King of the Road is an American skateboarding tournament held by Thrasher magazine, founded by its editor Michael Burnett in 2003.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Tournaments
2003 Deluxe (1st place) Tum Yeto (2nd place) Volcom (3rd place) éS (4th place) Dan Drehobl Ethan Fowler Rune Glifberg Eric KostonDarrell StantonGareth StehrCaswell BerryRick McCrankJT AultzDiego BucchieriDustin DollinPaul RodriguezErnie TorresJohnny LaytonDennis BusenitzPJ LaddTony TrujilloAdrian MalloryJavier SarmientoAlexis Sablone
2004
Zero (1st place) Girl (2nd place) Almost (3rd place) Real (4th place) Jamie Thomas Eric Koston Daewon Song Peter RamondettaJon AllieMike CarrollGreg LutzkaDennis BusenitzTommy SandovalRick HowardChris HaslamTony TrujilloChris ColeBrian AndersonRyan ShecklerDarrell StantonJames BrockmanJereme RogersCooper WiltErnie Torres
2005
Zero (1st place) Habitat (2nd place) Flip (3rd place) Element (4th place) Jamie Thomas Fred Gall Geoff Rowley Jeremy WrayChris ColeSilas Baxter-NealBastien SalabanziMike VallelyGarrett HillStefan JanoskiShane CrossBrent AtchleyJohn RattrayKerry GetzArto SaariTosh TownendTommy SandovalDanny GarciaAlex ChalmersColt Cannon
2006
Zero (1st place) Darkstar (2nd place) Baker (3rd place) Toy Machine (4th place) Jamie Thomas Chet Thomas Andrew Reynolds Ed TempletonChris ColePaul MachnauErik EllingtonBilly MarksTommy SandovalGailea MomoluJim GrecoJosh HarmonyJohn RattrayPaul TrepBryan HermanJohnny LaytonJames BrockmanAdam DyetLeo RomeroMatt Bennett
2007 Blind (1st place) Foundation (2nd place) Black Label (3rd place) Zoo York (4th place) Ronnie Creager Don Nguyen Chet Childress Zered BassettJake DuncombeSierra FellersAdam AlfaroAaron SuskiJames CraigDavid ReyesBrian "Slash" HansenAnthony ShetlerChristian JohnsonAngel RamirezShuriken ShannonLamare HemmingsGabriel VedenhauptAbdias RiveraChris TroyBrandon Westgate
2010 Nike SB (1st place) C1RCA (2nd place) Converse (3rd place) Etnies (4th place) Eric Koston David Gravette Angel Ramirez Sean MaltoGrant TaylorScott DecenzoKenny AndersonMike TaylorIshod WairSierra FellersSammy BacaJose RojoCory KennedyDavid ReyesJulian DavidsonWillowJustin BrockRobbie BrockelEli ReedRyan Sheckler
2011 Lakai (1st place) Vans (2nd place) Nike SB (3rd place) Dekline (4th place) Guy Mariano Tony Trujillo Eric Koston Chad Tim-timMarc JohnsonElijah BerleGrant TaylorMatt BennettDaniel EspinozaDaniel LutheranIshod WairNick MerlinoVincent AlvarezJohnny LaytonCory KennedyDakota ServoldMikemo 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 Taylor Leo Romero David Gravette Tony Trujillo Gilbert Crockett Daniel Lutheran Taylor Bingaman Andrew Allen Jake Johnson Collin Provost Ryan Reyes Frank Gerwer John Fitzgerald Jeremy Leabres Sean Conover Robbie Russo Omar Salazar Blake Carpenter Darren Naverette Chris Pfanner
2013 Birdhouse (1st place) Enjoi Chocolate Real Aaron Homoki Cairo Foster Elijah Berle Robbie Brockel Ben Raybourn Wieger van Wageningen Vincent Alvarez Ishod Wair Clint Walker Zack Wallin Raven Tershy Justin Brock Clive Dixon Jimmy Carlin Stevie Perez Jake Ruiz Mike Davis Louie Barletta Justin Eldridge Kyle Walker
2014 Birdhouse (1st place) Element (2nd place) Flip (3rd place) Aaron Homoki Nyjah Huston Curren Caples Clive Dixon Evan SmithLouie Lopez Clint Walker Julian Davidson Alec Majerus Mike Davis Nick Garcia Ben Nordberg Ben Raybourn Dominick Walker Matt Berger
2015 [Season 1 on Viceland] Birdhouse (1st) Toy Machine (3rd) Chocolate (2nd) Aaron Homoki Blake Carpenter Raven Tershy Clive Dixon Billy Marks Justin Eldridge Clint Walker Daniel Lutheran Johnny Jones Mike Davis Axel Cruysberghs Elijah Berle Ben Raybourn Collin Provost Stevie Perez
Mystery guests: Heath Kirchart (Birdhouse), Forrest Edwards (Toy Machine), Jereme Rogers (Chocolate)
2016 [Season 2 on Viceland] Enjoi (1st place) Deathwish (3rd) Creature (2nd) Louie Barletta Mike "Lizard King" Plumb David Gravette Jackson Pilz Jake Hayes Kevin Baekkel Ben Raemers Jon Dickson Sean Conover Enzo Cauleta Jamie Foy Chris Russell Zack Wallin Neen Williams Willis Kimbel
Mystery guests: Samarria Brevard (Enjoi), Leo Baker (Deathwish), Nora Vasconcellos (Creature)
2017 [Season 3 on Viceland] Element (1st place) Real (2nd place) Foundation (3rd place) Madars Apse Robbie Brockel Aidan Campbell Nyjah Huston Chima Ferguson Corey Glick Tyson Peterson Jack Olson Nick Merlino Mason Silva Kyle Walker Dakota Servold Evan Smith Zion Wright Cole Wilson
Mystery guests: Jamie Foy (Element), Aaron Homoki (Real), Axel Cruysberghs (Foundation)
References
External links Official website