From Nicknames to New Shoes—Spanky Returns to The Nine Club

Originally posted on TransWorld SKATEboarding
By Brian Blakely | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 3:06 PM ET

There are some skateboarders in the game who I'll personally never get tired of seeing or hearing from, and Kevin "Spanky" Long is absolutely one of them. I've been a fan of Spanky since I saw his part in Sixteen Skateboards' classic video, I Hate Children (back when I was about 10 years old—bonus points if you've seen it) and he's just one of those skateboarders who has always been around, if that makes sense.

His video parts are timeless. His brand loyalty is something to admire. And these days, it seems as if he's having as much fun (if not more) than he ever has on his skateboard. His third signature Emerica shoe drops 11/8, so what better of a time to sit in The Nine Club hot seat for some story time? Great episode. Take a look:

From the start, Spanky dives into what it’s like carrying a nickname well into adulthood and the funny dynamics that come with it. He also reflects on more than two decades of loyalty to the brands he’s backed—Baker, RVCA, Emerica—and how those long-term relationships have shaped his career.

We hear his Jon Dickson impersonation, the worst airplane turbulence he's ever experienced, the epic (unexpected) Tim Robinson x Baker collab... yeah, the dude has stories for days.

As far as his third upcoming Emerica pro model shoe—the KSLIII—get a closer look and some of the nitty-gritty details above. It looks super rad and it's certainly well-deserved.

Anyways, toss the episode on in the background and get a glimpse into how Spanky balances staying creative, staying loyal, and keeping skateboarding fun after decades of inspiring countless skateboarders—on and off the board.

It’s another must-listen episode from one of skateboarding’s most admirable personalities. Yeah, Spanky!

This article first appeared on TransWorld Skateboarding and was syndicated with permission.

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