Late to the Table

Because of COVID-related reschedulings, the professional derby season is headed much later into the year than normal. The last Bassmaster Open is not scheduled to end until three weeks before Christmas, and while I don’t know when entry fees and commitments are due for the respective tours, that’s gonna put the squeeze on some finances. Not only will lots of decisions get pushed to the last minute, but lots of the key decisionmakers won’t be around to make them.

That dynamic will put a pinch on sponsorship moves no matter which tour you fish. Even if as write this in late September you’ve made your last competitive cast for the year, many of the dominos that need to fall to get you paid may remain standing for a while. Your deal does not occur in a vacuum. Furthermore, in this case, choice may also be the enemy of certainty – if you have the chance to qualify for two major tours, how do you know what you’re selling until the ink is dry?

Couple that with the fact that there seems to be major unrest on the boat sponsorship level. It’s the worst-kept secret in the industry that more pros than ever are looking to get out of their current ride (or are being forced out) and into something different. Some of the cuts are due to COVID, some will be blamed on COVID, and some are just ruthless fat-cutting, but the bottom line is the same — more pros, fewer good deals.

If you work a 9-to-5 or 8-to-6, and you’ve ever complained about it, this is a time to be thankful for the certainty you have in your life. We all want to be KVD or Bryan Thrift or Jordan Lee, but few of us aspire to be the 60th place pro, and no one likes to look at the harsh economic reality of those who are consistently at the bottom, yet hanging on.