Almir Jusovic
‘They call me delusional, crazy, dreamer.’
January 2026
As per your IG intro you are a writer, sculptor, skateboarder, martial artist, lover, giver and your own biggest fan. Anything you have not achieved yet?
What I wrote in my bio is just bragging to annoy those that feel annoyed by it. Although I believe I am proficient at all those things I mentioned, what I want to achieve—let’s say what is important to me these days—is to cultivate an internal system of validation rather than relying on external sources. I also want to remain even calmer in situations where I feel provoked. I still need to work on that. While pursuing my ambitions in the past, I often reacted too quickly to perceived challenges or criticisms. I pushed myself to my limits to make my visions a reality, which others rarely understood or supported. There were times when I could have seriously harmed myself, and hearing doubts and criticisms from others—being told that my efforts were futile or that I was incapable—naturally led to some defensive reactions.
Who were these people and what did they say about you?
All of them. Family, friends, fellow skaters. They call me delusional, crazy, dreamer.
Has your attitude changed?
Now I try to remember the saying about not arguing with every dog that barks. Energy and attention should not go where they are not needed. Those people just want your reaction; they feed off your energy and slow you down, filling your mind with doubt. I’ve realized that for anything significant, it is crucial to remain focused and not get sidetracked by every minor provocation, doubt, or setback. It’s important to stay composed under pressure and maintain a clear focus on long-term goals. As I mentioned, I now strive to prioritize my internal validation system, as I believe that is more important. I also focus on what I have: being healthy, having food and a roof over my head, and knowing that my parents are still alive. I shouldn’t need anything else to be grateful for and I actually have so much more. There are countless people who can only wish and pray for what I already have. I try to keep this perspective in mind and cultivate a greater sense of gratitude. I try to ignore the need to prove myself to those who didn’t accept me or make me feel seen. I no longer feel the need to demonstrate that we are equals or to go so far that I need to show them how they are beneath me.
Sounds like that these people pushed you.
Interestingly, I realize I needed those people; without them, I wouldn’t have accomplished the goals I set for myself. So, I am also grateful for them, albeit motivated by a sense of revenge, willing to risk a lot—sometimes even my life— just to prove a point. Pretty stupid, but still better than taking every drug or go bowling for columbine. If we focus on skateboarding, I don’t need to prove anything to anybody, not even to myself.
You come from a little village called Lipoglav in Slovenia. What was the skate scene like when you first started? Were you by yourself or was there a local crew?
Actually, I lived in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, until I was 12. Then, we moved to Lipoglav, a small village near the city. When I started skating at age 7, there was a group of kids who were really into skateboarding—much like the kids who are into scooters today. We lived in an apartment complex, so there was definitely a scene. Older kids built a skate park, and when I saw someone doing a nose wheelie, I was hooked. However, after a couple of years, I found myself alone, still trying to have fun skating. We eventually bought land in this village, but the local kids were a bit behind the times when it came to skateboarding. As a result, skateboarding only started to gain popularity there. The kids had cheap boards with plastic wheels, which didn’t roll very well. Because our village is on a hill, we basically rode downhill while sitting on our butts. Typically, I was in the lead since I had polyurethane wheels. Initially, my dad built a weekend house for us, so we still lived in the city, and I could see those kids that use to skate. While their old boards were no longer being used, I managed to convince the village kids to give me money or something in exchange for their skateboards—especially their wheels. Soon, I wasn’t in the lead anymore. We would walk uphill, and our shoes developed bigger and bigger holes from us breaking-stopping. We joked that we all had “air-conditioned” shoes.
Any accidents bombing those hills?
One day, a kid from the neighbouring village, who was on a classic motorcycle (a Tomos, which we all had), came by. We all got them for our “berma” in English ”confirmation” (that’s some type of ritual in Christian tradition), except for me since I didn’t attend church. Anyway, he towed me up that hill and close to the top, I somehow fell and hit my head pretty hard. I was out for some time. My dad drove me to the hospital in our Renault 11, like he’d never driven before. At the ER, they took some scans of my head and informed my parents that I would need to stay for precautionary measures. I remember that on the same day-evening, a young, beautiful nurse helped me to the bathroom and was washing me with her hands. I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable. Today, I would feel blessed and might even act more helpless just to receive more of that kind of attention.
‘He just has different wiring in the utmost positive sense of the word.’
