Downhill MTB Racing, Sponsorship & Social Media Discussions - Rich Houseman of Hookit 16

Rich Houseman forged a career as a successful American mountain bike racer in the late nineties and early 2000s. Taking wins in downhill, dual slalom, 4x and dual, Rich has seen all the different trends and changes that mountain bike racing has taken over the last two-and-a-half decades. As his race career wound down, he found himself at a company called Sponsorhouse, which managed athlete and brand sponsor partnerships. Sponsorhouse changed its name to Hookit and Rich has remained an integral part of the business for 19 years. He continues to oversee athlete and sponsor relations and discusses how Hookit uses data-driven information to help companies and riders succeed in their marketing efforts.

Discussion Topics

• 0:00 - Introduction and Fontana
• 7:10 - BMX to Basketball to Downhill
• 16:50 - World Champs DH in Cairns
• 19:57 - First Sponsors, Racing for Tomac
• 24:54 - Slalom, Dual & 4X
• 30:59 - Bike Setup Back in the Day
• 34:28 - Why Did 4X Die?
• 35:56 - Proudest Racing Moment
• 38:08 - Making a Living Racing MTB
• 42:48 - Discovering Aaron Gwin
• 54:05 - Sponsorhouse to Hookit
• 1:00:17 - From MTB Racer to Desk Job
• 1:06:26 - Social Media's Impact on MTB Sponsorship
• 1:19:53 - What Makes a Successful Social Media Pt?
• 1:32:52 - Difficulties Female Athletes Face on Social Media
• 1:35:27 - Athletes Succeeding on Social Media
• 1:40:14 - Leticia Bufoni using Hookit
• 1:47:32 - Lew Buchanan Riding for OnlyFans
• 1:51:22 - Wyn Masters' Sponsor Value
• 1:56:11 - Dad Life

 These great companies make The Inside Line possible

Enjoy some of gordo's Houseman pics from 2004 and 2005 from the archives. We've come quite a long ways with bike fit.