Most riders that reach a certain level of talent, or love for snowboarding, dream of being sponsed, as they say. After all, who wouldn't want to get free product and eventually travel the world riding? Now of course it isn't all as glamorous as it seems, but I won't break any hearts with all that talk now.

Andrew Hardingham, Rude Boys rider.

The first step in even the most established pro career is often securing the much coveted "shop sponsorship." There are different types of shops just as there are different types of snowboard brands, so what works for one shop may not work for the shop down the street -- or one province over. With that in mind, we quizzed three very different shops to get some insight on how to best get hooked up: Coastal Riders in BC, The Source in Alberta, and Top of the World in Ontario.

Devun Walsh, Source alumni.

What are shops looking for in a shop rider?

Coastal Riders: In a shop rider we are looking for a kid who can hang with the rest of the team and still kill it. We sort of view it like a street gang instead of a team of athletes: You have to be accepted by the rest of the family or you just ain't getting in.

The Source: There are a few key factors here: You need someone who's outgoing, motivated, focused, unique, and most importantly, you need someone who will make an impact on your end customer in some way or another.

Top: Age is definitely one of the biggest factors these days. All the snow brands are looking for younger guys and girls that they can breed into their programs, and hopefully move on to bigger things. We also look for a rider to have a good attitude towards the people around him. The kid is representing your shop, so you want him to act accordingly. No one likes the arrogant sponsored shop kid roaming around like he's all that.

Annie Boulanger, Empire alumni.

What's the best way for a rider to approach your shop?

Coastal Riders: The best way for a new rider to approach the shop is to be in and around the store, be down with the rest of the team, and not be just another kid looking for any sponsor he can get. Promos [videos] are OK, but by the time we add a new kid, we don't need to see his or her promo. I usually use their promo to help them get started with more sponsors.

The Source: If possible, it's best to go ride with potential new team riders. That way you get to see how they ride on a regular basis, what kind of style they have, their attitude, and how they interact with other riders. Contest results are good too, because they show that a rider can go to a contest on any given day and produce. You definitely need a video if you're not able to go shred with the kid.

Top: A rider resume -- video, photos, and contest results -- is definitely the way to go. It's almost like applying for a new job! You need to prove that you have what it takes to be on the team, and having a rider package to give to the shop is the way to go. We also like to see kids shred at contests and various other events that we do over the course of the year. I like to keep my ear to the ground for the kid that's progressing and that people are hyped on. Word-of-mouth and a good attitude definitely come into play. Some riders also make the transformation from shop employee to rider, but it definitely isn't always the case. Either way you should have a tight relationship with the shop.

Kale Stephens, Source Alumni.

Along with not having your mom call the shop every day, and tell them how much you rip, what shouldn't a rider do?

Coastal Riders: I think what can hurt a young rider from getting on our team is being stupid, and not having common sense, but sometimes that can help you too... The worst thing is just pissing off the rest of the team, or being a weird creepy little guy or girl. Knowing when to bring the party and shut the party down is good, too.

The Source: Some kids don't get that they're a company's representation when sponsored by them. This means not vibing kids, making a huge scene when you
focus your board, and so-on. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service in the store and we expect our team riders to exude that at all times as well.

Top: Talking shit! Nothing makes us more upset than when a kid has a bad attitude and talks down to everybody. Bad mouthing anything or anyone in your hometown will definitely kill your chances of getting hooked up!

Jeff Keenan, Coastal rider.

What riders has your shop helped out, and who's stacked on there now?

Coastal Riders: We have Sean Genovese and Jeff Keenan, Leanne Pelosi, Logan Short, Brendan Keenan, and good old Matt Standish.

The Source: Right now we have Jed Anderson coming up through the system, and we are so pumped on his output. Some other Source alumni includes TJ Schneider and Devun Walsh, mixed with many strong up- and-comers like Nash Lajeunesse.

Top: Right now some of our snow athletes are: Matt Belzile, Andrew Burns, Brian McClatchy, Craig Beaulieu, Jesse Delgrosse, Max Honegger, and Nat Gough.

David Aubry, Empire alumni.