Whats the point of an invitational event?

ali · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:41 pm

So this is mainly aimed at the SSS, and slightly for the rosham.

Whats the idea behind it being invitational? First of all, we all know its totally political. Every year they have a comp for the wildcard vid, but every year its not the best vid or rider that gets into the comp. Its the one who SSS want for publicity reasons.

Why should the riders go to the SSS. Yeh its got nice rails, but why go... The riders get no publicity from it. It seems that only Real get anything outa it.
The riders have to pay to be there. If it truly is invitational, then surely REAL should pay for the riders to be out there, making their event look good.

If the riders sacked it off, the money they saved from that, could be made into a sick project.
It seems so much hype over the whole thing, but every year there is mayb 1-2 mins of gopro footage come from it? (other than the stuff from nate a couple of years ago but thats not to do with REAL)

basically, why should the riders pay to go out there

ps: im suuposed to be doing uni work but CBA hence this post.

NA BLEND · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:58 pm

Wait, are there any other events that provide housing and get as much coverage as SSS? I've never herd of them. What event would you rather go to? And fyi Nate works in the media department at Real.

SSS started because it seemed like everyone was out here already that time of year, so they decided to pay for houses and let everyone ride the sliders all week in exchange for some marketing. If it wasn't an Invitational then there would be way too many people and they wouldn't be able to sort housing. Why go? Real is the largest seller of most of the major brands in the USA, helping them out in turn helps the manufacturers that help us out. So it comes full circle.

And as far as getting in, if you submit a wildcard and don't get in but you still show up they usually let you ride anyway, you just don't get a free house to stay in. I mean this event really isn't that serious. Nobody cares who wins or losses, it's all about parties and shredding. IMO, best event ever!!!

Inept_Fun · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:28 pm

Well Nate didnt actually work for Real when he made those edits you are talking about Eric...

But yea its tight that they pay to put up the riders in houses, and definitely would be way too many people trying to ride if there wasnt some way to put a cap on it.

And also, the Rosham is no longer an invitational event. This year it is Open everyone will have to qualify, so get off our asses!! lol

The main reason it starts as an invitation is because we have to show the sponsors who really make the event possible, that it is worth the money and time they put into it. What better way to do this than getting all of the best riders together and letting them shred??

Edit: Maybe not the best riders but at least ones that the industry are going to want to get coverage. Happy sponsors = more money = better event

NA BLEND · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:36 pm

Inept_Fun wrote:

Well Nate didnt actually work for Real when he made those edits you are talking about Eric...

True, but I am pretty sure Real paid him to shoot in some form or another.

jelico · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:00 pm

I get the invitational thing - as long as the right riders are invited. It makes sense if you ask me, and encourages top Freeriders to attend as well as comp junkies.

switchblade · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 7:25 pm

I thought the guys made the Ro-Sham into a different type of invite event after being unhappy with the SSS politics:

If you want to just show up and get a slot, you can, but then you compete with everyone else.

slaybo · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:08 pm

ali wrote:

If the riders sacked it off, the money they saved from that, could be made into a sick project.
It seems so much hype over the whole thing, but every year there is mayb 1-2 mins of gopro footage come from it? (other than the stuff from nate a couple of years ago but thats not to do with REAL)

coopaloop · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:45 am

thanks for the list! cracks beer...

james2 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:04 am

only ONE link from that list came from the event organisers…

the rest were done by the riders themselves riders sponsors or pro photo guys that the riders took with them.

Jahmaze · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:37 am

eric_rienstra wrote:

Wait, are there any other events that provide housing and get as much coverage as SSS? I've never herd of them. What event would you rather go to? And fyi Nate works in the media department at Real.

SSS started because it seemed like everyone was out here already that time of year, so they decided to pay for houses and let everyone ride the sliders all week in exchange for some marketing. If it wasn't an Invitational then there would be way too many people and they wouldn't be able to sort housing. Why go? Real is the largest seller of most of the major brands in the USA, helping them out in turn helps the manufacturers that help us out. So it comes full circle.

And as far as getting in, if you submit a wildcard and don't get in but you still show up they usually let you ride anyway, you just don't get a free house to stay in. I mean this event really isn't that serious. Nobody cares who wins or losses, it's all about parties and shredding. IMO, best event ever!!!

No disrespect but If you really think like that you have probably one of your dreadlocks sucking up your brain bro....

joby · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:48 am

we didnt set up the ro sham cause of the politics of sss

we had been doing freeride events for years and it kind of evolved into a comp

we did an invitational cause we used to get all types of people showing up to ride cause they just wanted to be seen. some of them didn't care about the rails or the style that we were trying to promote. An invitational was a way to weed out the knuckleheads and get the right people to the event.

now, we have all of the right people coming every year and it will not be an invitational, so we will weed out the knuckleheads from the serious competitors(haha) by having an entry fee.

we have also done prize money every year even though it isn't much. $150 the first year, 400$ for first place last year. our primary goal from here on out is to make that number grow every year cause without the riders, you don't have shit!

Forrest · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 3:12 pm

joby wrote:

our primary goal from here on out is to make that number grow every year cause without the riders, you don't have shit!

Werd! It's a seed we have planted, and have been trying to grow it every year.

adamski... · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 10:49 am

well it looks like the SSS invitees got thrown a lil wild card of their own last night. no free housing this year, so you gotta find your own place to stay. ouch! kinda harsh to drop that last minute, i hope people don't back out now :cry:

-CORDINA- · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 1:14 pm

adamski... wrote:

well it looks like the SSS invitees got thrown a lil wild card of their own last night. no free housing this year, so you gotta find your own place to stay. ouch! kinda harsh to drop that last minute, i hope people don't back out now :cry:

Wow contest is for "top pros in the world" yet there is no prize money ever and no free housing this year?! Sick competition but seems like the REAL greed has taken over.

ali · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 2:27 pm

hahah. so its ALL about REAL

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