King of the Road Season 2: Teams Announced

Many are called, few pick up the phone – which is why we're proud to announce that Deathwish, enjoi and Creature will be jumping in the van for King of the Road this year (and Season 2 of the Viceland TV series.) Check the team profiles and let us know how you think each of these epic squads will do on the Highway to Hell!


Creature Team 611px

DavidGravette DZ 250px
David Gravette
Follow on instagram @davidgravette

aka: Baby Lamb
Age: 28
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Sponsors: Creature, Independent, Bones wheels, C1RCA, Bronson, Mob grip
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: C1RCA 2010, Creature 2012, Birdhouse Mystery Guest 2013
Strengths: Tranny, kinked rails, KOTR face tats
Weaknesses: Injuries, emotional outbursts
Verdict: Why, God?! Why??!!
 
 
KevinBaekell.jpeg DZ 250px
Kevin Baekkel
Follow on instagram @kevinbaekkel

aka: The Hammer
Age: 20
Hometown: Hamar, Norway
Sponsors: Creature, Emerica, Independent, Bronson
Status: Amateur
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Destroys everything, viking blood
Weaknesses: Stranger in a strange land
Verdict: Pronunciation guide
 
SeanConover DZ 250px
Sean Conover
Follow on instagram @seanconover

aka: Thin Lips
Age: 28
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Sponsors: Creature, Independent, OJ, Pacific Drive, Dakine, Union Leatherworks, Bones bearings, Brixton, Bull Taco
Status: Amateur
KOTR Experience: Creature 2010
Strengths: Street tech, hubbas, round bars
Weaknesses: Sunshine, oldest am on KOTR
Verdict: Red alert
 
ChrisRussell DZ 250px
Chris Russell
Follow on instagram @chrisrussell_mbk

aka: The Muscle
Age: 19
Hometown: Hermosa Beach, CA
Sponsors: Creature, Independent, Bones, S-One, Skeleton Key, Vans, ET Surf and Skate, Layback beer, Smoker’s choice papers, Pizzanista, Hoax clothing, RedBull
Status: Amateur
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Big bowls, padlessness
Weaknesses: Shirts
Verdict: Concrete con carne
 
WillisKimbel DZ 250px
Willis Kimbel
Follow on instagram @wheelbarrow

aka: Ginger Beetlejuice
Age: 28
Hometown: Portland, OR
Sponsors: Creature, Independent, OJ, Nike SB, Bronson, Dakine, Bassturdco, Skeleton Key, DAF, Shrunken Head, Mob grip
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Big bars, andrechts, dad was a '70s pro
Weaknesses: Low ceilings
Verdict: It runs in the family
 
Noah.jpeg DZ 250px
Noah Quale
Videographer
Follow on instagram @dafnoah

aka: DAF
Age: 35
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: Masterlenseman
KOTR Experience: Creature 2012
Strengths: Sober benders
Weaknesses: Hot brews
Verdict: 'Til the wheels fall off
 
Ewan DZ 250px
Ewan Bowman
Videographer
Follow on instagram @bo_def_son

aka: Bo
Age: 41
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Status: Masterlenseman
KOTR Experience: Flip 2005, Chocolate 2013
Strengths: Burpees, air squats, lunges
Weaknesses: Missing gym days
Verdict: 2 Fit 2 Quit
 
TeamPhoto
Chris Rooney
Photographer
Follow on instagram @rhino

aka: Rhino
Age: Old enough to whoop your ass
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Status: Masterlenseman, Indy TM
KOTR Experience: Black Label 2007, Nike 2010 (Won), Nike 2011, Creature 2012, Real 2013 and Flip 2014, Birdhouse 2015 (won)
Strengths: All of them
Weaknesses: None known
Verdict: Mess with rhino, get the horn
 
SamHitz DZ 250px
Sam Hitz
Team Manager
Follow on instagram @larbvomit

aka: Shitler
Age: 42
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Status: Pro drafted into temporary management
KOTR Experience: Creature Stowaway 2012
Strengths: Pool coping, low-level street negotiations, Kinko's
Weaknesses: Dive bars
Verdict: Life sentence


Deathwish Team 611px
 
LizardKing DZ
Mike Plumb
Follow on instagram @bigbizliz

aka: Lizard King
Age: 31
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Sponsors: Deathwish, Kr3w, Supra, Stance, Shake Junt, Thunder, Spitfire
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Passion, fatherhood, one-footers, sobriety
Weaknesses: Homie tats, Beelzebub
Verdict: Six Six Sick!
 
