Ken Block, the co-founder of DC Shoes and founder of the Hoonigan motor racing team, died in a snowmobile accident near his home in Utah on January 2. The news was confirmed on Hoonigan’s social media channels.
“It’s with deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today,” Hoonigan said in the statement. “Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And, most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed.”
Block founded DC Shoes in 1994 with designer Damon Way, a brand focused primarily on skateboarding. In 2004, Quiksilver acquired the company for $88 million, and Block went on to become a well-known name in motorsports. Five years after getting behind the wheel of a rally car, he was a five-time X Games medalist in RallyCross. His YouTube channel became the most popular in motorsports history, amassing over one billion page views.
Block was also known for his “Gymkhana” series of videos, where he would drive cars at high speeds around set courses, sometimes in the middle of major cities. The American Rally Association called Block “a massive influence on everything he touched, including the global world of rallying,” in a statement posted on social media.
He is survived by his wife and children.
Photo courtesy Getty
