KUALA LUMPUR – Tired of being overlooked by the government, Mohd Zamri Mohd Ramli is on a self-initiated mission to prove that the skateboarding community in Malaysia is still very much present, relevant, and full of potential.
Despite skateboarding making its debut in the 2020 Olympics, the extreme sports sector received no allocation under the recently tabled Budget 2022.
“Skateboarding is a growing sport, and it being part of the Olympics is a good sign that it's growing in the right direction.
“I’m tired of waiting for the government. When will they see that we need extreme sports’ programmes at the grassroots level?” said Zamri, who is fondly known as Boy PJ.
On November 13, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker had called on the private sector to be more involved in efforts to empower extreme sports − such as skateboarding − in the country.
However, Zamri – who is a skateboarding coach and international-level judge − has decided to take matters into his own hands by founding Xcademy − an extreme sports academy that provides students with a platform to flip and twist their way to an Olympic medal.
Established in 2014, the academy is now prepared to take flight with its very own indoor skatepark designed and funded by Zamri.
Xcademy − with its three coaches and approximately 20 students − boasts a formidable pool of talent.
Equipped with Malaysia’s largest indoor skatepark, the academy’s latest addition is no small feat as the approximately 8,000 sq ft arena also houses the nation’s biggest mini-ramp − sponsored in part by a private company.
Fuelled by a desire to share his lifelong passion with the younger generation, Zamri’s decision to resort to private funding has not been an inexpensive one.
“About RM50,000 has been invested so far in building our skatepark. Yes, it’s a business but it’s more about my passion for the sport,” he said, adding that the skatepark is open to the public at a minimal RM5 per hour.
The skateboarding enthusiast, who has 30 years of experience in extreme sports, is not about to back down in the face of adversity despite having to do it all on his own.
He told The Vibes that he has dreams of producing a high-performance skateboarder for the 2028 Olympics.
“The reason why I built this place is so that we can find two to three kids that could probably become skateboarding champions in the next ten to 15 years,” the skateboarding veteran said.
“Our plans for the future involve kids to a large extent. We want to introduce them − and their parents − to skateboarding so that we can start to change public perception (of the sport), especially those who view skateboarding as a violent sport.
“Hopefully, by having this place, we can change the negative perception that parents have towards skateboarding because they know that when they send their kids over here, it’s a safe place for them to mingle around and make friends.”
The bond between athletes is also a motivating factor as he believes that skateboarding transcends race, religion or creed.
“The community itself is one of the best things about skateboarding. I’ve seen generations of skateboarders in the past 30 years and − regardless of them being older or younger than me − they’re always considered like family,” he said.
Echoing Zamri’s zeal for the sport is national athlete Yaziru Amiru, who has not turned back ever since he started skateboarding in 2009.
Under Zamri’s tutelage, Yaziru − who represented Malaysia at the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Jakarta, where he finished in eighth place, and the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines (7th place) − aims to one day compete in Street League Skateboarding (SLS).
Founded by pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek in 2010, SLS was created to foster growth, popularity and acceptance of street skateboarding worldwide with the SLS Tournament recognised as the world’s premier professional street skateboarding competition.
Equipped with a degree in Property Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and a career as an area manager, 27-year-old Yaziru defies misconceptions of skateboarders being uneducated and a public nuisance.
Yaziru also calls on the government to do their part in aiding skateboarding athletes − like himself − to compete and advance up the ranks.
“I hope the government and the private sector can help improve the skateboarding scene in Malaysia with the aid of proper facilities and amenities,” he said, adding that the skateboarding community is very much like family to him. − The Vibes, November 27, 2021
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