Algerian-Finn Ali skates the un-skatable while wearing the un-wearable. As a fashion icon, a gypsy and a Vespa-afficionado, Ali loves to re-invent his image year after year. Looking at the places he skates and they way he skates them, you can see why he has become one of the world's most respected skaters. Putting the fun back in fundamental, Ali skates whatever, whenever, and makes it look as easy as a Steve Vai guitar lick.
Quote:"It was like Vietnam, man!"
– Thrasher Magazine
How long ago was that?
Oh I don't know but it was long ago! At least 13 years ago maybe.
Do you remember what your first setup was?
I had a Toxic board, that's not even around anymore. But it had some gnarly green wheels. My brother had a Dogtown board.
Who were you skating with back then?
Just some random friends around the block, like whoever was living in the area that had a skateboard. My brother too.
Who were the any early influences on your skating?
I definitely was heavily influenced by Mike Carroll. It varies. It was always something different but definitely Mike Carroll.
Before you discovered skateboarding, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I don't think I had any idea whatsoever. I had no dreams of being a fireman or anything like that. I never had a goal.
What do you enjoy most about being a pro?
Everything about it basically. You can do whatever you want. And skating is what I want to do anyway.
What's something about being pro that you didn't anticipate would happen before you were pro.
I never really even knew that you could get boards for free and I was shocked. And that's not even being pro. I had no idea you could even make money or anything.
Is anything bad about being a pro? What are the downsides?
Like I said, there aren't really any because you are doing what you want to do.
What do you think of skate videos these days?
Definitely too many coming out constantly. You just lose track. It was more traditional back in the day when just one video came out, one gnarly video and that was the one you watched all the time. Now it just seems like everyone is doing like two videos a year or something like that. But still, of course keep making videos, what else are you gonna do?
What videos are you watching lately?
Jeremy Wray's part in Second Hand Smoke.
How do you always end up with a part in the Baker videos?
They are just my friends. I dunno. They want me in there I guess and I want to be in there.
Do you enjoy filming video parts?
It just depends if you are psyched to do shit or not. That's what you have to do as a pro all the time anyway so might as well try to make it fun.
You hit spots a lot differently than most skaters, do you look for a different way to hit stuff, or does that just come naturally? You seeing things kinda differently?
Laughter. I guess so. I am just so out of it that everything is all different. I don't really try to look for it, its just there.
How does it feel to be part of the etnies team? Is there anyone in particular you are stoked to be on the team with?
I already knew everyone to begin with, so that's always good.
Is it more comfortable being on a team that has more of your fellow Flip riders?
For sure, that helps. But I know everybody else too. Its all just friends basically so you know it's gonna be good.
Nearly everyone rode a pair of etnies at one time or another while they were young, do you remember your first pair of etnies?
Probably some Sal 23s or something like that.
What's your favorite etnies shoe to skate?
Depends kinda. The Faction is good for sure. But the Arto is good if you want to blast some shit. Kinda hard to say.
Who do you skate with mostly now?
Depends whoever I am on a trip with or whoever is in the area. Just random people basically.
So far, what have been the highlights of your skateboarding career?
Signing this etnies contract maybe&ahellip;hahah! I don't know. It always seems like the latest thing is the greatest thing. This Mallorca trip was great.
What do you enjoy besides skating?
Guitar. Not much else maybe.
What are you working on currently? Any filming or anything?
We are trying to do another Flip video, so who knows. I guess that's what I have to try to work on.
How about a trick you want to learn but just suck at?
Backside noseblunt slides or something like that.
Favorite terrain to skate?
It really depends on the day. I don't really have anything that I like the most.
How about your gear? How do you go about picking out clothes for your wardrobe?
I dunno. I just see something outrageous and put it on basically. Hahaha. Like "That looks flamboyant, let's put that on!"
How does skating differ for you in the USA vs. where you are now at home?
Well, skating is skating, but it's more like the situations around it, like in Europe you don't have to worry as much about getting arrested or get kicked out or whatever. But maybe some spots are different or the ground is not as smooth. But it's all skating.