"We scooter riders are rarely accepted by the other freestyle athletes"
Aljoscha Jung is already a professional scooter rider at the age of 17. In this interview, he talks about earning potential in professional sport and why it's not easy for scooter riders in the freestyle scene.
Aljoscha Jung is 17 years old and is passionate about scootering. So good that he was offered a sponsorship contract from Chilli Pro Scooter when he was just 13. In this interview, he talks about his everyday professional life.
At what point did scootering become more than just a hobby for you?
When I was in 6th grade, two good friends of mine started scootering. I thought it was a great sport and really wanted to get into it. I got my first scooter as a present at Christmas 2012. From then on, I was completely hooked on this sport. The following summer, I was offered a sponsorship contract by Chilli Pro Scooter. Since then, I've also been riding regularly at contests.
Why ride a scooter and not skate or bike?
Almost every child has a normal scooter at home. So it's relatively easy to get started. At the time when I started, scootering was also very hyped. But I also think skating and BMX riding are cool. We freestyle athletes should actually all be one big family where everyone should accept everyone else.
That means it's not like that at the moment?
Yes, unfortunately scooter riders are rarely accepted. In my opinion, this is mainly due to the fact that there are lots of young children riding scooters in the skate parks. They often don't know how to behave and then get in the way of skaters and BMX riders. Nevertheless, there are also more and more good friendships with other athletes.
How has the scooter scene developed in recent years?
The scene in Switzerland has changed enormously. In the beginning, it was just individual riders having fun. Now we have official world championships and huge contests. The industry is also developing rapidly in the area of scooter parts. Better, lighter and stronger parts are being produced, allowing us to ride even better.
Can you now earn money from riding a scooter?
Yes, I earn a little money. For example, when I run a scooter course. And of course with my sponsorship contract. But it's less about cash and more about the equipment. Chilli Pro Scooter provides me with all the equipment and clothes. And they pay for my travel and contest fees.
How much talent does it take to become really good? Can you make up for it with practice?
Of course, you also need a little bit of talent to scooter. Not everyone is good at everything. Nevertheless, the biggest part is training. You can achieve the most through daily training and, above all, the right motivation.
What does your everyday life as a professional scooter rider look like?
Unfortunately, I only have time to train in the evenings when I'm at school. During the holidays and at weekends, I train all the more. I usually get up at around 8.00 a.m. and have breakfast. Afterwards, I go to different skate parks with my friends, for example to Basel, Winterthur, Aarau or Lausanne. Once there, we first familiarise ourselves and then train for 6-8 hours. Always with short breaks to drink, which are very important. Afterwards, we eat together and drive home again. Getting plenty of sleep afterwards is just as important as the training itself.
What's next for you, what are your plans for the future?
I certainly have a long journey ahead of me and still have a lot to learn about scooter riding. One of my big dreams is to travel to the USA and ride in the unimaginably large skate parks there.
Here you can find the Freestyle Scooters
I love black humour, my small collection of jackets, Red Bull, furniture, lie-ins, British accents, dogs, laughing until I cry, Polaroid cameras, full ice-hockey stadiums and that moment when the red lamp lights up behind the right goal. Singing songs loudly and out of tune (and busting some matching moves) is also something I enjoy – as is strumming around on my guitar.