking into getting a low level sponsorship (like pro deals) with La Sportiva and I want to know if I'm even good enough to have a chance. I am 17, I climb mostly indoors although I would love to get out more. I do mostly bouldering. I've always had a passion for climbing things, but I've only actually been doing rock climbing for about 5 months (4-5 days a week, 2-3 hours a day) My gym is said to be the strictest rated gym in Colorado by many people I've talked to from different gyms. I can easily flash V5, usually flash V6, V7 takes a few tries, V8 takes a couple days, and V9 is a project. All my friends at the gym say I'm getting really good really fast but I want to know an outside perspective. What do you think?
Not a chance.
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j_ung
Dec 13, 2010, 3:53 AM
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Check with these guys.
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AustinCooper
Dec 13, 2010, 6:27 AM
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Well I know I'm not good enough to get free stuff. I'm not climbing V13-V16. But I've heard that it's relatively easy to get pro discounts (40 or 50 percent off). The staff and friends a the gym keep telling me to go for it. And from what I've heard, V9 in 5 months is faster than any other climbers I know.
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Carnage
Dec 13, 2010, 6:53 AM
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get a part time job at the gym. You'll get pro-deals
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dynosore
Dec 13, 2010, 7:31 AM
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AustinCooper wrote: Hello fellow climbers. I am looking into getting a low level sponsorship (like pro deals) with La Sportiva and I want to know if I'm even good enough to have a chance. I am 17, I climb mostly indoors although I would love to get out more. I do mostly bouldering. I've always had a passion for climbing things, but I've only actually been doing rock climbing for about 5 months (4-5 days a week, 2-3 hours a day) My gym is said to be the strictest rated gym in Colorado by many people I've talked to from different gyms. I can easily flash V5, usually flash V6, V7 takes a few tries, V8 takes a couple days, and V9 is a project. All my friends at the gym say I'm getting really good really fast but I want to know an outside perspective. What do you think?
What gym do you climb at?
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LostinMaine
Dec 13, 2010, 8:47 AM
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AustinCooper wrote: My gym is said to be the strictest rated gym in Colorado by many people I've talked to from different gyms.
It is this part that has me convinced that you ARE good enough for a sponsorship. Don't listen to these other nay-sayers. Put in your app to Mammut and be sure to include this pertinent piece of information.
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theextremist04
Dec 13, 2010, 9:11 AM
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Two paths to sponsorship from where you are:
Go outside and climb. Keep progressing at the rate you are and maybe you'll be up for some sponsorships by the time you graduate college (which you should go to.)
Keep climbing in a gym and start killing it in bouldering comps, at the national level. This'll take a while too.
So basically, give it another year before you do anything. If I worked at a big company and some kid sent me a climbing resume with a bunch of indoor routes, I don't think I could take it seriously. You're in Colorado, there's plenty of stuff to prove yourself on.
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camhead
Dec 13, 2010, 9:15 AM
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flashing v7/projecting v9 is good, way beyond what I can do. It's not going to distinguish you, however. Given the popularity of gym bouldering, every major urban center has some scrawny teenager who can boulder v12.
If you were a hot girl who climbed that hard, a 60 year old man climbing that hard, an active route developer doing FAs that hard, a regional access activist climbing that hard, or someone climbing that hard on sketchy gear or 30 feet above a pad, you MIGHT have a shot at low level sponsorship. But for your demographic and climbing style, you are a very average fish in a huge pool.
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saint_john
Dec 13, 2010, 9:23 AM
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i'm 33 and sending V2s after climbing for 3 months. can I get anything for free? serisouly, I'll take anything: groceries, toilet paper, stamps...
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AustinCooper
Dec 13, 2010, 3:06 PM
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Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. I climb at Miramont North in Fort Collins. I am definitely going to start with outdoor climbing this upcoming season. I would have started sooner but by the time I actually wanted to boulder outdoors, the weather was not optimal. I went up to Chaos Canyon a little while ago but it was way too snowy. I'll keep climbing and see what comes of it. Maybe I'll try for a low sponsorship and see what happens. There's nothing to lose anyway, right?
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johnwesely
Dec 13, 2010, 3:14 PM
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AustinCooper wrote: Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. I climb at Miramont North in Fort Collins. I am definitely going to start with outdoor climbing this upcoming season. I would have started sooner but by the time I actually wanted to boulder outdoors, the weather was not optimal. I went up to Chaos Canyon a little while ago but it was way too snowy. I'll keep climbing and see what comes of it. Maybe I'll try for a low sponsorship and see what happens. There's nothing to lose anyway, right?
Except your pride.
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Jooler
Dec 13, 2010, 3:18 PM
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If you want to try a sponsorship, try a smaller company. La Sportiva is extremely well known, and since they already have a great line-up, they're only going to take the best of the best...
Also, I'm sure you'll be surprised the difference between outdoor climbing and gym climbing...
