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.
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December 28, 2015 4:33 pm
AND THIS GUY IS A PUSSY
December 28, 2015 6:35 pm
why couldn’t he try tomorrow? i really hate that side of filming tricks and the pressure of competitions in skateboarding.l it should be relaxed. he could have done it and made it better if he could just try it a couple of more times. we’re talking about a guy that hasn’t seen a mega ramp in his life. if he had any experience he would have done it easy. I really really like the guy, but i hate the pressure in witch he HAS TO DO IT. I’m glad he didn’t force it
December 28, 2015 8:50 pm
we had to leave the next day early in the AM – and the ramp isn’t dry until the afternoon, so that was the only day he could try it.
December 28, 2015 8:04 pm
Nipping weevil the Mega Ramp! Only Ali.
December 29, 2015 1:31 am
That was pretty rad, but if you’re gonna have him try it, at least give him some time to work through it (jet lag, different time zone, nerves, etc.) I give him all the credit in thw world for going for it.