Over at C7 Jonas Ceballos updates the windsurfing public on how hard it is being a pro windsurfer. I felt bad for him after I read the title, but my sympathy dried up after reading this fantastic communiqué.
The first line is superb, but I think this sentance takes the cake
Who is he?
If he enjoys windsurfing he should continue windsurfing. If he doesn't like it anymore then stop.
It's no different than any sport. Riders are dispensable like footy players. The brands will only ever be the ones that do well. There are lots of riders who will step up. I read an article about a year ago of those who have done well financially out of the sport. Very interesting article. There aren't too many considering the number who have been through the PWA. Barn I hope you turn pro and kill it. Knock Jp off the Aussie big earners list.
No money in micro-sports, no surprises there.
It's probably easy to assume that all pro sports people are rich, but very few are really.
Most have day jobs. It's always a bit tragic watching swimmers try and turn gold medals into cash-flow. Most of them drop off the map pretty quick despite all the hoopla at the time.
Maybe the fact that English is clearly not his first language makes old mate come across as a bit melodramatic.
He's clearly disappointed that he's not making a decent shekel from his efforts.
As I get my lunch ready for tomorrows day at the office, I can hardly say my heart is bleeding for him. Maybe it's his attitude that the world owes him a living, maybe that personality fault is one reason the sponsors won't fund him?
Jonas should be paid $1,000,000 per year just for his back loops alone!!
He has a point, surely he should be paid more than, let's say, 99% of NRL players.
He has a point only to a certain level... but, the competitors in lets say snowboarding earn most money out of prizes not sponsors... so to have top dollar you have to recha the top...the money making busines is in marketing and filming for the promotion of the sport...
But windsurfing doesn't have enough media covereage to attract big sponsors like Coca cola or any other non sport related company that has huge amounts of money to sponsor the prizes, riders, events...if there were live broadcasts on TV and the airtime would be good then money would come as well.
Regarding whining about not earning a descent living...he knew there wasn't any money in this sport for most riders at begining and he knew what he is going into...some people make it and some don't (good comment on continent seven:"main sponsors are rich mom and dad")
100 percent with JC,,the G force this kid takes on with his moves deserves a salary up there with the highest paid sportsman on this planet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,he pushes the limits and does the moves we can only dream about.....
It doesn't matter what field you work in, you will only get paid as much as business is prepared to pay you.
It makes absolutely no difference at all if you think you are worth twice as much or ten times as much.
If there is no one to pay you what you think you are worth then that's just the way it is. Move on.
The world is full of under utilised and underpaid geniuses.
Maybe more perversely, it is also full of overpaid morons. 
Yup !
Sports "stars" and musicians, both think that they should earn a lifetime of income from their short time in the sun. It's a society wide delusion, and I'm always surprised how many people support the idea.
My degree, OTOH, came with no "advance", and at it's core is basically a licence to work hard for the rest of my life. Not that I'm complaining, that's just life.
Regardless of how skilled someone is at their career (sport or otherwise), their attitude and personality traits goes a long way to their employment prospects. Having a sponsorship doesn't just entail a manufacturer throwing money or gear at their chosen candidate, there is an expectation that they will be well liked within the sport and be the best fit to promote their products.
In industry, medicine, science etc some of the smartest and best people are kept behind closed doors as they do more damage publicly for their company as their personality traits aren't exactly promotional gold.
Now this is complete conjecture but maybe Jonas doesn't have that star quality the industry is looking for or he's not an ideal ambassador (personality issues) or worse has disappointed previous sponsors and word is on the street.
Rad, I think you and KenHo are on the money (so to speak). It's amazing and a shame to think he cannot make a living considering just how well he can sail though. (skip the rigging and promo stuff at beginning)
In my opinion Jonas is trying to state that he is having to look at other options other than windsurfing to make a living, I am sure he is not the only windsurfer in that category.
Remember that english is not his first language, so some of his ranting may be due to his translation from spanish into english,
Jonas is a fantastic sailor IMO
Will be forever remebered for his classic line "Really Creeezeey conditions, 3.3, full power"...!
RIP JC
AB...
What I'm trying to get at is it would be difficult to make a living as a professional windsurfer. If you want to make a living from competitions then unless you consistently win competitions money would come in sporadically. From what I've read the PWA is getting smaller all the time with fewer events and reduced prize money.
So to make a living it is an idea to get into the industry side of it. Some windsurfers seem to make it like Robby Naish, Peter Hart and Guy Cribb.
Jonas is a fantastic windsurfer but before getting onto this thread I had never heard of him. Maybe its because he is Spanish. That may be my fault but is indicitive of the world we live in. There is so much information out there.
Trying to make a living out of windsurfing would be like trying to make a living as a
Beta video recorder repair man.
Well that sort of proves the point doesn't it?
Betamax was always a better device than VHS but because the lowly unwashed masses all flocked to the cheaper and more easy to use VHS, they eventually swamped the market with the trashy but highly marketable VHS, and Betamax was relegated to the use of a more perfectionist group.
You might have noticed that tv stations stuck with Betamax right up until recently when digital took over.
Beta always was a better technology much as windsurfing still is today.
But as you so rightly pointed out, it can be hard to make a living out of it even though it is still a better technology. 
