Raising the Bar: Thoughts to Consider for Would-be Professional Climbers

This week hundreds of climbers will head to the winter trade show resumes in hand.  Their time will be spent walking booth to booth trolling for new sponsors, re-uping contracts with old sponsors, and setting their affairs in order for the coming year.  With the introduction of the PCI (Professional Climbers International) it appears as if climbers are being asked to uphold a new standard of professionalism during their pursuits. But, as the world of climbing continues to grow and push to join the mainstream what should sponsors and the community ask from these new found “professional climbers”?  Perhaps more than a graphically designed resume.

 

 

To be certain it takes more than a polished resume to be called a professional, but everyone has to start somewhere. With the job market flooded right now there may be an influx of vagabonds who will be seeking solace in the climbing community.  So this is a call to those climbers who are trolling for their first contract. Before you turn in your next resume and place yourself out there with the title of “professional climber” here are some items you should consider.

 

First, ask yourself, why do you want to be a professional climber?  And then ask yourself how can I stand out in a sea of competing bodies?  Before you sit down in an attempt to gain your next sponsor, stop and think, what would a sponsor want to see within the manila folder you are currently handing over other than several handwritten pages that make up your tick list and a statement that includes the lines “climb hard.” You are entering a new world and if we are going to push climbing to the next level and truly gain the title of “professional climbers” we need to learn how to represent ourselves in the job market.
            
For those of you who have never attempted to enter the work force, a resume is key. But it is more than a pretty graphic layout. It needs to have depth. For instance, the first lines of any resume begin with a mission statement/objective that offers an obtainable goal.  Consider this a “business objective”, but other than “climb hard” contemplate what goals you wish to achieve in your climbing career.  How will you separate yourself from other climbers?  This may seem a bit much but it is the first thing that needs to be answered if you want to be considered a “professional.”  Remember, everyone is flooding the market with “crush V14.” You may want to consider an alternative statement.  Perhaps start out with something that does not involve a letter grade. It is risky but it just may work and it is what should be expected of all “professionals.”

 

 

Of course the bulk of almost every climbing resume is a lengthy tick-list but after your potential sponsor has leafed through your tick-list, posed photos, listened to your mis-adventures, and watched the homemade HD-Video of your most memorable climbs; what else can you offer them? If you want to continue entertaining the title of “professional climber” then you better check the box next to community engagement.  This is the next big step that many climbers have missed the bus on.

 

Think, when was the last time you saw a “professional climber” offer their services as a coach for a youth team, teach a clinic at their local gym, or even participate in a charity fundraiser, free of charge? There are a great number of climbing related charities that are in need of volunteers. Climb Up so Kids Can Grow Up, the Hera Foundation, and numerous other organizations need the assistance of a “professional climber” to aide their cause. Choose a charitable foundation and stick to it.  The climbing community is a small tight-knit family, and the impact a well known face can have upon young climbers and charitable causes will be echoed tenfold.  Perhaps you have heard of Yo Basecamp and the nobody who spends his summers hosting camps for young climbers in the Sierras.  Charitable work can serve as a shiny gold star on your resume and signify to potential sponsors that you have more depth than simply someone who climbs rocks. If you do not believe this is a practice of seasoned professionals then maybe you missed Tuesday after-school specials.

 

This is an essential piece that our community is lacking, but it is a common practice among other, alternative, professional athletes and should be adopted by anyone who would add professional to their title.

Now pitching these two items will help you get your foot in the door, but to seal the deal you need to explain how you will get their product recognized. This is the end-game for any professional/sponsored athlete. Your job is to support product placement and drive sales.  Everyone claims that simply wearing the product is enough. That may be true if your name is Lebron James or Chris Sharma. However, how many shoes do you think your word can sell to climbers you meet at the crag?  Who are you?

 

Start your professional career on the right foot by offering to help rep your potential sponsor’s products on a regular monthly basis.  Every gym holds a member night or a climbing comp.  Tell your potential sponsor that you will rep their product during high traffic times at the gym. If you are actually selling their product then you will already be worth the three pairs of shoes you may try to request during the year and you will be achieving the end result sponsors are looking for and professionals are responsible for. You are being picked up because you are being asked to “sell” product as the companies “professional athlete” but offering an actual action plan other than the idea that someone will see your shoe as your throw the heel hook up on the ledge to top out the canyon’s latest V15 will prove more viable and help you gain a satisfied hand-shake and a sponsorship. Congratulations, you have signed your first sponsorship contract and you are a “professional climber.”  However, if you want to actually make a name for yourself and perhaps some money in the game and have sponsors reach out to you then your professionalism must extend outside of your 20 minute meeting. 

 

The title “professional climber” has been adopted by a group called the PCI and it is a large step forward. Those that would like to become “professional climbers” need to heed the suggestions in this article. Climbing is continuing to grow and move our athletes to uphold the same standards of mainstream sports professionals. If we are going to use the title professional and ask our athletes to maintain a “professional aire” then we need to understand that we must approach the game differently, meet the demands of a new job market and expect more from those who would sit down to negotiate their first sponsorship and those who are simply re-upping their current ones.

-Anthony Lapomardo