FINGERBOARDING MAGAZINE 

The 2025 edition of King of the Plies by USAFBL dropped harder than ever. With teams repping cities from coast to coast, this year’s competition raised the bar, not just in skill, but in style, creativity, and straight-up heart. Unlike polished studio contests, KOTP is a street-level test of grit. It’s about raw clips, tight crews, busted fingers, and city pavement. No redos. No green screens. Just you, your crew, your board, and the wildest challenge list in fingerboarding.

This isn’t just a contest, it’s a cultural snapshot of fingerboarding in 2025. And while every squad brought something real to the table, one team turned the streets of Chicago into their playground and walked away with the crown.

They filmed over dog turds, caught clips in trees, even got tattoos to lock in the moment. With their unmatched chemistry, street energy, and fearless approach, they didn’t just check challenges, they made a statement.


Here is Team Loop - 2025 KOTP Winners!
Ethan C. Carver

For King of the Plies, Ethan Carver’s, (aka @ethclif.fb) role was simple but vital, bringing creative energy, trick ideas, and good vibes. Known as “the hype guy,” he thrived off the momentum of the crew. His favorite challenge, filming a 20-second edit on a dog turd, wasn’t used due to timing and weather, but it still stands out as a highlight. While he didn’t capture as much footage as he hoped, he was proud of the final video and challenges completed.

He’s been fingerboarding since 2002, after picking up skateboarding at 11. His style? Goofy, realistic, and completely mood-based. Since discovering Flatface, Berlinwood, and Blackriver in 2011, his obsession only grew.

Supported casually by Paul Rehr (@rehrboards) and Kazket B. (@psykonegative), he values local Chicago-based sponsorships and staying grounded in a community that feels real. His advice to youth: find something you love and let it shape your confidence, expression, and connection.

Chris M

His role at King of the Plies was simple: show up, have fun, film a little, and land some tricks. One standout moment was the tre flip 5-0 challenge, executed inside a porta potty. It took some creative angling, but the idea struck gold when the crew discovered a construction site just down the block from Blackriver Chicago.

A behind-the-scenes highlight? After the tree section, he attempted a frontside flip from rock to rock in the river and dunked my G16 a bunch of times. Pretty sure it’s in the credits.

He’s proudly sponsored by Copy Ramps, and Carbon Copy, and Teak Tuning, a brand he credits for giving so much back to the fingerboard community.

Fingerboarding since the rise of Tech Decks in 1997, he landed his first proper kickflip in high school and has been hooked ever since. Known for flip-in, flip-out combos and manuals, he’s stoked to watch the scene grow and the talent explode.

Joseph Pegura


Joseph Pegura, known online as @shkyfngrs, earned the unofficial title of “the consistent guy” on the KOTP team. He showed up to every session he could, balancing filming with his responsibilities as an assistant golf pro at Glen Flora Country Club.

His favorite moment? Watching J tre flip off a massive front loader, pure chaos and perfection. Behind the scenes, Joseph got his shot at the infamous “poop challenge.” While walking to the next spot after the Grant Park ledges, he spotted the ideal pile. With a kicker in his bag, he landed 20 tricks over it, but sadly, the footage didn’t make the cut.
Joseph’s been fingerboarding for 20 years, though this marks his first year fully immersed in the Chicago scene. Known for pushing boundaries, he’s constantly trying upside-down and left-handed tricks just to see what’s possible.
Shoutout to the Blackriver store, Team Bord, and of course, hi Mom.

Justin Ellis

Justin Ellis, better known as @trapdecks, is the hype man of the squad, though his role on the KOTP trip went far beyond that. From filming and spotting to keeping spirits high, Justin wore multiple hats throughout the journey.
His favorite challenge? The treetop session. “I’ve always wanted to do something like that,” he said, and the KOTP challenge finally gave him the excuse. Beyond that, simply fingerboarding with the crew made the entire experience unforgettable.
One behind-the-scenes highlight involved teammate Tony, who launched his board in frustration only to have it bounce back and nearly hit him in the face, until he snatched it mid-air like a ninja. “we started dying laughing,” Justin recalled.
Sponsored by TrapDecks and Oddball FB, Justin’s been fingerboarding seriously since 2011. His style? Big, boosted tricks that demand attention.
Shoutouts go to his crew, sponsors, and the entire community.
Richard Harck

Richard Harck, aka @kurt_kocaine, brought laid-back energy and smooth style to the KOTP squad. Known as the “chill dude” of the crew, he let his tricks, and sense of timing, do all the talking.

His favorite challenge? The fire challenge. “We went a little too crazy with the fire,” he admits with a laugh. But it made for one of the most memorable clips in the edit.

One behind-the-scenes moment felt like fate: while driving with teammate Tony, Richard had a gut feeling there was a great spot nearby. “I told him, ‘I’m pulling into this lot. I can feel it.’” Sure enough, they stumbled upon a perfect bowl spot, featured in the final video.

Fingerboarding since the early 2000s Tech Deck era, Richard isn’t sponsored but rides like a seasoned vet. His style? Loose trucks, short decks, and lots of ledge work. Classic, clean, and low-key, just like the man himself.

Tony Morado

Tony Morado, known on Instagram as @big.t1000, was the engine behind Team Loop, serving as recruiter, filmer, and editor. With a deep love for fingerboarding and a sharp eye for storytelling, Tony brought the squad together and kept the stoke alive.

His favorite part of the KOTP journey? Just being out in the streets with the crew, chasing challenges and filming clips. One unforgettable behind-the-scenes moment came when a random passerby asked to try a board, and casually landed a flawless tre flip on his car’s dashboard. That mystery shredder even made it into the final cut.

Tony has been fingerboarding since 2001, starting with Tech Decks before upgrading three years ago to pro setups. Now repping Ju.icy_fbco for wax and obstacles, he channels an early 2000s skate aesthetic, pure BAKER vibes. He gives love to his Chicago fam, FirstGear and Work26 skate shops, and his incredible, supportive family.

Vincent Soro

Vincent Soro (@scratchthevin) brought laid-back creativity and collaborative energy to his KOTP squad. Whether pitching tricks, filming ideas, or just showing up ready to help, Vincent was a key part of the team’s creative rhythm.

His favorite challenge? The tree climb. Equal parts sketchy and hilarious, it pushed the team to scout, scale, and somehow fingerboard mid-air. One near fall made the moment even more unforgettable.

Behind the scenes, coordinating across the city made filming its own kind of challenge, timing, locations, tricks, editing, it all came together in the final cut.

Vincent’s been fingerboarding seriously since age 12 and keeps his style smooth and relaxed. It’s not about perfection; it’s about flow and fun.

He’s not repping any sponsors (yet), but he’s got major love for the fingerboard scene. Shoutout to the homies, the brands, and everyone making the community what it is, fun, supportive, and straight-up rad.

2nd Place - Team Bord
3rd Place Team Sorry
4th Place Father’s Texas Ranges
5th Place Michigang
6th Place VXD
7th Place Hangtime
8th Place 801 FB - Layton
9th Place 801 FB - Salt Lake City
10th Place Fenix FB
11th Place Salty Seamen

Want to see how it all went down? Every slam, every make, every wild challenge, from rooftop grinds to porta potty tre flips, it’s all out there.

Head to YOUTUBE to watch every team’s full KOTP edit, see behind-the-scenes clips, and relive the madness that was King of the Plies 2025. Like, follow, and show love to the crews who made this year unforgettable. Street style. Real cities. Pure fingerboarding.