Quiz the Coach - How Do I Get To The X Games?

Courtesy of EXPN

Courtesy of EXPN

So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or hockey? Got a gripe about P.E. class, skateboarders, cheerleading, coaches, or anything? Why not Quiz the Coach?

Hey Coach,
How do you get into the X Games for skateboarding or any other sport? How do you get enough sponsors and sponsorship to get in?
Lucky8

Hey Lucky 8,
The X Games has now become a very exclusive club. The only way you can ride the rails and half-pipe of the X Games is to be invited by the Games' selection committee, which only picks established skaters who have proven themselves at big events. So, unless you've had a good finish at an event like the Mountain Dew Action Sports Tour, you won't be riding with Bob Burnquist, Eric Koston or any of the other athletes at the X Games.

That doesn't mean you should give up your dream of an X Games invitation, but be prepared to start small. Enter a few local amateur skate comps and if you do well, you'll be sure to get noticed by sponsors. There aren't very many Ryan Shecklers out there who can make it big when they're 13, so don't expect a big sponsorship deal right away and don't expect to see an X Games invitation in your mailbox just because you've done well at one competition. The best rule to follow when it comes to making it as a pro skateboarder is to not think too much about getting sponsored. If you skate hard and have the talent, the sponsors will eventually come calling. For more info and tips for getting sponsored by a skate company, click here.

Do you need tips or advice on sports, fitness or health? Send it to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.

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