The action sports industry is grieving the loss of DC Shoes Co-Founder Ken Block, who passed away Monday in a snowmobile accident in Utah. He was 55 years old.
His death was confirmed by Hoonigan Industries, another successful company he co-founded.
“It’s with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today,” Hoonigan posted on its social media channels.
“Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed.”
After selling DC Shoes in 2004, Block became a motorsports star. He was a champion rally car driver, a marketing visionary with his viral YouTube Gymkhana videos, and created another successful lifestyle brand, Hoonigan, this time built on motorsports. Hoonigan describes itself as representing a subculture that is all about cars, fun, and debauchery.
“Ken was a legend in his ability to take a vision and make it a reality. He created an industry,” Steve Arpin, Block’s teammate in the Nitro RallyCross series, told ESPN. “But if you were lucky enough to know him, that’s where the best parts of Ken surfaced. He treated his friends like gold and would create opportunities for whoever wanted to put in the work. He was everything this world needs more of, and just happened to do a lot of really cool stuff on the side.”
One of the most touching tributes we saw was an Instagram post by action sports luminary Selema Masekela, who ran into Block and his family at the airport in Salt Lake City last week.
View this post on Instagram
Our thoughts go out to Block’s family, friends, and colleagues.
