Biography
The American Ranger and Showman Ken Block achieved good results in races, but not all life of a man was built around a career. He also succeeded in business and even created a line of clothing and shoes for extreme sports. But most of the time I still gave a sport, participated in Snowboarding competitions, Skateboarding and Rally Crosses.Childhood and youth
Ken was born in the fall of 1967 in the city of Long Beach, California, USA. Childhood spent on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and as soon as I learned to swim, I decided to master the surfing. Over time, the fond of the block turned into a desire to bring something to this sport. He gathered with friends, and together they decided that for further classes I need special shoes.
Comfortable sneakers Friends-athletes were carved by their own forces, so with one pair of shoes in 1994, the guys had a business. The company called DC Shoes first released exclusively equipment for surfing, and then expanded the range and now offers clothing and shoes for different extreme sports. In 2004, the profitable case of the block was bought by Quiksilver, Inc., giving $ 87 million for him and leaving Ken as a leader's posts.
Car racing
Having needed in money, in 2005 the block decides to realize the children's dream of racing. Ken's debut took place as part of the Vermont Sportscar team at the National American Ralline Championship, the company issued a man's Subaru WRX STI car.Without experience in the rally from the first time, the racer showed a good result. He came to the finish line with the fifth of the group and the seventh in Absolute, and closed the season already at 4th place, thereby turning attention to the leadership of Subaru. The next year of the racer biography has passed even more successful. Taking advantage of comprehensive support for Subary, together with his friend, he creates the Subaru Rally Team USA team. As a result, the season brings him 5 wins, of which 2 gold. He took second place in the National Championship.
Continuing to participate in competitions within the country, at the same time Ken tries forces and WRC. In addition, he became increasingly becoming a winner in one-time races and shows. In 2008, the man participated in the World Rally Championships and to prepare, on the new Subaru WRX Sti car took part in the Canadian Rally, where she won. Then I took the 1st place on the races in the United States, and in the competition X Games XIV the block was lucky less, the man divided the 3rd place with Dave Mirra.
In 2010, Ken at the World Rally Championship represented the team Monster World Rally. Machine for competition Men made M-Sport company. He then became a member of the 6th season of the Rally America National Championship and the 5th time in a row won the 100 Acre Wood Competitions. In 2011, the block as a result of the accident was in the hospital, but soon his manager stated that the athlete is in order and will soon return to operation.
At the 2014 World Championships, held in Spain, until the last stage, the racer showed a good result and moved the tenth all the time until the wheel was punished before the finish. This zamanka took time from him, so he took only the 12th place. And in 2015, Ken was invited to play as "Icons" for the computer game Need for Speed. The block came to this sport in 37 years, but age did not put a man to become the "king of auto racing".
Personal life
About the personal life of the race car driver is not known. In an interview, Ken told that he has a wife and three children. Among other hobbies of men snowboarding - in winter and bicycle or wakeboard - in the summer. This is evidenced by numerous photos in the block profile in "Instagram".
Although Ken has not been a young man for a long time, the lifestyle does not give him age, with an increase of 183 cm (weight unknown) it looks tumaled, energetic and young.
Ken block now
Block and now continues to participate in races, but the fans are more interested in videos, which he since 2008 lays out on Youtube called "Jimhana".In fact, this is Japanese competitions, where participants pass complex routes, but Ken went further and turned this sport in the show without rivals, where he demonstrates beautiful turns, jumping with springboard and high-speed ride with obstacles.
After removing 10 parts of "Jimhankhan", now the racer lays out no less exciting video on its channel. In May 2019, a man showed the audience, as manages the new Ford Ranger Raptor and other adventures in New Zealand.
Achievements
- 2004 - "Self-influential person in sports business" (according to Sports Business Journal magazine)
- 2005 - "Newbie of the Year" in the American Rally
- 2006 - 3rd place of 12 competitions X-Games, 2nd place in the Championship of America on Rally
- 2007 - 2nd place of 13 competitions X-Games, 3rd place in the Championship of America on Rally
- 2008 - 2nd place in the Championship of America on Rally
- 2013 - 2nd place in the championship of America on the Rally