How to Turn Pro and Make a Career From Skateboarding

Whether you dream of taking Gold at the Tokyo Olympics for Skateboarding, or being named Thrasher Magazines Skater of the Year and releasing the best street part ever, it’s good to have a dream and chase it.

When I was 12 I would dream about the sponsors I wanted when I grew up. Me and my friends would decide which company would best fit each of us based on our skills and styles and we’d pretend we were pro for those companies. It was a motivating, exciting, vision.

Dreaming of a career as a professional skateboarder is one that all young skaters had, however the reality was much harder. Seeing how sponsorship could become a full time career was hard. There were few examples of peers who had successfully made a career without needing a second job and the motivation waned.

Can you make a career as a pro skater?

With skateboarding now in the Olympics, and more attention being put on skating than there has been for years, the prospect of making a successful career from skateboarding feels real again.

If you’ve been skating and improving fast, entering a few contests, maybe even picking up a few small sponsors, you might be getting excited for this dream.

So how do you turn the dream into the reality?

Focused work and strategy. Don’t just hope it happens, make it happen.

Becoming a pro skater takes more than just good skill. Some of the best skaters in the world don’t make a career and some of the best careers in pro skating aren’t the best skaters. It takes personal brand, management, financial smarts, and planning to create a longterm career.

Luckily, there is now a new place for you to get the support and knowledge you need to help you progress!

ESM Australia is an Athlete Management and Development company built to help you realise your dream. They help emerging and elite talent in the action sports space to build their career, enhance performance, and create longevity. If you have been wondering how to make a career as a professional skateboarder, this is your next step.