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caughtinside
Dec 13, 2010, 3:24 PM
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AustinCooper wrote: Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. I climb at Miramont North in Fort Collins. I am definitely going to start with outdoor climbing this upcoming season. I would have started sooner but by the time I actually wanted to boulder outdoors, the weather was not optimal. I went up to Chaos Canyon a little while ago but it was way too snowy. I'll keep climbing and see what comes of it. Maybe I'll try for a low sponsorship and see what happens. There's nothing to lose anyway, right?
No one has ever heard of your gym. You need to start roadtripping down to the Boulder Cock Rub, err, Rock Club, take off your shirt, and start posing.
Keep taking trips to boulder in the snow, it's way hard core. Some other guys just got back from bouldering in the Himalaya, I just read about it on the internet.
Start competing, get your name out there, and get your buddies to video you any time you touch plastic. I for one believe in you, and think you're the next big thing.
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jbro_135
Dec 13, 2010, 3:33 PM
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Hi Austin,
I just read your climbing profile above. WOW, v9s indoors! I would love to have you on my climbing team.
Lucky for you, I just put a small hole in the toe of my moccasyms and I'm too lazy to get them resoled.
Let me know your address and I'll send them to you right away. Hope you're a size 10!
Regards,
j-broclimbing.com
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gerbil
Dec 13, 2010, 3:49 PM
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Registered: Dec 7, 2009
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AustinCooper wrote: Hello fellow climbers. I am looking into getting a low level sponsorship (like pro deals) with La Sportiva and I want to know if I'm even good enough to have a chance. I am 17, I climb mostly indoors although I would love to get out more. I do mostly bouldering. I've always had a passion for climbing things, but I've only actually been doing rock climbing for about 5 months (4-5 days a week, 2-3 hours a day) My gym is said to be the strictest rated gym in Colorado by many people I've talked to from different gyms. I can easily flash V5, usually flash V6, V7 takes a few tries, V8 takes a couple days, and V9 is a project. All my friends at the gym say I'm getting really good really fast but I want to know an outside perspective. What do you think?
you madam, are troller on the most elementary of levels.
p.s. you suck. try red chili, they sponsor anyone.
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mtn_eagle
Dec 13, 2010, 4:37 PM
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AustinCooper wrote: Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. I climb at Miramont North in Fort Collins. I am definitely going to start with outdoor climbing this upcoming season. I would have started sooner but by the time I actually wanted to boulder outdoors, the weather was not optimal. I went up to Chaos Canyon a little while ago but it was way too snowy. I'll keep climbing and see what comes of it. Maybe I'll try for a low sponsorship and see what happens. There's nothing to lose anyway, right?
Since they only rate their problems as rec, int, adv and open, I call your troll. The new Wave Wall is pretty sweet though.
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AustinCooper
Dec 13, 2010, 4:41 PM
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Haha ya, I remember reading that one. The biggest difference here is that he was OSing 5.10 after 3 years of climbing whereas I OS 5.12 and I've only been climbing for 5 months. Who knows, maybe in another year from now I'll be good enough to climb V11 or V12. I'm not sure but I'll keep climbing no matter what because I love it.
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AustinCooper
Dec 13, 2010, 4:46 PM
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mtn_eagle wrote: AustinCooper wrote: Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice. I climb at Miramont North in Fort Collins. I am definitely going to start with outdoor climbing this upcoming season. I would have started sooner but by the time I actually wanted to boulder outdoors, the weather was not optimal. I went up to Chaos Canyon a little while ago but it was way too snowy. I'll keep climbing and see what comes of it. Maybe I'll try for a low sponsorship and see what happens. There's nothing to lose anyway, right? Since they only rate their problems as rec, int, adv and open, I call your troll. The new Wave Wall is pretty sweet though.
Yes it's true, they rate them rec, int, adv, and open. I converted it to the V rating because I thought it was more universal and understandable. But if you want to know, it takes some work but I climb open- and open solid. PS ya the new wave wall is awesome. Love it.
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gerbil
Dec 13, 2010, 4:48 PM
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AustinCooper wrote: whereas I OS 5.12
i thought you onsight v5?
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AustinCooper
Dec 13, 2010, 4:55 PM
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gerbil wrote: AustinCooper wrote: whereas I OS 5.12i thought you onsight v5?
Ya, I flash V5 and V6 and OS 5.11 and 5.12. I was giving a different rating on a different rating system for rope climbing.
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johnwesely
Dec 13, 2010, 5:03 PM
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AustinCooper wrote: gerbil wrote: AustinCooper wrote: whereas I OS 5.12i thought you onsight v5? Ya, I flash V5 and V6 and OS 5.11 and 5.12. I was giving a different rating on a different rating system for rope climbing.
How did you become so amazing at climbing?
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happiegrrrl
Dec 13, 2010, 5:09 PM
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LaSportiva, we are not, but I do own a climbing t-shirt company....
Can you tell us why you feel you would be a good candidate for sponsorship(besides being able to flash whatever the ratings you mentioned in such a short amount of time since beginning climbing)?
What is it that you would bring to the table, as a representative for our company?
Also, pictures do help. Post up - We'd love to see photos of you crushing at the gym.
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