JakeHayes DZ 250px
Jake Hayes
Follow on instagram @jakehayes

aka: Hazey
Age: 25
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Sponsors: Deathwish, New Balance Numeric, Dickies, Spitfire, Thunder, Sock Posse, Sunday hardware, Shake Junt, PD distribution
Status: Amateur
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Taking the drops
Weaknesses: Fresh fish
Verdict: The wonder from Down Under
 
JonDickson DZ 250px
Jon Dickson
Follow on instagram @smokeeyes

aka: Big Jon
Age: 27
Hometown: Antioch, IL
Sponsors: Deathwish, Vol. 4, OJ Wheels, Psockadelic, Active, Happy Hour, Independent, Hard Luck, Shake Junt
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Switch flips, overalls, sober living
Weaknesses: Library voice
Verdict: Silent but deadly
 
JamieFoy DZ 250px
Jamie Foy
Follow on instagram @jamie_foy

aka: Big Pinch
Age: 20
Hometown: Deerfield Beach, FL
Sponsors: Deathwish, Bones Swiss, Stance, Island Water Sports, Spitfire, Thunder, Shake Junt, Diamond footwear, Red Bull
Status: Amateur
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Street shredding, rail chomping, footage machine
Weaknesses: The Devil's lettuce, breaking boards
Verdict: Heavy duty!
 
Neen DZ 250px
Neen Williams
Follow on instagram @neenowilliams

aka: Neeno
Age: 30
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Sponsors: Deathwish, C1rca, Altamont, Shake Junt, Thunder, Satori wheels, Stance, Loud headphones, Deathlens
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Flicking and flying, fitness
Weaknesses: Doesn't skate at night
Verdict: Heel do great
 
Beagle DZ 250px
Ryan Ewing
Videographer
Follow on instagram @beagleoneism

aka: Beagle
Age: 35
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
Status: Masterlenseman
KOTR Experience: Baker 2005
Strengths: PMA, hype man
Weaknesses: Drive-through chicken shacks, lean
Verdict: Yee-ahhh!
 
TeamPhoto
Jon Holland
Videographer
Follow on instagram @jon__holland

aka: J-5
Age: Sporty 40s
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Status: Masterlenseman
KOTR Experience: 2015 Toy Machine
Strengths: 20-plus years in the game
Weaknesses: Trackers
Verdict: On the road again
 
SamMuller DZ 250px
Sam Muller
Photographer
Follow on instagram @sammuller

aka: Muller
Age: 26
Hometown: Hollywood, CA
Status: Masterlenseman
KOTR Experience: 2015 Chocolate
Strengths: Grace under pressure
Weaknesses: Chronic jetlag
Verdict: 26 going on 40
 
JayThorpe DZ 250px
Jay Thorpe
Team Manager
Follow on instagram @jboneson

aka: J-Bone
Age: 37
Hometown: Oceanside, CA
Status: TM
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Road dog, back tails
Weaknesses: Mellow fellow
Verdict: Even Steven


Enjoi Team 611px
 
BenRaemers DZ 250px
Ben Raemers
Follow on instagram @benraemers

aka: Benny Boy
Age: 25
Hometown: Colchester, England
Sponsors: enjoi, Converse, Volcom, Lost Arts Shop, Independent, Castle bolts, OJ, Mob grip
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Rails, bowls, stairs, tea
Weaknesses: Strange American customs
Verdict: Oververt!
 
