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I think it's refreshing to see that you can make a living riding a dirt bike even if you aren't a top SX or MX guy but at the same time that money could be going to an up and comer who's struggling to race because of money couldn't?
I've got nothing against the whip guys making money, it's cool someone can make a living just doing wheelies and whips. I feel like the whip fad is going to die off though, every video I watch I feel like it is the same turn down whip for 3 minutes. It's cool, I certainly cannot do it, but I miss the old video of watching dudes flat out shred turns and rough straights.
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Edit: ML elaborates for me below
This is all in good fun so don't nobody go and get butthurt!
Also, that's not to say that what Axell does is mediocre or doesn't require work, he's just very skilled and does his thing and gets paid.
Lots of " OEM Sponsored" aka, Factory Dudes, make good money riding and promoting product in other sports without racing.
Sure, Racing guys make a decent living also, but more people in general make the same or more by appealing to all those who ride for fun.
They have all the same sponsors racers do, gear, boots, helmets, goggles, etc etc and get paid to promote just the same.
FLY Racing was selling lots of stuff to sled guys long before they were a household brand in mo
Bottom guy is a backcountry skier who got everyone to sponsor him.
"Hey, I need sleds to get to the backcountry, and I'll jump it off cliffs also!"
https://youtu.be/BtV9Sl1KJk8
It's one of those cases where in certain areas you could ask a few random people if they know who Ken Roczen is and who Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg is.... You're going to run into some people who know who Twitch is but don't know K-Roc and vice-versa.
Why does Axell make money? People pay to watch and the sponsors want those eyeballs.
Monster is in the business to make money. A lot of it.
Core MX fans would love the $$$ to roll into a B/C level team or a couple privateers, but a kid like Axell or Tyler are going to sell more cans of Monster.
Think of where the racing side of the sport would be (both am and pro) if Monster wasn't in the picture.
Rather than complaining about what they aren't doing, I think more need to be thankful they are pumping as much money into the sport as they are...regardless of the who/what/when/where/how.
Jeff Glass was sponsored by Surf Detergent and not really a top 20 rider.
Plenty of mid-field amateurs and experts get free gear, parts discounts, etc. just by creating a resume. Nothing wrong with him selling himself.
Again, still waiting for pictures of his girlfriend ????
Crazy one, James Stewart isn't even in the top 100 for interactions anymore because he has gone dark and he has the largest following...
He had Red Bull, Fox, Oakley, Polaris, Ski Doo you name it. Everyone.
And this was damn near 20 years ago. And he never really raced. He was just a backcountry snowmobile guy who took it real far with videos doing shit nobody would ever get to do really.
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agreed. That number is pretty impressive from a marketer's perspective.
A little while back a buddy of mine were talking about sponsorship stuff. They happen to be one of Axel's paying sponsors and he told me Axel's social media reach and popularity was the sole reason they sponsored him. I was also surprised at the $ amount, I think it's a bargain for the company imo. It's peanuts compared to what the same deal would be for a top tier racer that's also on that influencer list (Roczen, Anderson...) and they're all well below Axel from a social media standpoint.
http://instagram.com/sydneyamaler
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPV2Or1BJXm/?taken-by=axellhodges
26.2K likes
97 comments
Now, look at this one from Kenny before the injury:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNZkU9nAZlg/?taken-by=kenroczen94&hl=en
47.4k likes
194 comments
Before his injury, Kenny was the hottest topic. Axell has more that 50% of Kenny's numbers.
Both posts are similar in the exposure they are giving sponsors. Bike and gear pretty visible all around.
I would bet the farm that Axell comes WAYYYYYY cheaper than 50% of Kenny.
When you think of it this way, it's easy to see why sponsors will continue to flock to kids like this. He has unreal bike stills. His social content engagement is off the charts. Quite the value from a marketing perspective.
The subject is about why is this kid making all kinds of money and having sponsors without really racing. And unfortunately, those exact same sponsors are throwing alot of money(to normal folk anyway) at all kinds of other people doing the same shit in other sports also without ever really racing. Granted, the kid was kinda born into it, but he is a bad ass bike rider. Better than most.
The point is, more people probably know Non racers like this kid more than the racers. Because most people will never even come close to being a top racer or have no intention of ever racing.
Jon Olsson is an ex ski racer who makes more now as a internet and youtube "Celery" than he did before racing. Way more exposure.
Ever been to Glamis on a Holiday weekend? Those 150,000 people have better rigs than Factory racers and just as good bikes and equipment, and they buy it. And have money to spend. And an open wallet.
Most regular people probably watch Doonies more than SX races because it is relateable to them. They can actually go to the dunes and do the exact same jumps. They can't go race a SX.
This Hodges kid gets damn near just as many threads on here as James Stewart.
Post a reply to: Does Axel Hodges race?