Professional Skateboarders

The best of the best in skateboarding are the pro skateboarders. Here is a look at what it takes to join the ranks of professional skateboarders.

Pro skateboarding is a relatively newer sport. While skateboarding has been a popular sport for some time, it is only with more recent events like the X Games that has brought the pro skateboarder into the lime light. This has seen a dramatic surge in professional skateboarding and its popularity.

If you are wondering how to be a pro skateboarder, you have to realize that it is not going to happen overnight. It takes the average professional skateboarder years in the sport before they are able to make a career in professional skateboarding. However, with such steep competition, the average salary for a professional skateboarder can easily run into 6 digits.

In order to become a pro skateboarder, you have to find a sponsor. This means going to competitions and events where sponsors will see you. Then they may comp you boards and other items to see if you can prove yourself in the world of skateboarding. If they like you, they will start featuring you in ads and videos or even tours. Continue to prove yourself, and you may soon find yourself living large with a six figure salary and touring the world to participate in events.

Many pro skateboarders take up skate boarding at a very early age. For instance, Paul Rodriguez, a professional skateboarder, got his first board at age 6 and got his first sponsor around age 14. Andrew Reynolds, another pro skateboarder, started skateboarding at the age of 9, and turned pro at 17.

While skate boarding remains predominately a male driven sport, there are female pro skateboarders out there. Women pro skateboarders like Abbey Whitney, Linda Vaughn, Elissa Steamer, Alayna Scheibel, Ani Kellog, Heidi Fitzgerald, Kim Peterson, Zea Page-Botelho and more are there to show girls that they too can keep up with the guys when it comes to skateboarding.

Skateboarding also crosses color and nationality barriers. There are many black pro skateboarders, as well as other nationalities, making skateboarding a very diverse sport.

If you want to become a professional skateboarder, the best thing you can do is practice. With time, if you get your skills high enough, you can start competing and then will hopefully get noticed by a sponsor. Keep in mind that the competition will be tough, so you will always have to strive to be one step ahead.