Louie.jpeg DZ 250px
Louie Barletta
Follow on instagram @louiebarletta

aka: Sweet Lou
Age: Somewhere between 30-50
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Sponsors: enjoi, Pig, Mob grip, Krux, Globe, Bones Swiss
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: enjoi 2013
Strengths: Oddball moves combined with classic tranny/street skills
Weaknesses: Barstools, someone put a ring on it
Verdict: Flip your wig
 
JacksonPilz.jpeg DZ 250px
Jackson Pilz
Follow on instagram @jacksonpilz

aka: Jacko
Age: 24
Hometown: Coolum Beach, Queensland, Australia
Sponsors: enjoi, Volcom, Vans, Independent
Status: Amateur
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Vert baby roots, benihanas
Weaknesses: Benihanas
Verdict: MVP
 
Enzo.jpeg DZ 250px
Enzo Cautela
Follow on instagram @enzo_cautela

aka: Benzo
Age: 18
Hometown: Escondido, CA
Sponsors: enjoi, KR3W, Supra, Pharmacy, Bones, Krux
Status: Flow
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Big, big flip tricks
Weaknesses: Maiden voyage
Verdict: Highest, Longest, Most
 
ZackWallin 250px
Zack Wallin
Follow on instagram @zackwallin

aka: The Foreman
Age: 27
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Sponsors: enjoi, Bohnam, Independent, Pig, Bones bearings, Mob grip, Remind insoles
Status: Pro
KOTR Experience: enjoi 2013
Strengths: Gaps, handshakes, hammers
Weaknesses: Getting super silly
Verdict: This panda packs a punch
 
unnamed 250px
Dan Stolling
Videographer
Follow on instagram @danstolling

aka: Dad
Age: 25
Hometown: Fresno, CA
Status: Masterlenseman
KOTR Experience: Flip 2014
Strengths: Done it once
Weaknesses: Only done it once
Verdict: Live and learn
 
CarsonLess.jpeg DZ 250px
Carson Lee
Videographer
Follow on instagram @falcor408

aka: Viper
Age: 24
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Status: Juniorlenseman
KOTR Experience: None
Strengths: Youthful optimism
Weaknesses: Transworld refugee
Verdict: Feet to the flames
 
Joe Brook 1 DZ 250px
Joe Brook
Photographer
Follow on instagram @photojoebrook

aka: Fatback
Age: 44
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Status: Masterlenseman
KOTR Experience: Lakai 2011 (won), Alien Workshop 2012 (won), enjoi 2013
Strengths: Intimate knowledge of the van life, teetotaler
Weaknesses: heavy lifting, snack attacks
Verdict: Grin and bear it
 
JamesCraig DZ 250px
James Craig
Team Manager
Follow on instagram @jamescraig24

aka: Cliff
Age: 37
Hometown: Fullerton, CA
Status: TM
KOTR Experience: Blind 2007 (won)
Strengths: Still shreds
Weaknesses: Basketball shorts
Verdict: Party dad
 
  • Slow Impact 2024 Photo Recap

    Slow Impact 2024 Photo Recap
    Ryan Lay's second annual Slow Impact event brought visionary thinkers and low-profile dinkers down to Tempe, AZ, for a long weekend. Join in as we check the talks and architecture walks with Ted Barrow, Neen Williams, Ronnie Kessner and the New Balance crew.
  • Baker Has a Deathwish Part 2

    Baker Has a Deathwish Part 2
    Sixteen years later and Baker STILL has a Deathwish. Part 2 starts now.
  • FP Footwear’s “Sunset Tour” Video

    FP Footwear’s “Sunset Tour” Video
    A bowling ball works great for impact testing, but nothing compares to some real-life R-N-D in the streets. Jaws, Neen, Decenzo and Pelka pave the way for newcomer Julian Agliardi in this portrait of Puerto Rican paradise.
  • Geometric’s “Allstars” Video

    Geometric’s “Allstars” Video
    Geometric blows up the shop-trip format by wrangling a big-league crew for a Euro romp you can’t miss. Watch Ronnie Kessner, Dylan Jaeb, Leo Romero, Ish Cepeda, Braden Hoban, Art Cordova and more as they dismantle every gorgeous plaza in their path.
  • Skateline: 08.08.2023

    Skateline: 08.08.2023
    Gary talks Spitfire's Gonz in NYC video, Sheckler's My War, Lakai's Bubble video, Jaws' El Toro heelflip attempts and more in today's episode of Skateline