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So you started skating for fun as a child, you continued life on the board till your early teens and than realized that there is fame and fortune to be made on your favorite sport and lifestyle. This is where you make your decision to try and get into the realm of the skateboard industry. You want free boards, shoes, and clothes every single month like the professionals get. Once a company is actually thrilled on your skills and you get a sponsor to help you with all your skateboard needs, you go through a hierarchy of skill. You get put on as a "flow rider", which you only get free product every two months or so. Than comes "amateur" where you could possibly get paid a small amount of money to skate and get as much product as you need. You also get to do a good amount of traveling. Once you hit the "professional" status, you can get anything you need when you want it. You can design and make your own signature products. You get a substantial raise where you can live off skateboarding, and your flown around the world showcasing your talents.

So that is the skateboard hierarchy in a nutshell. I wish this were the fact for most skateboarders that actually have the talent. I am not sure what percentage of actual skateboarders that once were am or pro at one time that don't have sponsors anymore. But I am sure it is quite high now. Most skaters go through periods of not having a sponsor. There are a number of reasons why many don't have sponsors. It's like having a nine to five job. That's what skateboarding has become for some skateboarders. Some normally wouldn’t do things such, as enter contests. Majority of skateboarders don't enter them, but some feel obligated too because they need to pay rent and put food on the table and, etc. Trying to maintain or become a professional skateboarder is very hard nowadays. As a skateboarder you are always obligated to out due what everyone else is doing. This is why many find themselves without sponsors because they can't keep up with the ever-growing youngsters in the sport.

The skateboard industry is a very unstable industry. It can be compared to the stock market and its unpredictable curves. There are many skateboarders that had sponsors but were fired or quit for similar reasons. Plus in skateboarding if your not doing the best trick or putting out a good amount of coverage for people to see you, there is a good chance you could find yourself on the unemployment list. Someone once said getting any where in this industry is 50% who you know and 50% how good you really are. The skateboard industry can be very shady and corrupt at times. Skateboarders started most of the companies but some have evolved into corporate monsters looking for something to cash into while it's hot. The industry could literally spit you out at any moment. Shadiness, greediness and ruthlessness are the main characteristics that make up the skateboard industry. Many skateboarders hate it and love it at the same time. This is why they all participate in a potential great industry but it could become the worst industry. This is what I come to call the "Skate Life."