Jaka Babnik
Photographer
‘This took a while to do it..my balls started to hurt from hitting my sack so many times. Sometimes all you need is a little pain to grow some balls.’
Your idol is undoubtedly Rodney Mullen. Is there anyone else?
In terms of skating skills, for sure! I had many heroes, some of whom I discovered through books. I was fortunate enough to meet one in person and hang out a couple of times; he even helped me a lot. However, today, I’m more impressed by people with good hearts. Those individuals are rare, just like Rodney’s skills. There are many people out there who are amazing at something, but not many have both, skills and are altruistic. Nowadays, I just admire those with big hearts more now. Just sitting with those kinds of people is so fulfilling. They genuinely wish you all the best and want you to succeed. There’s no envy or pretentiousness in them. They are eager to offer advice that could change your life for the better. Sometimes, I notice these traits in older folks, as they realize that all that competing is just a bunch of nonsense. Unfortunately, most people remain trapped in the mold programmed into us, still racing to acquire more and more things to bolster their egos. They often won’t help you because they fear you might get ahead and can be your best friend. You may have heard the saying, “Only your parents will wish for you to be more successful than them.” We live in a crab mentality society. For those who may not be familiar with the term, it describes the behaviour of crabs in a bucket. If one gets close to climbing out, the others will pull it back down. Heaven and hell look the same. In hell people try to eat with long spoons and they can’t, since they are too long and how in heaven people feed each other with those same spoons. World could be a heaven.
You sound angry.
I don’t think I am angry and to be honest, I don’t like that comment. I think I am real and brave enough to say what I mean. You know what Einstein also said, world ain’t bad because of bad people, but because good people remain silent. Now, I might sound pretentious, but I see myself as a reflection of my idol or role model—however you want to define it. I had so much belief, will, and determination, and I kept chasing my dreams even when everyone around me thought I was nothing but crazy. I can’t see it any other way. And I wish everyone could reach that point in life where they feel the same about themselves. To be totally honest, I actually don’t feel like that even though I should; I only feel glimpses of it when I read or write my memoirs. Most of the time, I still seek validation from others. This writing process has helped a lot; I believe I’ve been through some experiences in my life that I need to share. I think people won’t even believe some of my stories. Sometimes I don’t. And sometimes I even wonder how I am still sane after all that went on. And I haven’t exaggerated anything—I’ve even downplayed some parts. I know I might sound like I’m just talking, but I welcome all your judgments.
‘They even mentioned how Daewon and Haslam thought my part was great.’
Did you try to get sponsored?
I was overlooked, primarily because my communication skills were awful. I was alone when I was young and desperately trying to become something, all the while hearing how delusional I was and that it would never happen. I didn’t feel understood, and I certainly didn’t have anyone to guide me or teach me how to handle myself. I didn’t even realize how important those connections could be. I thought that simply having skills and being creative was all I needed. When I felt ignored by those at the top, my attitude became, “Okay, screw you, I’ll do it on my own.” I want to elaborate on this. Before I was even good enough, I sent people at Almost probably a hundred emails asking for help. I remember a conversation with my mom where she told me about a writer who struggled to find a publisher—he sent out over a thousand proposals before finally getting one, and his book became a bestseller. She encouraged me not to stop trying and to keep writing. Eventually, after what felt like countless emails, I received a response. They acknowledged my skating and my artistic skills, saying those talents would open many doors. However, they mentioned that they weren’t looking for another freestyle skater since that was Rodney’s domain. Hearing that I was disappointed—I thought, if they didn’t see my value, who would?
I am sure you had some sponsors?
I got sponsored by a local skate shop, and while filming for another video, I had a revelation: I decided I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of my skating anymore, and I would follow trends even less. This change in mindset turned out to be good for me, and during this time, I stopped writing to the folks at Almost. However, I did send them my second video part. I also apologized for being annoying in my past messages, acknowledging that skateboarding should be done for fun, not just for sponsorship. Still, I needed some purpose and a goal in my life. Then one day, not long after sending that video, I received a phone call from the owner of the skate shop I had been sponsored by. He asked if I had spoken with anyone from Dwindle because the team manager and another person wanted to meet me and the rest of our team. I was honestly in shock and didn’t know how to handle that meeting. I had no one to advise me, except for one friend who told me to just be myself and not freeze up like I sometimes do. He reminded me to be proud that they wanted to meet with me and to remember all the hard work I had put in to get there. And I should be proud if they came to meet me, especially after all the effort I put in. My friend reminded me not to be too modest or quiet. Typically, I’m a shy guy, but after a couple of beers, I became something I am not even in front of my friends. The only advice from my parents was from my mom suggesting I should sell some of them some of my art. (laughing) Telling me how they have money and how I created all that art based on skateboarding. So, when I was speaking with the team manager—after I was already a bit tipsy—I accidentally blurted out that I had some nice pieces of art, and if he could help me out, I’d give him the piece he liked as a gift. It was a disaster!
