Martin Spierings- Martin Spierings
Ambassador and Sponsorship Programs for Endurance Athletes
Updated: 3 days ago
Updated: 10/06/2021
I have collated a list of brands that have sponsorship or brand ambassador programs for triathletes and/or runners. I have unscientifically rated the programs on a scale of value to athlete 1 (low value) to 5 (high value). When I don't have inside access I am basing my assessment on website information. More details on the package gets a better rating. I rate programs which offer cash and event cost compensation as more valuable than just product discounts and exposure.
This resource is aimed at the competitive age grouper, not the professional athlete. The links go directly to the information page or application forms for these teams. See a more detailed summary of company and programs below the table.
Brand Program | Category | Applications | Rating |
Open 10/11/2021 | 2 | ||
Nutrition | Closes 10/26/2021 | 3 | |
Accessories | Open | 1 | |
Apparel | | 1 | |
Eyewear | | 1 | |
Accessories | | 3 | |
Nutirition | | 1 | |
Nutrition | | 2 | |
Womens Apparel | | 3 | |
Nutrition | | 2 | |
Drink | | 2 | |
Nutrition | | 2 | |
Eyewear | | 1 | |
Nutrition | | 1 | |
Accessories | | 1 | |
Wetsuits and Apparel | | 1 | |
GPS | | 1 | |
Helmets | | 1 | |
Nutrition | | 0 | |
Electronics | | 1 | |
Watches | | 0 | |
Accessories | | 2 | |
Wetsuits | | 2 | |
| | | |
blueseventy
Company Summary
Wetsuit and swim accessories company
When
Applications open for 2021
What You Get
Swim cap and goggles. Discounts and events
Expectations
Train and race in racing gear but there's nothing strict. Social media sharing and participation in events is encouraged.
Application
Application form here.
Exposure
Curiously the team website and forum is private. You're encouraged to engage on public social networks using specific hashtags but it's not clear how much exposure comes from that.
Overall Rating
★★☆☆☆
Picky Bars
Company Summary
Bars and granola company founded by pro endurance athletes
When
Applications open for 2021
What You Get
Generous welcome pack of products and swag. 25% off website store.
Expectations
Social media sharing. They ask for regular updates on activity.
Application
Application form here. Need an active public instagram account.
Exposure
Seems like only the pros are featured on the home page. So not much on the exposure side from their end. Overall though it's nice they give away a welcome pack. Yay, free stuff.
Overall Rating
★★★☆☆
Zoot Sports
Company Summary
Zoot has a pretty detailed description of their ambassador program on their website. They are a true triathlon company doing everything from apparel to wetsuits.
When:
Closes October 15, 2020 for 2021 team. Applicants advised in November. USA only.
What You Get
"Heavy discount" on the team store. Not exactly sure what that is. Also discounts with sponsor partners. ZOOT "gatherings" around the country.
Expectations
You have to buy the team kit and commit to one triathlon in the year. There are no performance or social media expectations. They also want you to be exclusively representing their team.
Application
Application form here. The questions seem more focused on community reach than performance.
Exposure
Seems like only the pros are featured on the home page. They have quite the social media community but it's up to you to push yourself.
Overall Rating
★☆☆☆☆
Clean Bottle
Company Summary
Makes hydration systems for the endurance athlete. Main product is the Original Clean Bottle.
When:
Ongoing.
What You Get
Free product and swag. Discounts for friends and family.
Expectations
Undefined social sharing.
Application
Currently a dead link!
Exposure
Limited. Clean Bottle doesn't appear active on social recently and no website profiles
Overall Rating
★☆☆☆☆
Zone3 Wetsuits
Company Summary
Triathlon wetsuits. They have a basic model Aspire and a premium style Advance. Also in Womens styles.
When:
Ongoing.
What You Get
Insider info says a 30% store discount
Expectations
No specified.
Application
Asks to provide social media account and followers as well as results.
Exposure
They are big on social media but can't see any particular mention of their ambassadors aside their sponsored pros.
Overall Rating
★★☆☆☆
Wattie Ink
Company Summary
All sorts of apparel for triathletes. And masks!
When:
Short window in September to apply and then team is announced end of October.
What You Get
So there's an Elite team and a Hit team (which they say is like an ambassador team). But there's a catch. You have to pay $250 to get on the Hit team. But "you will receive a credit to the Hit Squad team store for that amount plus your discount". So I'd consider that more a club than a team? The only other thing you "get" is access to their social community (other people that wear the same thing?) Perhaps that's where we're going with ambassador programs.
Expectations
Sounds like you can pretty much do what you want once you've Hit squad. Hey, you've bought $250 of their stuff they can't ask for much more...
Application
The application was taken down by the time I had a time to review.
Exposure
They have a big social media presence and active website but it looks like there are quite a few ambassadors so not sure how much exposure you'd get if you're not on the Elite team.
Overall Rating
★☆☆☆☆
Tifosi
Company Summary
Italian sunglass company which make glasses specific to running and cycling like the Tifosi Optics Sledge Sunglasses.
When:
Ongoing. What's unusual is you have to apply through your local dealer (retailer). Not exactly sure how this works.
What You Get
Doesn't say.
Expectations
Again not sure.
Application
The application is not available on-line. Have to go through your dealers which can be looked up here.
Exposure
They have a big social media presence and do very nice profiles on the 50 or so cyclists, runners and triathletes they sponsor (most you seems to have washboard tummies).
Overall Rating
★☆☆☆☆
Fitletic
Company Summary
Running belts, hydration belts and accessories
When:
On going.
What You Get
From their social media I gathered they receive a package of products. From their website they receive discounts on products and entry tickets for races.
Expectations
General spreading of the word.
Application
Application form here. The questions seem more focused on community reach than performance.
Exposure
There are only 10 listed on their website page so not sure how hard it is to get into or whether all ambassadors are represented.
Overall Rating
★★★☆☆
SiS
Company Summary
Nutrition. Gels and bars. Based in U.K.
When:
Ongoing