NIKE
Eric Koston
Follow on instagram @EricKoston
aka: Sparkles, Froston, Cock
Age: 36
Hometown: Los Angeles
Status: pro
Sponsors: Nike, Girl, Indy, Spitfire, Fourstar
KOTR experience: 2003 with e'S, 2004 with Girl, 2010 with Nike (winner) - Most KOTRs ever.
Strengths: SOTY '96, 15K + followers, entrepreneur, finest street skater of his generation
Weaknesses: GG Allin, Instagram beef, willing to go on KOTR a fourth fucking time
Verdict: Bite it, you scum
Shane O'Neill
Follow on instagram @ShaneJOneill
aka: Nugget
Age: 20
Hometown: Melbourne
Status: pro
Sponsors: Nike, Skate Mental, Fourstar, Thunder, Spitfire, CCS, FKD, Diamond, Monster Energy Drink
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: child prodigy, internet phenom, tech wizardry
Weaknesses: vert?
Verdict: ledge dancing with the stars
Grant Taylor
Follow on instagram @DownSouthInHell
aka: GT
Age: 19
Hometown: Atlanta
Status: pro
Sponsors: Nike, Alien Workshop, Volcom, Independent, Stratosphere, Spitfire, Modus
KOTR experience: 2010 with Nike (winner), best transition trick
Strengths: the concrete curve, critical fave, Skate and Destroy attitude
Weaknesses: explosives
Verdict: SOTY front runner
Ishod Wair
Follow on instagram @ishod
aka: Ishod
Age: 19
Hometown: Philly
Status: am
Sponsors: Nike, Real, Thunder, Spitfire, Fourstar, Reign Skate Shop, Anthony's Cookies, Stance Socks, Monster Energy Drink
KOTR experience: 2010 with Nike (winner)
Strengths: True East, rails, stairs, ledges, tranny,
manuals, etc.
Weaknesses: patience to learn new moves
Verdict: pro by 2012
Cory Kennedy
Follow on instagram @CoryKennedy
aka: CK-1
Age: 23
Hometown: Lake Stevens, WA
Status: pro
Sponsors: Nike, Girl, RVCA, Spitfire, Royal
KOTR experience: 2010 with Nike (winner)
Strengths: spines, the Merlin spin, family fortune
Weaknesses: stony baloney
Verdict: win or lose, he's still rich
Bob Reynolds
Team Manager
aka: Fat Bob
Age: 37
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Status: sales rep turned TM
KOTR experience: part of a challenge with Zero team in '05
Strengths: flatground, networking
Weaknesses: buffets, first-time TM
Verdict: anchor man
Jason Hernandez
Videographer
Follow on instagram @HeyFilmThis
aka: hey film this
Age: 31
Hometown: Los Angeles
Status: lifer
KOTR experience: 2010 with Nike (winner)
Strengths: DIY or die, Thrasher tattoo
Weaknesses: rocks and cracks
Verdict: Scorsese
Chris Rooney
Photographer
Follow on instagram @rtbftr78
aka: Rhino
Age: old enough
Hometown: San Diego
Status: Indy TM
KOTR experience: 2007 with Black Label, 2010 with Nike (winner)
Strengths: girth, pools, always down
Weaknesses: Trackers
Verdict: beer helmet
Steve Chalme
Second angle
Follow on instagram @_Scuba_Steve
aka: Scuba
Age: 29
Hometown: Simi Valley, CA
Status: between gigs
KOTR experience: 2003 with e'S
Strengths: waiting on PJ
Weaknesses: names of vert tricks
Verdict: sitting long lens
LAKAI
Guy Mariano
aka: Gamo
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 35
Status: pro
Sponsors: Lakai, Girl, Royal, Fourstar, Spitfire
KOTR experience: none, but he's seen the videos
Strengths: veteran status, appeared in Video Days, pools, that tech shit
Weaknesses: KOTR newcomer
Verdict: Fully Flared
Marc Johnson
aka: MJ
Age: 34
Hometown: Los Angeles
Status: pro
Sponsors: Lakai, Chocolate, Thunder, Matix, Spitfire, Bones Swiss
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: ledge, flatground, rails, tenaciousness
Weaknesses: the unbearable lightness of being
Verdict: complete control
Daniel Espinoza
aka: Spinach
Age: 20
Hometown: Los Angeles
Status: am
Sponsors: Lakai, Cliche, Autobahn, Utility
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: rails, ledges, stairs
Weaknesses: corn on the cob
Verdict: milf bait
Vincent Alvarez
aka: Vin-sanity
Age: 23
Hometown: Los Angeles
Status: pro
Sponsors: Lakai, Chocolate, Spitfire, Royal, Utility
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: ATV shredder, PMA
Weaknesses: picking a stance
Verdict: MVP
Mikemo Capaldi
Follow on instagram@_MikeMo
aka: Mo
Age: 21
Hometown: Simi Valley, CA
Status: pro
Sponsors: Lakai, Girl, Royal, Spitfire, Matix, Mob, Bones Swiss, Skatelab
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: ledge, social media, already whooped Benny Fairfax
Weaknesses: ankles, doesn't know he's going yet
Verdict: Popular Page
Sam Smyth
Team Manager
Follow on instagram @Samsklub
aka: Mac Res
Age: 35
Hometown: San Francisco
Status: Embarco's Most Blunted alumn, in good standing
KOTR experience: 2004 with Girl
Strengths: motivational speaker, well-groomed
Weaknesses: sandwiches, street life
Verdict: "I really need you guys to focus."
