yes, people like tanner make a good deal of flow, but they are the best.
average pro= $7,000=20,000 a year (short lived too)
many of these talented skiers think skiing is all you have to do. but lets face it, only 3 positions are available for recognition at the majority of contests. sure, your BRO earned 12 place at the Open and can't stop talkin' about it, but the sponsors don't consider that top selling/marketing of their product; unless he/she is 15 and a will earn top three sometime soon; so they invest some flow into them.
If the best your gonna do is "12th", you need to be marketing yourself in other ways (i.e. film, articles, photos, etc.) Here is another way of lookin' at it: Eric Pollard or Sage Cattebriga enters the US Open and don't even qualify for the semi's. They know this isn't their game and so they diversify their bonds by gettin' dope film segs, photos published in every mag, articles written, ads placed, etc. Although they are some the styliest skiers around, they know they have to put it in front of the camera.
My post is suckin'. Oh ya, people like Eric, Sage, and Brad Holmes, just happen to be in the right place at the right time.
