FORTY-THREE FOREVER

Image via @kblock43 on Instagram

Ken Block, a pioneer in many worlds from sneakers and skateboarding to rallying and online story-telling, passed away today in a tragic snowmobile accident in Utah. An innovator and content-creation pioneer, the devoted family man and father of three was 55 years old.

Block was a true veteran of the sneaker industry, having spent twenty years in the game as co-founder of DC Shoes (1993), before the company was bought by Quicksilver in 2004. Having sold the business, Ken shifted gears – quite literally – and fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a rally driver.

Despite being in his mid-30s at the beginning of his second career, Block’s talent as a racing driver was apparent right from the get-go, as he took home Rookie of the Year honors in his first season of the Rally America Championship and won multiple X Games medals.

What came next was a never-before-seen combination of Block’s skills as a rally driver and his unquestionable marketing and branding acumen. A true pioneer of his genre, Ken managed to combine the thrill of the high-speed sport with content creation and story-telling tailor-made – and exquisitely timed – for the social media age. As a result, his videos – most notably the iconic Gymkhana series – have garnered more than 1.2 billion views between his own YouTube channel and the Hoonigan platform.

A trailblazing role-model for many in the action sport community – including Fabio Wibmer – Block’s untimely passing is mourned across multiple generations around the globe. Our thoughts are with his wife, three children and the entire Block / Hoonigan family. R.I.P. #43

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