If we did have some savvy advertising peeps they'd realise the perfect ambassador is the climber who is not only the best but also modest and laidback.
And relatively average talents, who are keen to publicise, get recognition beyond their relative accomplishments.
I just watched that and imagined Ryan being interviewed on BBC news. Pissing myself!!!
A couple of the most heavily 'marketed' British climbers of the past 15 years or so would be Emmett and Gresham. I doubt either would consider themselves to have ever been 'the best' or whatever...
QuoteA couple of the most heavily 'marketed' British climbers of the past 15 years or so would be Emmett and Gresham. I doubt either would consider themselves to have ever been 'the best' or whatever...A great example. Tim and Neil's posed, logo plastered ascents were all over the mags when I was young and impressionable. I, and many of my contemporaries, found them a massive turn-off and consciously avoided the 'cheesy' brands they promoted. As I said, I don't think British climbers are vapid fanbois for whom this kind of marketing has much appeal.I really believe that you are in a minority, most of us have fallen for marketing of this type before. Plus the marketing people get around this by the promotion of the Johnny Dawes type anti hero to get to people turned off by the "cheesy" stuff, but we still all fall for it. As you get older you kind of see through it all a bit but by then your not the target market anymore so dont really count.Neil is the perfect example of the type of climber we are talking about, he was never the best by a decent margin but has gone on to make a successful career out of climbing by giving the companies that sponsor him a good return and raising his profile to there and his benefit. I would hazard a guess that he would appear on a lot more punters "best climber in Britain" list than some of the people dropped by 5.10 would.
A great example. Tim and Neil's posed, logo plastered ascents were all over the mags when I was young and impressionable. I, and many of my contemporaries, found them a massive turn-off and consciously avoided the 'cheesy' brands they promoted. As I said, I don't think British climbers are vapid fanbois for whom this kind of marketing has much appeal.
This guy for blogging about his girlfriend(s)
Even Ondra (who is probably so good as to be a special case) isn't exactly a sponsors wet dream in terms of looks, but beyond immediate ability is actually well spoken and very engaging.
I'm assuming you're still on the 5.10 team JB?
Plus the marketing people get around this by the promotion of the Johnny Dawes type anti hero to get to people turned off by the "cheesy" stuff, but we still all fall for it
On a tangential note I think Neil Gresham is a climbing hero, he's achieved what he has through hard work, he's maintained a high performance for 20 years and he's maintained enthusiasm for climbing while the rest if us have dipped in and out or had periods where we've fallen out of love with climbing. He's a climber to the core, who works hard and is personable. Who is more deserving of earning (and I'm sure he earns every penny) a living from climbing?
Quote from: Danny on February 14, 2014, 10:59:24 amEven Ondra (who is probably so good as to be a special case) isn't exactly a sponsors wet dream in terms of looks, but beyond immediate ability is actually well spoken and very engaging.I think he's done a bit of work on this with a coach or something, he's definitely getting a lot better at it, used to be terrible.
I would hazard a guess that he would appear on a lot more punters "best climber in Britain" list than some of the people dropped by 5.10 would.
You mean he isn't an adolescent any more?