In case you’ve been within the recreation lengthy sufficient, you get the sense that you realize all of the names. However on occasion a reputation comes throughout your desk that you need to cease, spellcheck, and simply admire. New Mexico’s Agush Agushi has a kind of names. However greater than that, he is received the chops to hold with Matt Berger and the Bones staff. So we referred to as up the brand new dude to get some backstory on him and the tales from his first massive firm journey. —Ted Schmitz
On the path frequented by Hambone, the Bones crew comes by with a scorching edit worthy of the area
Captions by Agush Agushi
Let’s begin straightforward. How do you pronounce your full title?
So it’s “Uh-goosh Uh-goosh-ee.”
Glorious. It is a distinctive title. The place does it come from?
My dad and mom are from Kosovo.
Earlier than this journey, I stayed at Jaws’ home as soon as. The funniest factor about it was that I slept on the sofa and Jaws simply performed Tetris. He was locked in all night time. I’d get up periodically and he’d simply be taking part in Tetris. I used to be like, This dude’s the shit. He did this kickflip bottom seize straightforward, too
Oh, sick. When did they arrive to the States?
I believe round 1999. They got here as refugees from Kosovo. There was a warfare happening on the market. It is referred to as Kosovo, however we’re like Albanians, actually. Lots of us came visiting to America. They type of simply unfold us in regards to the states. We occurred to land in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Wow. So your loved ones was assigned a spot to reside after they came visiting?
I don’t know the main points, ‘trigger I wasn’t born but, however we had a church sponsor that helped us get on our toes and assist my dad and mom get a job. ‘Trigger they didn’t converse English or something. To this present day, in the event you have been to speak to ‘em, it is type of arduous to grasp ’em, however they’re getting by.
Matt Berger’s what I name a brilliant professional. Like, there’s professionals, after which there’s the folks within the league above that. Berger skated just about each spot on the entire journey. That is why he all the time received the main bedroom on the Airbnb
Cool. In order that they converse Albanian at dwelling?
That is what I’d say, like Albanian Shqip is the title of the language.
So that you’re bilingual?
I largely converse English, however I picked up just a little from my dad and mom. So I might get round on the market. However they may inform I’m extra Americanized.
I’m from Arizona, and a whole lot of my neighbors have been Mexican. It was actually frequent for the youngsters who have been born within the US to translate for his or her dad and mom, like seven-year-old translators. Have been you want that?
Yeah, very same factor, besides completely different languages.
I wasn’t there for Adrian Sisk’s nosemanual. So once I first met him, I assumed he was a filmer, ‘trigger he was filming on the journey too. He additionally likes to stroll backward within the morning to assist his ankles. Looks like it is working
So that you’re born and raised in Albuquerque?
Yeah, I used to be born and raised in Albuquerque.
How do you dig it? It’s received a popularity for being type of a loopy place.
That is a typical factor to assume, man. Sucks to say, as a result of it’s a gorgeous place. However there are some loopy folks right here. I really feel like there’s loopy shit taking place all over the place although.
What do you assume the sketchiest place is within the Southwest?
I don’t hear an excessive amount of Arizona information. I don’t wanna put us on blast, however I heard there have been one thing like 15 murders since August seventeenth. Truly, I used to be fairly bummed about this. However my neighbor a few block away, they have been attempting to steal his automotive and he went out and received shot. It was tragic. Simply shit like that, you realize?
This spot is such a mission, you gotta hike and also you often get caught there all day. However that is not the one cause I hate it. After I shot this 5-0, we have been all sitting on this ledge, watching the homies. We hear a automotive honk, ‘trigger it is a freeway exit. Your pure intuition is to look, so I do. And a Sprite bottle flew out their automotive window and hit me within the face. They threw it at us, and I used to be simply the unfortunate one. It busted my eyebrow open, so I needed to depart the session to get that dealt with. Jake the Jeweler received me super-glued up
It’s nonetheless the wild west generally.
I assume that shit might be taking place in Arizona too.
Yeah, it occurred in my neighborhood too. However they have been attempting to take a catalytic converter.
I swear folks work so arduous to simply steal, when you may simply work arduous and get a job.
You’re employed, proper?
Yeah, I do low-voltage electrical work.
If you keep in your hometown lengthy sufficient, you begin to discover shit that nobody would consider skating. That is how this spot was in Arizona for John Motta’s ollie
Good!
I am really figuring out in Santa Fe. There’s an Indian Well being Hospital, so I have been on the market doing their web and their hearth alarm system and all of the particular methods.
That’s superior. Workin’ within the trades pays off.
I will not lie. This shit sucks, but it surely’s higher than nothing, proper?
Ryan Carrell solely caught round for Arizona, however that is all he wanted to get this criminal nollie flip
For certain, it’s arduous work. However I commend you on lockin’ down a gig younger. What was your crew? Have been you skating with the Rocky Norton or the Lutherans or Durans?
Rocky was just like the era earlier than me. However yeah, the Durans. We’ve all the time had frequent associates. They’re extra my era of skaters. I do know Mariah and Jerry and Zeke and his brother, Elijah. I skated with Elijah yesterday.
Sick. Let’s speak about this journey and the images. I noticed it was a little bit of an homage to Joe Hammeke, who was a pal of mine. Did you ever meet Joe?
I sadly didn’t. I may need seen him a very long time in the past at a demo. However I wasn’t paying an excessive amount of consideration.
Ryan Alvero’s the shit. I used to be the brand new man, so I used to be type of intimidated by assembly a bunch of recent folks. Ryan made me really feel included. He was cool proper from the leap. Identical to on this ollie over to 50-50
The place was the heaviest ripping happening, Arizona or New Mexico?
I’d in all probability say New Mexico.
Who stunned you essentially the most or who was the MVP?
It must be Kristion or Santana.
Kristion skated day by day on the journey. This Again Smith in ABQ was simply one other day for him
The younger one?!
You understand these youngsters that come round, just like the Ryan Sheckler youngsters who’re doing insane shit they usually’re like 4 toes tall. He’s arduous to maintain up with.
Was this your first firm skate journey?
Yeah, this was my first journey with Bones.
How did it meet expectations? Was it just a little extra G-rated than you may’ve thought?
What do you imply?
We name this spot Rowley ditch as a result of he kickflipped into it. Santana’s again three seems like an outdated Rowley photograph too
Earlier than I went on a skate tour, I assumed it was like wreckin’ resorts, doin’ cocaine and crashin’ automobiles.
No, it was, it was not like that in any respect. It was simply going skating all day. They’d a pleasant Airbnb. Most the staff is fairly chill and never too heavy partiers.
Yeah, it’s a whole lot of skating.
I attempted to skate day by day however by the fourth day my legs have been mud.
The Southwest used to have a whole lot of motion. Do you assume it is time for folks to begin taking extra journeys on the market once more?
I believe it is all the time a good suggestion to no less than cease by. The Nike dudes just lately stopped by and Antonio received down on a few of our spots. So in the event you’re ever passing by, you may all the time hit us up. We’re not attempting to gatekeep.
Jared hacked the knobs off the within rail at Bullhead and Santana Smithed it fast. Santana has the last word finesse, man. You’re taking him to nearly any spot and he is simply getting one thing good on it. It was sick to be on the highway with him and everybody else