Ryan Lovell
Videographer
aka: Ryan
Age: 25
Hometown: Kansas City
Status: Malto's buddy
KOTR experience: 2010 with Etnies
Strengths: Gatorade loves his work
Weaknesses: no Malto in the van
Verdict: taking it for the team
Joe Brook
Photographer
Follow on instagram @PhotoJoeBrook
aka: Fat Back
Age: 38
Hometown: San Francisco
Status: road dog
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: PMA, teetotaler, girth
Weaknesses: ice cream
Verdict: big black and blue
Aaron Meza
Second angle
Follow on instagram @Crailtap
aka: The Mez
Age: 38
Hometown: Daly City, CA
Status: rad dad, blogger
KOTR experience: 2004 with Girl
Strengths: master director, a hugger
Weaknesses: empty carbs, hasn't set up a new board in 9 years
Verdict: backseat driver
DEKLINE
Chad Tim-Tim
Follow on instagram @7im7im
aka: Slim-Slim
Age: 29
Hometown: Long Beach
Status: pro
Sponsors: Dekline, Element, Aerial L7, Active
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: switch, ledge, rails, The Lord
Weaknesses: no funny business
Verdict: Mr. Clean
Matt Bennett
aka: Matt B
Age: 25
Hometown: Corona, CA
Status: pro
Sponsors: Dekline, Toy Machine, Pig, Ambig, Mob, Furnace
KOTR experience: 2006 with Toy Machine
Strengths: Bennett grinds, laid back vibes
Weaknesses: vert, pool, social media, steady girl so no milfs
Verdict: Nah, nah...
Nick Merlino
aka: Dick Burrito
Age: 23
Hometown: Atlantic City, NJ
Status: am
Sponsors: Dekline, Foundation, Pig, Neff, Mob, Krux
KOTR experience: never heard of it
Strengths: everything, pretty much
Weaknesses: social graces
Verdict: no brains, no headache
Dakota Servold
aka: Dakota
Age: 18
Hometown: Temecula, CA
Status: am
Sponsors: Dekline, Foundation, Bones, Active
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: rails
Weaknesses: 4:20
Verdict: quadruple kink
Ryan Spencer
aka: Spencer
Age: 22
Hometown: Long Beach
Status: am
Sponsors: Dekline, Foundation, Pig, Super Brand
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: ATV, photography
Weaknesses: accident prone
Verdict: make or break
Mike Sinclair
Team Manager
Follow on instagram @Carmelcreeper
aka: Little Playa
Age: 39
Hometown: Encinitas, CA
Status: ex-pro, nine jobs, underdog
KOTR experience: logistics for Zero 2004-2007
Strengths: prank calls, talkin' shit
Weaknesses: dice, snacks, "Martin" re-runs
Verdict: "Get back up there, dummy!"
Jared Lucas
Videographer
Follow on instagram @JaredLucas
aka: Luknasty
Age: 28
Hometown: Encinitas, CA
Status: moonlighting Bones TM
KOTR experience: zilch
Strengths: master lensmen, PMA
Weaknesses: rookie
Verdict: taking it for the team
Dan Zaslavsky
Photographer
aka: Dan Z
Age: 28
Hometown: Boston
Status: ex-Hubba photog
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: multiple flashes, ping-pong
Weaknesses: "Bachinsky already did it."
