Ken Block

By: Mitch StappMrs. Moeller

Biography

• Born on November 21, 1967• Born in Long Beach, California• Currently lives in Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Social Aspects

• He has participated in many action sports events

( Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Motocross, and Rally Racing)

• He is most popular for his rally racing• Spent most of his time back home drifting his

first car a VW GTI

How He Got His Start

• Went in half and half with Damon Way to start DC (Damon was brother of pro skateboarder Danny Way)

• They both had the idea that skateboarders like other athletes needed specialized shoes

The Beginning

• DC Shoes started as a very small operation with little financial backing

• The company eventually blew up and was acquired by Quicksilver

Current Status

• Ken Block is still currently co-operator with Damon Way and has recently been appointed with being the Chief Brand Officer of DC Shoes

Type of Business

• DC Shoes is classified as a partnership because there are two owners and they both share the profits and loss’ of the company

Philosophy

• He just believed that skateboarders need special shoes to compete at their highest potential

• He also runs his business as if it were a family

Education

• He studied computer design at Palomar Community College

• This is where he met his future business partner Damon Way

DC Name

• DC started as a Circus Distribution that had many branches and they eventually put all their focus into their shoes and changed the name from Circus Distribution to DC Shoes

Before DC

• In the very beginning Ken started making screen print shirts for skateboarders and it eventually evolved into the Eight Ball brand

• This started his interest in the skateboarding apparel and shoe industry

Racing Accomplishments

• In 2006 he got a sponsorship with Subaru• In 2007 he competed in the x-games 13 where

he placed second in the rally race and received a silver medal

• On January 6, 2010 the Monster World Rally Team announced Ken as their driver for selected rounds of the World Rally Championship

Interesting Fact

• DC had one bad year in 2002 when they had a very slim profit and they were audited by the IRS

• Following these troubles Billabong unsuccessfully tried to buy DC Shoes out

Innovation

• DC did research in the first privately owned facility for development of snowboarding products, the DC Mountain Lab

Ken Block and His Car

DC Shoes Ad