Family. That’s what I tell potential sponsors is important to me. I don’t think anyone yet has really understood what I mean when I say that. I know this because I usually get baffled looks. I see and feel energy turn off instantly. So, I’d like to get to the heart of it here. I know I don’t fit the usual mold, and it can be difficult for a marketing executive or team manager to see me as a serious value. Let me explain by starting with the more obvious reasons why and then moving onto the less obvious, but more important.
100% posted this pic from Sea Otter in 2018 and it got more likes than any other photo they posted that year.
Because I am an adaptive athlete, I rouse a different kind of engagement than non-adaptive athletes do. A shot or video of an adaptive athlete evokes a myriad of emotions—motivation, gratefulness, even fear—but it generally does not sell product the way a fantastical shot of a non‑adaptive pro does. When a person stops on a social media shot and can envision themselves in that climactic pro‑moment, they are compelled to click “add to cart.” A shot of an adaptive athlete is inspiring, but it may not create a feeling of wanting to do what the athlete is doing the way that they are doing it.
I am a non-competitive, multi-sport adventure athlete who is dedicating his life to making trails accessible to all riders, similar to the way the ADA made buildings accessible for all in 1990, and providing information to adaptive riders so that they can ride with less anxiety. That’s pretty difficult to fit into any ambassador mold. Ambassador applications usually ask for competition results and schedules, but my effort is not spent on one-and-done races. (I do ride in events, but more for fun and networking than for competing). My motivation is being in the wild, my competition is surviving the danger of going into the heart of it, and my mission is to pave the way for future adaptive athletes to do it safely. I concentrate my efforts on planning several-day adventures, building teams of strong support riders, and venturing into the unknown with cameras on. This leads to some really fun, well-documented content. But the bigger picture—the more important picture—is that the content is inciting change. It is raising awareness about obstacles on trails and with gear and equipment, and it is engaging outdoor organizations around the country.
I am not looking for a sponsor to supply me with gear. Don’t get me wrong—I certainly appreciate it, but what I need at this point is a sponsor who sees the wide-reaching effects of the work I have started and who can also see that I have built it up as much as any one man can. For the mission to grow, it needs the kind of support that only a sponsor and team can provide.
The days of paid sponsorships and free gear, without hustle, are over. Athletes can no longer rely solely on talent—they’ve gotta be hungry and adhere to a vigilant work ethic. This is the era of the one-man-band. Athletes need to be photographers, video editors, writers, publicists, and statisticians, all the while understanding when it’s time to put the camera away and be what they are meant to be. In my experience, support, structure and accountability can help when all this gets overwhelming.
I see sponsorship as a family. Family members see one another’s talents and support each other in becoming the best they can be. The family unit can build something larger than any one member could. The family home is a refuge. Similarly, sponsorship gives teams of athletes an opportunity to come together at events, to help draw attention to the label at trade shows, and to share products and accomplishments.
This is very important to me. Maybe its rooted in having a family that takes little interest in what I do. Regardless of where it comes from, all too often I’ve spent hours hanging out at trade show booths, no one really caring whether i’m there. I follow-up, but it kind of feels like begging. The gear finally arrives, and then I get ghosted. Every quarter, I provide sponsors with a deliverables email FULL of high quality content, and it rarely gets used. The sponsor who does not see me as a charity case, who understands my value by declaring to the world how proud they are to have me on their team, is the family I want.
Enter ZOIC. They produce products I believe in, and at the same time, they believe in me. That is why I am so moved to be a part of the ZOIC team and would like to officially announce my adoption into the family.
Paul Wyandt, one of the owners of ZOIC, asked how they could support me. Immediately, I got all the feels—feelings of wanting to be seen and understood, of being excited to see and support others in the same way, of joining something larger than myself. Paul shared fun ideas of making custom gear—not to necessarily sell to others, although that would be awesome—but to improve my experience on the trail as an adaptive rider.
He listened to me.
Let me repeat that so that I can hear myself say it again. HE LISTENED TO ME.
Off-Camber
That is a thing we all could probably do better at. Listening. When we listen to our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters—when we seek to be a good son, daughter, parent, or friend and perceive others’ needs—then the world becomes a better place. One person at a time. One thought at a time.
Once Paul and I agreed to be family, he took the initiative to schedule a shoot and make an announcement. They want to tell the world how proud they are to have me as part of their family. That feels good. Not only that, but they make good stuff. It’s one thing to be family, but to believe so strongly in the product as well! For example, I have literally been on a search for the perfect pant for over five years now. A functional pant, long enough for my legs, without a bunch of excess material in the thigh, made of a breathable material that I can easily wipe crumbs off of (haha). In fact, I originally contacted Zoic Co-Owner Eric Swenson because I wanted to try their Edge Pant. My search has ended. Excess material is a thing of the past. Slim fit and functional is the way now. They nailed it with these pants. I donated all my other pants to the thrift store and wear the Edge every day for everything.
Underneath the perfect pant, I wear the ZOIC bibs. This is one of the pieces of gear I bought for full retail on my own accord before ever talking with them. I bought two of them actually and donated all my other bibs to the thrift store for two reasons: (1) they have what I call a dick flap (they call it a quick relief fly—choose which phrase you like better); this is genius, game changer on the trail, and (2) the straps run along the outside of my pecs, not over my nipples. This is much more comfortable. No nipple rubbage. It also produces an unintended positive result: it reminds me to pull my shoulders back and sit with better posture.
Speeding into 2021
If you watch my videos or follow me, you may have a noticed a recent upgrade in what I’m wearing—that’s all ZOIC!
Above and beyond the gear, they are supporting my channel monetarily by supplying a discount code for my viewers. Use code ‘JPMCGHEE20’ during checkout at www.zoic.com for 20% OFF! This code is also an affiliate code, so now YOU can feel good buying ZOIC gear. They are good people, making good stuff. Plus, when you buy ZOIC, you are supporting the channel.
I’m also working with a handful of other companies this year. These are all companies you can feel good about buying gear from because they support me. Here they are, listed in no particular order:
Ambassador Contracts: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, VanDoit, Maxxis, Koroyd, Mammoth Mountain
Affiliates (Business Partners)*: ZOIC (JPMCGHEE20), SportRx (JEREMY10), Ryders Eyewear (jeremymcghee30off), Just Live CBD (jeremy15), GÜP Industries (theunpavement)
Friends/Flow/Pro-Deal (no contract): GoPro, Thule, CushCore, Rev Grips, Fasst Co, Spinergy, Hands on Concepts, My Lucas Oil, Ridge Merino, Patagonia, Honey Stinger
*Use these discount codes at checkout