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You’re mistaken. My wife was a sponsored rock climber when we met, and we know quite a few top level climbers (including a couple that non climbers might actua
by jasonkester 5y ago
You’re mistaken.
My wife was a sponsored rock climber when we met, and we know quite a few top level climbers (including a couple that non climbers might actually have heard of). Sponsorship keeps many of them going, but not at the level you’re thinking of.
Think “can afford to do a euro trip staying at Airbnb’s”. Which is cool, but you probably make more than any of them with your developer gig.
- pcthrowaway 5y agoI'm certainly not arguing that many climbers are making $1 million/year from sponsorships, but I do think some are, or occasionally do anyway. One of the interesting things about climbing though, is that this is often all the compensation climbers get. There aren't climbing leagues/teams that pay climbers a salary comparable to other sports (I suspect some competition climbers get paid a salary or stipend, but I doubt it's as much as a professional football/basketball player). But there is so much money to be made from selling climbing equipment, the manufacturers are heavily incentivized to get their names out. And the superstar climbers like Honnold will get sponsorships from other companies as well (Red Bull, Clif Bar, etc.)
- jasonkester 5y agoI guess what I’m trying to say is that we actually know the guys (and girls) who would be making those millions if anybody was. And they’re not. One day hopefully.
- yxwvut 5y agoI think the intended list of 'who would be making those millions' is limited to maybe 5 people (eg: Alex Honnold or Adam Ondra), not the hundreds who call themselves 'pro climbers' (ranging from the top echelon of rock and competition climbers to dirtbags getting a discount on shoes).