Help you out with what?
I wanted to say that if he got me on the mega ramp, I would give him this piece he liked. He didn’t even understand me. I felt like I was in front of a girl I like too much, fumbling over my words and trying to impress him with every ridiculous thing. It is amazing what kind of nonsense we can come up with when we are around someone we fancy too much. We all gathered with my skate shop team, and throughout all of this, the team manager seemed really interested in me. I probably should’ve gone home after those first two beers, and maybe then we’d end up working together. They loved me in the beginning! They even mentioned how Daewon and Haslam thought my part was great, but they didn’t say anything about Rodney. (laughing). We moved on to a second bar where I bought another two beers and two shots for myself and the team manager who was glued to me basically. While I was standing at the bar, I overheard some drunk guy being a jerk to the team man. I heard this jerk telling him to go back from where he came from. And that probably triggered me, since I heard same the same from people. So I practically ran over there and confronted this dude, telling him how ridiculous he was. I asked him how he would feel if he went to another country and was confronted by someone acting that way on his first day. My reaction surprised him—even though he was much bigger than I was, I guess I came off with enough conviction that he got scared. After my little intervention, the team manager and I headed outside, and that guy followed us. Once outside, he started apologizing profusely, so I told him he was being annoying again. Finally, he walked away. The team manager was quite surprised and told me he thought we were going to fight, to which I reassured him not to worry.
What did you guys talk about?
So embarrassing! Actually, to me it is funny now. I told him to not worry because am the leader here. In reality, he had no clue whether I was serious or joking. Since that guy was big and hadn’t stopped apologizing. While we were still outside that bar, someone started shouting my name from about 100 meters away, flexing and screaming like that character from a UFC (just bleed dude). He came over, looking like something straight out of a Mad Max movie— homemade tattoos all over even covering his face, messy hair, and clothes with more holes than Swiss cheese. In my head, I was begging him to just go away, and thankfully, he finally did. But then, another familiar face came up—a guy I went to kindergarten with, looking equally sketchy. He had a style that reminded me of DeNiro role- from a classic taxi movie and was all hyped up again about seeing me. You know what they say ”you are the person you hang with”. Despite their rough appearances, both guys are genuinely good people; they were just drunk and acting a bit wild. I could only imagine what the team manager was thinking at that point. I think in his eyes he was like “okay, I’ve seen enough. This Almir is really a leader here.” (laughing). And by the way my name Almir actually means leader (laughing). We continued drinking that night, and I even ended throwing up. And when I was about to go on my way home, I told the team manager that I was going to drive and that this won’t be the first time driving like that. The next day, when I woke up, I thought about how the meeting could not have gone better. I felt like I had saved his butt and even gave him some weed—what a night! But a few days later, reality hit me; I realized how awful my presentation was. They came all the way from the other side of the world, and I let myself down like that. I took my friend’s advice too literally. Instead of being what I am I was acting all wild. Like am not just on the team almost but how am owning it. (laughing). It’s incredible how you can work so hard for something, pouring everything you have into it and then destroy it in one reckless night. Just like that, puff and it’s all gone.
‘The Rick you see on camera isn’t the same off-screen. He didn’t show much love, to be honest.’
‘I thought that if I could do it fakie, I could do it switch. I went back so many times that all the security staff knew me. I even got a phone number from a CEO of a main firm in the building. I called the guy, prepared my speech so well that when I explained my story, I was even offered a job. He asked me - not vice versa - when I would have time to meet up, so we can set a date for my drop.’
What happened next?
They told me how they are going to send some boxes, but none ever came. After a while, I spoke with a friend who used to be a pro rollerblader and later became a team manager. I mentioned my meeting with those guys, and right away, he asked me if I got drunk. He explained that they like to see how you handle yourself in those social settings. Apparently, it’s a common procedure for them to go out at night and gauge if you’re too wild. Given how everything unfolded, they definitely saw that I wasn’t someone who could promise to be a role model, and that I probably wasn’t worth their investment.
