Ever since I was little, growing up with skaters and surfers alike, my friends always wanted to find ways to get noticed and obtain sponsorships in the hope of one day turning pro. I cant tell you the countless hours we stayed at the beach, went to every contest, hung out and the skate parks just to see if anyone would take notice. These days with all the social networks available, there is an endless amount of exposure you can get if you just know how to market yourself right. But if you are just putting yourself out there on YouTube, Myspace, Facebook or what not, how are you sure that the key people in the action sports industry will find you. Where can you go to meet people who can point you in the right direction in your quest to someday be a sponsored rider?

One site that I’ve been following and is seemingly still pretty new to many in the industry is the Loop’d Network. Formerly Sponsorhouse.com, the Loop’d network has set it self up as not only a platform for individuals to get in contact and interact with companies, but to join communities and make friends with others that have the same love for their sport and lifestyle. The have communities for a whole spectrum of action sports from skate to surf to snow and everything in between.

The site, which recently underwent a rebranding effort, really focuses on self-promotion so you can #1 get noticed and connected with participating brands who are constantly on the lookout for new team athletes. Oakley, Nike 6.0, Monster Energy, and Fox are just a few of the brands putting themselves in the mix. Loop’d has been so successful that many of these brands have been participating on the site for years. Some even have dedicated websites setup for their hosted communities on Loop’d. From a business perspective, it’s a fascinating model that’s a win-win for both the advertising brands and Loop’d. For brands, they can create their own branded micro communities that have instant access to tap into the larger targeted audience that makes up the Loop’d community.

The site not only is a place to gather with kindred spirits and brands, they encourage you to come back by hosting numerous contests and supporting their partnered brands by linking up to their online stores. And guess who I found on Loop’d’s Myspace page, 5ones’ very own Ruben ‘Studdard’ Najera.