Go Fast, Risk Every Thang
Remembering Ken Block
I never spent any meaningful time with Ken Block. We may have met in passing at some event at some time, but nothing I can remember so certainly nothing that he would have. But I’ve met many people in Block’s orbit and I’ve watched over the past couple weeks as the tributes poured in following his death in a snowmobile accident.
I’m not the biggest fan of the grieving process taking place on social media. (But I’m even less of a fan of people judging how others grieve, so do what you feel.) Regardless, something that stood out about the posts about Block was not only how heartfelt they were but how far-ranging. Tributes came in from different corners of the Instagram ecosystem, the skaters and snowboarders, sure, but also the car guys, the fashion folk, and the artists.
Reading through them made me appreciate just how much Block built and how many different sectors he touched. BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti used to talk about growth in these terms. “You’re not selling out. You’re blowing up. Think in terms of hip-hop, not indie rock.”
This quote is particularly interesting in the context of action sports (an admittedly atrocious term but the best one there is to collectively describe sports like surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding). Action sports in terms of both hip-hop and indie rock, which creates a tricky needle to thread. Block threaded it with aplomb.
While it’s easy to write off DC Shoes as a mall brand these days, that wasn’t always the case. With DC, Block built a brand that fresh skaters like Stevie Williams could rock alongside hesh ones like Danny Way, who once did a massive air over Slayer (in addition to jumping over The Great Wall of China). But it could also show up on the biggest stages outside of the insular skate world. Adam Sandler wore it on Letterman. Rob Dyrdek, who in all fairness started as a pro skater, made it ubiquitous on MTV. And before street culture was called street culture, DC was collaborating with the likes of KAWS and Supreme.
And when DC helped Block blow up, hip-hop style, the things he did to floss felt less “look how much money I have” and more “look how much fun I’m having.” He built the DC Mtn Lab, which was basically a private winter playground, complete with its own T-bar.
But I think what most impressed me is how Block let his interests guide him and didn’t seem to let himself get boxed in by ideas of what others thought he should be. Growing up, I always wrestled with identity. Was I a skater? Was I a jock? Was I a nerd? I felt a need to pick one.
Block didn’t.
He synthesized his interests, bringing gearhead motorsports into boardsports and throwing a dash of boxing into the mix. To the outside observer, at least, he did it all confidently without the self-doubt one might expect from someone combining somewhat disparate elements.
He also put people on. Travis Rice. Travis Pastrana. Other people not named Travis, like Danny Way and Stevie Williams. That must be one of the best parts of owning an action sports company: You get to give people you think are cool an opportunity.
But you don’t have to own an action sports company to do that. An action as simple as sharing someone’s post on IG can be a way of putting someone on. And doing that in a diverse way can be a way of synthesizing far-flung interests.
These are lessons I learned from Block, and which I hope to put into practice. Rest in power.
BOOKSTORES: How to Read More Books in the Golden Age of Content
Recommended by Marko Ayling in his fantastic newsletter
This video has two of my favorite things: Tim Urban and bookstores. I’m not sure there is a more practical everyman problem solver than Tim, so naturally his approach on how to read more books is both relatable and sensible. This is the first time I’ve seen one of Max’s videos but I like his vibe. Bookstores, Tim Urban, Max’s vibe. What’s not to like?
—Andrew
Shoresy
I hadn’t heard anything about this show—or its predecessor Letterkenny. Then I randomly came across an article about Shoresy being renewed for a second season and decided to give this comedy about a small town Canadian hockey team a watch. I’m glad I did. It’s a worthy successor to Slap Shot, and a la Big Mouth, it’s funny in both a crass and immature way, and in a wittily smart one. It’s also a fun way to pick up slang from our neighbors to the North.
—Justin
Clutter is Good for You
I’ll admit it: I’m probably in the top 1% of anti-clutterheads, despite mostly rejecting the Marie Kondofication of our places and spaces. I practice a loose 1 in, 1 out in my closet, I haven’t signed an apartment lease since 2019, and generally have few things. These facts have largely influenced why I thinkthings are making a comeback. And apparently I’m not alone. Collect and keep things that spark joy — it’s that simple.
—Andrew