Action Sports Industry Readies for 4/3 Day in Honor of Ken Block
Industry executives and athletes will take over the Woodward Park City sports complex next week for what’s being dubbed a block party in honor of Ken Block’s legacy.
The inaugural 4/3 Day at the Utah indoor and outdoor action sports parks destination will include a full day and night of panel discussions, dinner, and auctions benefiting the 43 Institute. The foundation’s purpose is to support individuals within the action sports, motosports, and creative arts through avenues such as mentorship and access to training. Next Wednesday’s event will also include an expansive legacy exhibition that will showcase Block’s life as co-founder of Hoonigan and DC Shoes and involvement across skate, snow, and motocross through displays of cars, car parts, magazine shoots, photography, and art.
The day’s speaker and attendee roster includes athletes and many others from within the action sports industry, including Travis Pastrana, Jason Ellis, Selema Masekela, Dave “Persue” Ross, and Brian Scotto.
“We haven’t been able to truly label the fundraising part,” said Lucy Block, 43 Institute president and Block’s wife. “People keep calling it a ‘gala.’ It’s not a gala, so that’s why we’re calling it a block party. We want it to be a party. We want it to be something that we all want to go to, not something that we’re forced to go to.”
That’s largely the impetus behind 4/3 Day, with the idea stemming from the celebration of life last January for Block, who passed away last year in a snowmobile accident.
“So many people from the industry and so many of us that don’t see each other very often, not just within snowboarding or skateboarding, but all of the action sports industries came together and talked about what Ken did for them (during the celebration of life),” Block said. “And we all just said to each other, ‘We have to get together more often.’”
Genevieve Gunnarson, the event director who previously served as vice president of action sports event producer and consultant Snow Park Technologies, echoed the sentiment.
“We used to have a lot of gatherings and industry trade shows and things that were a real draw for people to come together,” Gunnarson said. “When we were hosting the celebration of life, there was an overwhelming sense of need for people to come together. We don’t want to wait for tragedy to bring us together, but instead get together for a celebration.”
The naming of the event, 4/3 Day, is a nod to Block’s racing number, which was retired in his honor.
The hope is next week’s event, which the foundation is estimating will draw between 500 and 600 people, will serve as the kick-off to what will be an annual event moving forward.
“We wanted to make something like (past industry functions) but also include the public, and with the 43 Institute being a nonprofit, how do we tie it together and not just make it industry exclusive?” said Pam Zamoscianyk, 43 Institute director, former marketing director at DC, and a freelancer with Hoonigan. “We thought the TED Talks are so successful that we should have some kind of conversation (component) available to others, too.”
Zamoscianyk said it’s been over a year working on getting the 43 Institute established. Next week’s event will serve as the first public reveal “showing how we’re paying it forward,” Zamoscianyk explained.
Chad DiNenna, co-founder of Nixon, has been one of many people helping with the event and also getting the word out as a recently appointed board member of 43 Institute.
“Ken did so much to help for so many athletes, employees, retailers, distributors, and friends, it led to him having a positive impact on the creativity, image, trajectory, and future of the sports that fueled our industries,” DiNenna said. “I am proud we can contribute to 43i, an organization that is focused on providing grants and support to extend a network for future creatives, business leaders, marketers, top level athletes, and artists who are driven to seize on opportunities when presented.”
Tickets for the 4/3 Day Block Party and Fundraiser at Woodward Park City in Utah are $143 for general admission and $243 for VIP admission and seating. More information can be found by clicking here.