King of the Road

King of the Road is a gripping, dynamic reality television series that aired on Viceland in 2016. This unique show provides an exhilarating wave of excitement and competitive spirit as it puts forth a hard-hitting amalgamation of reality sports, heated challenges, and raw emotion, all concerned with the athletic and cultural discipline of skateboarding.

At its heart, King of the Road represents a distinctive take on the sports-reality genre. However, it goes far beyond simple contests of athletic prowess. The show grapples with issues like teamwork, sportsmanship, creativity, physical endurance, mental tenacity, and much more, placing them all within the thrilling, frequently improvisational context of professional skateboarding.

Given the nature of skateboarding as a sport, it's no surprise that the competition stretches the bounds of what's possible, asking its competitors not merely to persevere, but to innovate — to conjure up spectacular feats of athleticism and perform them with style and grace. The athletes are not just there to compete, they are there to showcase their extraordinary skills and push the boundaries in order to awe the audience and judges, creating a palpable sense of tension that permeates every episode.

The premise of the show involves three reputable skateboard companies namely, Zero Skateboards, Chocolate Skateboards, and Birdhouse Skateboards, each represented by a team of their professional skaters. The teams embark on a cross-country road trip for two weeks to compete against each other in various skateboarding events that are etched into a thick book brimming with insane and unpredictable challenges. These tasks are not just confined to feats of skateboarding but also involve managing unexpected curveballs while on the journey, getting them more immersed into the world of multi-dimensional chaos and competition.

The challenges range from amusing to extremely hazardous, promising a decent blend of laugh-out-loud moments and heart-clenching circumstances. As the teams battle out these challenges, dealing with physical exhaustion and mental fatigue, they also attempt to push their creativity higher and higher, birthing some of the most creative skateboarding tricks and styles, the likes of which are rarely seen anywhere else in the sporting world.

The skaters aren’t alone in this venture, they are accompanied by esteemed skateboard personalities who serve as hosts and judges, adding more gravitas and legitimacy to the event. This adds deeper dimensions to the show, as the perspectives of these professionals, familiar with the nuanced dynamics of the skateboard industry, provide insights that may elude the less initiated. They not only appraise performances but also share unexpected stories, lore, and the rich history of skateboarding, making it a highly informative watch for enthusiasts of the sport and neophytes alike.

King of the Road is not merely a skateboarding show, it is an exploration of personal and team dynamics, carving out narratives of rivalry, camaraderie, celebration, and hardship. Each episode is a fascinating meld of documentary, travel-guide and a nerve-racking competition as the three teams traverse through diverse American landscapes, all of them locked in a fever pitch contest to outdo one another and claim the coveted title of the King of the Road.

Moreover, Viceland's unique, raw and unpolished aesthetic complements the spirit of the show perfectly, cracking open a window into the anything-goes culture of skateboarding and embodying the free-wheeling, kinetic vitality of the sport. It also portrays the under-represented skateboarding scene, away from the glitz and glamour, focusing on the grunge, the underground, and the rebellious spirit that defies societal norms.

In sum, King of the Road is more than a reality show or a sports competition. It is an open-ended story about skateboarders from different walks of life, forging their own styles and narratives while confronting the harsh realities of competition. It has a bit of everything — adrenaline-fueled contests, high-stakes drama, light-hearted banter, and even occasional bits of absurdity — all of which come together to create an exhilarating show that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in skateboarding, reality competitions, or simply compelling storytelling.