After your Jenkem interview, there was an Post Radical episode hosted by Rick McCrank. How did that happen?
I called them from Astral plane.
Are you still in contact with Rick? From the episode it looked like you guys bonded. Rick also mentioned that you inspired him with your attempt to bunny hop that Mega Ramp.
No, not really. The Rick you see on camera isn’t the same off-screen. He didn’t show much love, to be honest. In this skate world, those at the top all know each other, and I’m sure he heard about how I presented myself that evening. To put it bluntly, he treated me like my dad used to—with tough love. I can’t blame him for that. It made me reflect on how I treated my grandmother. I was, at times, a jerk to her despite being her favorite grandchild. When she went to a retirement home, she felt lonely and called us constantly just to hear our voices. My mom often dismissed her calls, saying she was nowhere to be found she needed her. I used to mock my grandmother during those phone calls, thinking that I needed to show my parents that I was on their side by being nasty to someone who hurt them. When you hear your parents say something you sometimes take their words for holly. But when she died, I deeply regretted my behaviour. I remember how she had cared for me as a child, she always had fresh bagels and taking me to the candy store when I was at hers. It’s sad to think that I didn’t appreciate her more. Maybe it’s a weird comparison, but Rick was a bit like how I was toward my grandmother. He probably heard from Rodney and took it as holly or someone else about how obnoxious I was that night and how annoying I was with all those emails. So, all I received from Rick was tough love, which, in a way, felt like a form of punishment.
What was it like on the Mega Ramp?
I attempted the mega ramp on a cracked board, a symbol of my stubbornness and determination, but it also highlighted the lack of support I had. The first time I tried the mega ramp; I used a custom-made board that was so wide it could only be ordered specifically. After cracking that board during my initial attempt, I brought it along to replicate its shape for the replacements I requested. They mentioned that new boards had been ordered from Mexico but were lost in transit. I felt like they didn’t really care much and not getting those boards was just something for them to get even for my past attitude. Now looking back, I should say I am not doing it on a broken board. I just wanted to please them in every way possible. Probably because of my past I tried everything to show them how I regret being the way I was. Which was a bit crazy to be willing to risk my life even more, like it ain’t enough going headfirst down the mega doing something that was never done and not really knowing will I be able to come down straight. I saw in their eyes that when they saw mega ramp in person, they felt bad for not providing what I needed. In the documentary, viewers only saw me doing a half backflip and end up landing on my head. After that fall I told how this is enough for a first day and when we came back to hotel, I was so pissed that I was screaming into a pillow out of sheer rage and cursing everything and everybody. Maybe I even cursed this cracked board so it didn’t go straight anymore. I told myself how it is not worth risking my well being for nobody and how I am not doing it anymore.
‘I could argue it is more along the lines of kung-fu meets chess then your classical BS flip over a predictable and measurable set of stairs.’
Jaka Babnik
Photographer
‘My first visit to Tehachapy L.A. and probably one of my last tries on the Mega Ramp considering how high I am.’
What happened on the second day?
Despite this, I pushed myself to try again the next day, but the board wouldn’t go straight anymore. My desire to conquer that jump was immense, especially after my first severe injury—a time when I suffered four herniated disks. The pain was so intense that I feared doing anything, just sneezing and when laughing hurts… For almost a month, I crawled to the toilet, feeling incredibly vulnerable. People often overlook the hard work and dedication necessary to return from such injuries. I was so physically weakened that my girlfriend could have easily overpowered me. Rick once mentioned to me that my issues weren’t related to my skateboarding skills but rather my communication abilities. That struck a chord because there was so much I wanted to express about my journey, especially during the filming of the documentary. I regretted not being more transparent about my dreams, the hard work I put in, and the judgments I faced. I want to publicly say: **I am sorry** for how I acted in my emails and interactions. And I regret being afraid and not being even more honest and apologize in my documentary. At my core, I was a sensitive child responding with aggression whenever provoked. Being half-Bosnian with a fully Arabic name compounded my feelings of isolation and being the “black sheep” of my family. These factors contributed to my behaviour, and while they sound like excuses, it’s essential to acknowledge that I wasn’t born this way. I didn’t feel accepted here, and being subjected to cruel remarks from kids and adults alike took a toll on me. Even abused animals tend to bitte those that might try to help them. People often seek reactions but fail to probe deeper into the reasons behind those reactions. I was fuelled by a desire to prove my worth in the face of adversity, leading to a mindset where I felt I had to be better than others. In my book, I apologized for my attitude, but now I want to reiterate: **I am sorry for being a dick.** For years, I harboured frustration towards myself for my actions and toward others for their treatment of me. Yet, I now realize that I needed those experiences. If I had felt accepted, I might not have had the fierce motivation to strive for self-improvement. I yearned for the skills I possess today and without those struggles and hardship I would never be so resilient and accomplish all I did. Ultimately, I can’t hold anger toward anyone; everything I went through was for the best.
