King of the Road (skateboarding)

King of the Road is an American skateboarding tournament held by Thrasher magazine, founded by its editor Michael Burnett in 2003.

King of the Road
SportSkateboarding
Founded2003
FounderMichael Burnett
CountryUnited States, China (2011)
Official websiteOfficial website

History

The tournament involves three or four teams of professional skaters competing over a two-week period. All teams are given "The Book", which contains a series of challenges.[1] The challenges themselves typically involve hard skateboarding tasks and humorous ones, such as making out with a certain number of women, or getting a tattoo.[2] There are various points available for each challenge, usually dependent on how difficult or uncomfortable the challenge is. The teams travel across numerous American cities to complete as many of these challenges as possible.[3]

The tournament was held annually from 2003 to 2007, with each of these years being released on DVD. In 2010, the tournament was returned, however would be released as an Internet series going forward, instead of a DVD. In 2011, Thrasher and Converse hosted a special one-off edition of the competition in China, with the participation of four Chinese skateboard brands.[4]

Later on, Thrasher would sign an agreement for Viceland to broadcast the 2015 tournament, and this agreement would continue for the next two years. Ultimately, Viceland did not renew the rights to distribute any future King of the Road tournaments after the 2017 edition, and there has yet to be any held since.[5]

Tournaments

2003

Deluxe (1st place)Tum Yeto (2nd place)Volcom (3rd place)éS (4th place)
Dan DrehoblEthan FowlerRune GlifbergEric Koston
Darrell StantonGareth StehrCaswell BerryRick McCrank
JT AultzDiego BucchieriDustin DollinPaul Rodriguez
Ernie TorresJohnny LaytonDennis BusenitzPJ Ladd
Tony TrujilloAdrian MalloryJavier SarmientoAlexis Sablone

2004

Zero (1st place)Girl (2nd place)Almost (3rd place)Real (4th place)
Jamie ThomasEric KostonDaewon SongPeter Ramondetta
Jon AllieMike CarrollGreg LutzkaDennis Busenitz
Tommy SandovalRick HowardChris HaslamTony Trujillo
Chris ColeBrian AndersonRyan ShecklerDarrell Stanton
James BrockmanJereme RogersCooper WiltErnie Torres

2005

Zero (1st place)Habitat (2nd place)Flip (3rd place)Element (4th place)
Jamie ThomasFred GallGeoff RowleyJeremy Wray
Chris ColeSilas Baxter-NealBastien SalabanziMike Vallely
Garrett HillStefan JanoskiShane CrossBrent Atchley
John RattrayKerry GetzArto SaariTosh Townend
Tommy SandovalDanny GarciaAlex ChalmersColt Cannon

2006

Zero (1st place)Darkstar (2nd place)Baker (3rd place)Toy Machine (4th place)
Jamie ThomasChet ThomasAndrew ReynoldsEd Templeton
Chris ColePaul MachnauErik EllingtonBilly Marks
Tommy SandovalGailea MomoluJim GrecoJosh Harmony
John RattrayPaul TrepBryan HermanJohnny Layton
James BrockmanAdam DyetLeo RomeroMatt Bennett

2007

Blind (1st place)Foundation (2nd place)Black Label (3rd place)Zoo York (4th place)
Ronnie CreagerDon NguyenChet ChildressRyan Sheckler
Jake DuncombeSierra FellersAdam AlfaroAaron Suski
James CraigDavid ReyesBrian "Slash" HansenAnthony Shetler
Christian JohnsonAngel RamirezShuriken ShannonLamare Hemmings
Gabriel VedenhauptAbdias RiveraChris TroyBrandon Westgate

2010

Nike SB (1st place)C1RCA (2nd place)Converse (3rd place)Etnies (4th place)
Eric KostonDavid GravetteAngel RamirezSean Malto
Grant TaylorScott DecenzoKenny AndersonMike Taylor
Ishod WairSierra FellersSammy BacaJose Rojo
Cory KennedyDavid ReyesJulian DavidsonWillow
Justin BrockRobbie BrockelEli ReedRyan Sheckler

2011

Lakai (1st place)Vans (2nd place)Nike SB (3rd place)Dekline (4th place)
Guy MarianoTony TrujilloEric KostonChad Tim-tim
Marc JohnsonElijah BerleGrant TaylorMatt Bennett
Daniel EspinozaDaniel LutheranIshod WairNick Merlino
Vincent AlvarezJohnny LaytonCory KennedyDakota Servold
Mikemo CapaldiGilbert CrockettShane O’NeillRyan Spencer

2011 (China)

Gift (1st place)Shox (2nd place)Society (3rd place)Vagabond (4th place)

2012

Alien Workshop (1st place)Toy Machine (2nd place)Creature (3rd place)Antihero (4th place)
Grant TaylorLeo RomeroDavid GravetteTony Trujillo
Gilbert CrockettDaniel LutheranTaylor BingamanAndrew Allen
Jake JohnsonCollin ProvostRyan ReyesFrank Gerwer
John FitzgeraldJeremy LeabresSean ConoverRobbie Russo
Omar SalazarBlake CarpenterDarren NaveretteChris Pfanner

2013

Birdhouse (1st place)EnjoiChocolateReal
Aaron HomokiCairo FosterElijah BerleRobbie Brockel
Ben RaybournWieger van WageningenVincent AlvarezIshod Wair
Clint WalkerZack WallinRaven TershyJustin Brock
Clive DixonJimmy CarlinStevie PerezJake Ruiz
Mike DavisLouie BarlettaJustin EldridgeKyle Walker

2014

Birdhouse (1st place)Element (2nd place)Flip (3rd place)
Aaron HomokiNyjah HustonCurren Caples
Clive DixonEvan SmithLouie Lopez
Clint WalkerJulian DavidsonAlec Majerus
Mike DavisNick GarciaBen Nordberg
Ben RaybournDominick WalkerMatt Berger

2015 [Season 1 on Viceland]

BirdhouseToy MachineChocolate
Aaron HomokiBlake CarpenterRaven Tershy
Clive DixonBilly MarksJustin Eldridge
Clint WalkerDaniel LutheranJohnny Jones
Mike DavisAxel CruysberghsElijah Berle
Ben RaybournCollin ProvostStevie Perez

2016 [Season 2 on Viceland]

Enjoi (1st place)DeathwishCreature
Louie BarlettaMike "Lizard King" PlumbDavid Gravette
Jackson PilzJake HayesKevin Baekkel
Ben RaemersJon DicksonSean Conover
Enzo CauletaJamie FoyChris Russell
Zack WallinNeen WilliamsWillis Kimbel

2017 [Season 3 on Viceland]

ElementRealFoundation
Madars ApseRobbie BrockelAidan Campbell
Nyjah HustonChima FergusonCorey Glick
Tyson PetersonJack OlsonNick Merlino
Mason SilvaKyle WalkerDakota Servold
Evan SmithZion WrightCole Wilson

References