King of the Road is an American skateboarding tournament held by Thrasher magazine, founded by its editor Michael Burnett in 2003.
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]
Nike SB (1st place) |
C1RCA (2nd place) |
Converse (3rd place) |
Etnies (4th place)
|
Eric Koston |
David Gravette |
Angel Ramirez |
Sean Malto
|
Grant Taylor
|
Scott Decenzo
|
Kenny Anderson
|
Mike Taylor
|
Ishod Wair
|
Sierra Fellers
|
Sammy Baca
|
Jose Rojo
|
Cory Kennedy
|
David Reyes
|
Julian Davidson
|
Willow
|
Justin Brock
|
Robbie Brockel
|
Eli Reed
|
Ryan Sheckler
|
Lakai (1st place) |
Vans (2nd place) |
Nike SB (3rd place) |
Dekline (4th place)
|
Guy Mariano |
Tony Trujillo |
Eric Koston |
Chad Tim-tim
|
Marc Johnson
|
Elijah Berle
|
Grant Taylor
|
Matt Bennett
|
Daniel Espinoza
|
Daniel Lutheran
|
Ishod Wair
|
Nick Merlino
|
Vincent Alvarez
|
Johnny Layton
|
Cory Kennedy
|
Dakota Servold
|
Mikemo Capaldi
|
Gilbert Crockett
|
Shane O’Neill
|
Ryan Spencer
|
Gift (1st place) |
Shox (2nd place) |
Society (3rd place) |
Vagabond (4th place)
|
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
|
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
|
2015 [Season 1 on Viceland]
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Mystery guests: Heath Kirchart (Birdhouse), Forrest Edwards (Toy Machine), Jereme Rogers (Chocolate)
2016 [Season 2 on Viceland]
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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]
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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)