Since then, it's been great. Being on the national team will also help financially. That's the hardest thing. Patten has to arrange for his own sponsors. Professionals, if they win they get paid.
Good guys can just live off it.
But unless you're one of the top two, three, four guys in the world, you've got to get another job. National team members get some free training. It makes a dent, but it's not huge. But it sends a message to sponsors. And it helps you get recruited for college.