In case you can’t tell, we at Jenkem are fans and supporters of skateboarding’s outliers – the wonderful wackos that do their own thing regardless of how kooky you or we may think it is. Almir Jusovic from Slovenia, the self-described “world’s weirdest skateboarder,” is an exemplar of this special kind of skateboarder. We interviewed him back in 2012 where we learned about Ali’s love of Bruce Lee, Rodney Mullen, and his dream of jumping the MegaRamp in his signature doggystyle position.
So a few months ago we asked for y’alls help in giving Ali the opportunity to turn this dream into a reality, and you came through, raising about $500 towards the first iteration of Jenkem’s Make a Weirdo’s Wish Foundation.
With your help, we flew Ali out to Woodward West in SoCal for a weekend so he could face up to the massive roll-in and 60 foot gap he was so dead-set on clearing. Many people doubted it could be done, one Mega pro even told Ali that he’d break both his arms if he were crazy enough to go for it. But Ali was unfazed. He gripped up the underside of his nose, strapped on his motorcycle helmet, spun a couple of nun-chuck moves to loosen up, and dropped in fingers first and headlong into the impossible.
Spoiler alert: Although it didn’t turn out exactly as Ali hoped, there’s some significant lessons to be learned from his ambition and perseverance… something about pursuing your dreams even when everyone else thinks you’re an idiot for ever dreaming. There was a point in the sleepless night before his attempts where Ali had even talked himself out of trying it. He told us, “I felt comfort when I was thinking that it is better to be a little bit ashamed, then to end up injured, or worse. I was thinking about all the stuff I still want to experience in this life, how I want to love someone and have kids. I was never in my life so afraid.” But despite his well-founded fears, Ali went for it, and that is what makes him a real hero.
Related Posts
Comments
Popular
-
A CHAT WITH LUDVIG HAKANSSON, THE OLDEST SOUL IN SKATEBOARDING
The man loves to read Nietzche, skates in some expensive vintage gear, and paints in his own neoclassical-meets-abstract-expressionist style.
-
HANGING OUT WITH ANDREW HUBERMAN, SKATEBOARDER TURNED NEUROSCIENTIST
Curious what it would be like to hang with this guy outside of a stuffy podcast studio? Us too.
-
GROWING UP, MOVING OUT, AND BREAKING BOARDS
A personal essay recounting a love affair with something we're all too familiar with.
-
INTRODUCING THE NEW JENKEM COLLECTION, JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Air fresheners, bumper stickers, a shirt with a gun on it and a bunch of other stuff.
-
HOW CHAD CARUSO SKATED ACROSS AMERICA
Chad did it the way most skateboarders would: independently and without much of a plan.
December 28, 2015 2:27 pm
The coolest video on a mega ramp since Danny Way jumped over The Great Wall of China. All hail The Great Doggy Style Attempt of Slovenia.
December 28, 2015 2:33 pm
This guy rules! Keep skateboarding weird.
December 28, 2015 2:34 pm
At least he tried and popped. I would straight up die if I would roll down there for sure. Breaking knees, ankles etc.
December 28, 2015 4:14 pm
Great filming and photos! But major props to Ali for his perseverance and spirit, I really dug the bit where he mentioned he is old enough when to stop. He is wise and weird.