Hey Aaron,
Abesy nailed it in one. When we look for a rider to sponsor, I look for the following:
Must have heaps of fun when kiting.
Must be personable, approachable, and easy going.
Must be a decent rider with original style.
Must ride at every opportunity.
Must absolutely love kiting!
Must absolutely love the gear they ride. (most important)
Must be willing to help others on the water and the beach.
Must make kiting look like fun.
Must promote the gear and the brand and help out with demos and such
I look for someone who makes others want to get into the sport or onto our gear by how much fun they're having and by standing out from the crowd in regards to riding. This does not necessarily mean riding like Hadlow. It means to represent the company or brand that they are riding for in a positive light.
There are hundreds of Hadlow wannabe's that all ride really well, but few really original riders that could be different and not follow the crowd.
There are two different types of sponsorships too. The one which is a long term deal with your local shop or seller in which they cannot afford to pay you but will set you up with great gear and look after you for years to come, or the money and fame type which looks for the best rider, uses you to get some exposure and then dumps you once your off your game or the next whiz kid comes along.
Hope this helps,
