TikTok skater Bby Yoshando is calling out the skateboarding industry over how little some professional skateboarders earn from board sales.
He urged aspiring pros to stop relying on companies and start building their own brands.
In a video shared online, Yoshando spoke directly to skaters hoping to turn their passion into a career, saying they should not wait for a company to give them an opportunity.
While having a pro model skateboard may look like a big achievement, he argued that the money coming back to the skater can be surprisingly low.
“To anybody who wants to be a pro skater or have success with skateboarding, I promise you, you don't wait on no company to turn you up,” he said.
Yoshando then brought up how little some pros receive each time their signature boards sell.
RELATED: Pro Skater Greg Lutzka Launches Skate Sponsorship Course & Reveals Why Talent Isn’t Enough
According to him, certain skateboarders earn just $1 or $2 per board, while others may not receive any payment at all.
“It's cool having a pro board and shit but when you figure out or you find that you getting like $2 a board sale or a dollar. If you're lucky cause some pros don't even get paid it's like what?” he said.
This issue comes down to how much control skateboarders actually have over their own earnings.
Having a signature deck with a company may give a skater recognition, but he believes that alone does not guarantee a decent income.
RELATED: “You Stay Core, You Stay Poor”, The Cold Advice That Forced Nicky Diamonds to Think About Money
He also explained that his own approach is different, claiming that he receives all the royalties from his board sales.
He encouraged other skaters to take a similar route by building their own businesses, selling merchandise and working directly with manufacturers.
“I get all my board sales. I ain't gonna lie, stop playing with me. We getting all the royalties on the board sales,” Yoshando said.
He went on to tell aspiring professionals to sponsor themselves, create products they actually want to wear and stop depending entirely on skate companies to support them.
His advice was to take control of the business side of skateboarding, from producing merchandise to deciding what goes on sale.
Yoshando also took aim at the way some companies handle sponsored skaters, claiming that the gear they receive is not always what they would choose for themselves.
RELATED: YouTube Skater John Hill Says Pros Are Retiring as New Gen Embraces Money Over Passion
He suggested that brands may send out products that are not selling well or that the athletes do not even like.
“These companies they don't give you that Black Friday box I'm telling you right now. All the shit that's not selling, all the shit that you don't like that's what they gonna give you,” he said.
His comments come from his own experience working within the industry, which he referenced when explaining why he wants other skaters to think carefully about sponsorship deals.
“I'm trying to tell you bro cause I lived it,” he said.
Yoshando's message is not necessarily that every sponsorship deal is a bad one, but that skaters should understand what they are getting out of an agreement before putting their careers in a company's hands.
RELATED: The Nine Club Explains Why Core Skateboarding Won’t Make You Any Money
For those hoping to earn a living through skateboarding, he believes owning a business and controlling their products can offer a different path.
He shared the same message in a post, writing:
“Not even trollin yall can do whatever tf you want in this life... prioritize yaself 🫡”
His advice is pretty straightforward.
Do not wait for a sponsor to give you a chance when you can start building something of your own.
For skaters who want more control over their careers and income, Yoshando believes creating their own products and keeping their royalties is worth considering.