Verdict: Sleeper Cell
Tim Cisilino
Second angle
Follow on instagram @TimCisilino
aka: Tucson Tim
Age: 22
Hometown: Tucson
Status: hella hungry
KOTR experience: nada
Strengths: up all night
Weaknesses: Facebook
Verdict: the facilitator
VANS
Tony Trujillo
aka: TNT
Age: 29
Hometown: San Francisco
Status: pro
Sponsors: Vans, Anti-Hero, Spitfire, Independent, Fourstar
KOTR experience: 2003 with Deluxe (winner)
Strengths: SOTY 2002, ATV ripper, veteran status
Weaknesses: knives, Bad Shit
Verdict: Onward to battle
Elijah Berle
aka: Elijah
Age: 14-19
Hometown: Malibu, CA
Status: am
Sponsors: Vans, Chocolate, Independent, Spitfire
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: grinding up rails, ollies, etc.
Weaknesses: cigs, very impressionable
Verdict: KOTR crusher
Daniel Lutheran
Follow on instagram @RaisedByCoyotes
aka: Dan Lu
Age: 22
Hometown: Albuquerque
Status: am
Sponsors: Vans, Toy Machine, Independent,Insight, Stance, Pig, Ashbury, Beach Zone
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: PMA, ATV, 100+ naked girls on his phone
Weaknesses: tweest
Verdict: "Oh, for sure!"
Johnny Layton
Follow on instagram @JohnnyLayton
aka: Big Boy
Age: 25
Hometown: Murrieta, CA
Status: pro
Sponsors: Vans, Toy Machine, Pig, Theeve, Mob, Bones Swiss, Furnace
KOTR experience: 2003 with Tumyeto, 2006 with Toy Machine
Strengths: switch tres, mass power
Weaknesses: hypochondria
Verdict: MVP
Gilbert Crockett
aka: Crockett
Age: 22
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Status: pro
Sponsors: Vans, Alien, Independent, Spitfire, Dominion
KOTR experience: none, but he did ride for Jamie Thomas once
Strengths: mad pop, tech, rails, PMA
Weaknesses: bad video skits
Verdict: fun, fun, fun
Griffin Collins
Team manager
Follow on instagram @TheGrifDog
aka: Prof. Grif
Age: 28
Hometown: Long Beach
Status: ex-Howe model, movie star, Birdhouse am
KOTR experience: team manager for Toy Machine in 2006
Strengths: nose slides, funny talkin', Instagrapplin'
Weaknesses: The Skate Book
Verdict: Make it or naked
Cody Green
Videographer
Follow on instagram @CodyGreen
aka: King of the Roady
Age: 23
Hometown: Canton, OH
Status: Berrics survivor
KOTR experience: none
Strengths: mentored by Greg Hunt, can be drawn in three movements of the pen
Weaknesses: first time as team leader
Verdict: milf slayer
Joe Hammeke
Photographer
Follow on instagram @Ham_N_Cheese
aka: Ham n Cheese
Age: 39
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Status: evil Bobby Hill
KOTR experience: 2010 with C1rca
Strengths: flexibility, madonnas, can bribe team with Ergo sponsorship
Weaknesses: shorts, stories about old 151 team riders the kids have never heard of
Verdict: Backin' it!
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King of the Road 2011 Full Video
Here's the full KOTR 2011 video (all webisodes, back-to-back) plus an hour of bonus footage. Enjoy the wild ride one more time.
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King of the Road Webisode #13
Here's Lakai taking the win and a recap of all the insanity from one of the best KOTR's ever. Pure skateboarding, adventure, stoke, whatever you want to call it: a big thanks to Lakai, Vans, Nike SB, and Dekline for joining this strange ride.
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King of the Road Webisode #12
After killing themselves (and the Challenges book), the Vans team enjoys the end of the road. Trujillo, Berle, Lutheran, Layton, Crockett, and Mystery Guest Arto Saari put on a hell of a show this year.
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King of the Road Webisode #11
Nike SB goes full mental at the Los Angeles finish line. Ishod rips a bowl barefoot, Koston keeps his cool in a prank call, and Cory Kennedy continues his tech wizardry.