‘I thought that simply having skills and being creative was all I needed.’
‘I won Thrasher weird trick submission with this trick. I was the first person to drop in one foot backwards. I also made the list of Jenkem’s 10 gnarliest drop ins.’
Can you share your complete list of skateboard tricks that you invented with their names and a short description?
Have you heard the quote from Jiddu Krishna-something? “The day you teach a child the name of a bird, the child will never see that bird again.” It speaks to our tendency to label things and lose appreciation for them. I’d rather let those interested in my work watch what I do rather than explain the tricks and their origins.
When I first reached out to you 6 years ago, your IG was pretty much dormant with only a few posts of your sculptures. Since April 2024 you have been regularly posting your clips which attracted a huge following. Why did you wait so long to release your material?
I started posting my reels because I believe I made a positive change by quitting weed. Smoking made me overly self-critical and hesitant. I hesitated to share old tricks, even though I had new ones. Eventually, I realized my growth and creativity were worth sharing. I used to smoke a lot and then stopped and started again couple years ago to cope better with my past I was writing about.
I loved your quote in the Jenkem Magazine that ‘Embarrassment just slows your progress.’ Do you still live by the same philosophy?
I still believe that embarrassment can slow you down, but I stumbled on a quote from Marcus Aurelius. He basically said, “how much you admit that is how much you are da shit” His reflection on how a man’s worth is measured by his life story told by him and how close to the actual truth it is. I guess it resonates deeply with me since I’ve been writing about my life. It highlights that our growth is directly tied to our honesty with ourselves. The more we acknowledge our experiences and truths, even the uncomfortable ones, the greater our potential for personal development. Embracing our stories, both the good and the bad, is essential for growth.
What’s next with Almir? You mentioned in our chat that you work on a book. What is it about?
My book is a deep personal journey about pursuing my passion for skateboarding. It details the obstacles I faced and my solitary quest to follow my dream, emphasizing the determination and creativity I found along the way. Despite feeling like an outsider in my field, due to my innovative and playful approach and lack of community support, I remained committed to succeeding in a space that often felt distant. Coming from a small country far from the mainstream skate scene, this story portrays resilience and unwavering dedication. It’s an honest account that doesn’t shy away from my mistakes, and I believe it’s both funny and inspiring. Reflecting, writing this journey has helped me avoid missteps, as I felt I was constantly “recorded,” which held me accountable and kept me from regrettable actions. In sharing my story, I can’t help but feel that there isn’t anyone out there who deserves to achieve their dreams more than I do—at least, I haven’t personally encountered anyone with a story that resonates with that level of longing and aspiration. While I recognize that many people have their battles, I feel a strong connection to my own dreams. It’s as if my experiences have shaped a unique perspective on what it means to chase after something worthwhile. Through my book, I hope to convey that pursuit, and maybe, in doing so, inspire others to reflect on their own journeys and the dreams they hold dear. I believe that this book is better than anything I’ve done in my life even though it wont be easy exposing myself like I will, but holding all that in me is just more wrong.
‘To me he is quite an eccentric person but this is true for every genius.’
Blaž Murn
Filmmaker
Do you still skate?
No, I don’t skate at all but I just ordered a new board through the internet. All I did recently was that hippy jump over my motorcycle. Mostly I just do my job as a lifeguard, help my parents, renovating my part of the house and work on my bike and ride it. A lot.
Last question. If you could interview anyone in the world, who would it be?
I can’t think of anyone specific right now, but maybe Cus D’Amato, because I needed someone like him when I was a kid. As I grew older, I aspired to be like him—someone who could inspire a kid with a spark. However, if I consider someone who has passed away, I’d want to “interview” my grandmother, not for questions but just to give her a hug and apologize for my rudeness. I’ve said I’m sorry a few times recently, and I know she heard me.