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King of the Road Webisode #10
The Dekline team gets some help from the Birdman as they near the end of the road in Los Angeles.
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King of the Road Webisode #9
All four KOTR teams together makes this the best one yet. Also: Mystery Guests revealed, Juggalette make-out, crazy hill bomb, Crockett's now-legendary switch flip, and more.
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King of the Road Webisode #8
Lakai continues their path of destruction from Portland to Reno with strippers and donuts as fuel.
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King of the Road Webisode #7
Vans barely makes it out of Salt Lake City alive in this one. A rail in the rain destroys Daniel Lu and Trujillo hesitates on a 10-foot boneless drop.
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King of the Road Webisode #6
With Cory Kennedy and Shane O'Neill on board, Nike SB had flatground tech handled. And as the road rage and odors add up, a gorgeous Vegas model lightens the mood.
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King of the Road Webisode #5
The desert can have a strange effect on people. Dekline fights their way through Arizona weirdness, and Nick Merlino continues his mix of meltdowns and amazing skating.
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King of the Road Webisode #4
Lakai packed their van with legends and some young guns, then went for it 110-percent. The assault began in Seattle.
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King of the Road Webisode #3
The Vans team's approach was to handle mega-tech moves early and then demolish the Denver park. Trujillo, Layton, Crockett, Lutheran, Berle—maybe the most diversely talented squad this year?
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King of the Road Webisode #2
The KOTR recipe involves straight-up gnarly skating and full-on weirdness. Insanely brutal challenges and fun dork tricks collide as Nike SB has a blast in Albuquerque.
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King of the Road Webisode #1
To say that Dekline entered King of the Road as underdogs would be the understatement of the year, but when you've got the Dick Burrito anything is possible.
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King of the Road Teaser #5
The countdown is on. Webisodes start tomorrow.
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King of the Road Teaser #4
With Koston, Cory Kennedy, and Grant Taylor on their squad, Nike SB has some of the most naturally-talented skaters out there. We're building the hype for a reason. You'll see why on December 10.
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King of the Road Teaser #3
With a road warrior like Trujillo on board and young blood like Daniel Lutheran ready to go big, more than a few thought Vans could take it. Webisodes coming Dec. 10th.
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King of the Road Teaser #2
Dekline may have been the KOTR underdogs, but they finished first in ridiculousness - no small thanks to Nick Merlino. Webisodes coming Dec. 10th.
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Sneak Peek: January 2012
Lakai or die—KOTR Blood runs deep when it's all on the line. January mag hits skateshops next week with a grip of free stickers from all the KOTR teams. Congrats, Lakai.
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King of the Road Teaser #1
Skater-owned and legend-heavy, Lakai manhandled KOTR 2011. Webisodes start December 10th.
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KOTR 2011: End Of The Line Party
Arto's backyard was the scene of Lakai's victory celebration. Empty pool, kegs, pizza... We make party?
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End of the Road
Congrats, Lakai. KOTR Champs 2011.
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Lakai Wins 2011 King of the Road
At the urine-soaked LA finish line, Lakai along with Mystery Guest, Andrew Reynolds, finished first in KOTR 2011, followed by Vans, Nike and Dekline. Gilbert Crocket is the MVP...
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K.O.T.R. 2011: Nike Blog #2
Met up at Highspeed and got our Mystery Guest. We got Leo Romero, SOTY 2010, to turn the volume up to 11! 48 hours left, full steam ahead.
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KOTR 2011 Mystery Guest Profiles
Weirdos, ex-teamriders, broads - we've had a lot of wild Mystery Guests on King of the Road over the years, but none as heavy as this years all-SOTY lineup.
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KOTR 2011: MVP?
We asked some of the bro's from King of the Road who's their MVP so far.
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K.O.T.R. 2011: Vans Blog #2
Check out what life is like in the van with the Vans team in this update from the road.
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K.O.T.R. 2011: Dekline Blog #1
The Dekline team checks in with some photos of their progress on King of the Road.
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K.O.T.R. 2011: Lakai Blog #1
Joe Brook checks in from the road with the Lakai team.
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K.O.T.R. 2011: Nike Blog #1
It's like the 19th hole at a golf course with Koston in the car. Nike's got the biggest van out. Which means it holds more beer. X-Box, wifi, leather seats. Is this Skate Rock or KOTR?
