Anastasija Kukic
Chaya Park Team
Name: Anastasija Kukić
NickName: The Moljitov Princess (TOV)
Country: Australia
Current Location: Warrang / Sydney
Loving to skate since: OCT 2017
Riding for Chaya/PS since: JAN 2021
Current Skate Setup (boot, plate, wheels, bearings): Kismet / Karmas with gorgeous 72mm wide trucks for skrt skrt
Why do you love to skate? It's like flying, it is my freedom. It's my space, my time, I am in control with no restraints (till I get snaked)
What keeps you pushing forward in skating? Serbs have a saying "za inat/за инат" it fires us up. It's best summed up as someone egging me on, being like "Oi Tov, can you do this trick?" I’m too easily persuaded to try something dangerous.
What was your greatest success? Coming first place in Open Ramps, Judge's Choice, and 2nd in Open Sponsored at Australia and New Zealand's first national comp!!
What is your favorite place to skate? Sydenham has a special place in my heart for all the mischief and friendships I've made and the skating I've done, but my favorite park is Belco Skate park, take me back to the Spider Bowl!!!
What is your favorite trick? I'm a woman of many tastes and there are too many tricks I love, but to narrow it down, back shifty slide (back royal for non-Aussies) and Weddles with a method style tweak.
What advice would you like to give? If you skate with friends and the community, your skating ability will come. Friends will help feed your skating, they'll sit with you on your worst days and shred with you on your best days. Friendships drive you to linger longer at the park.
Any hobbies outside of skating? When I’m not skating I'm usually designing. I'm a student of architecture so I’m constantly making art, and designing. When I’m not doing that I’ll generally be playing video games- I am currently obsessing over 'Hades'
What is your favorite moment in skating? My favorite skating moments are the lingering, the loitering casual chit-chat between and before tricks and runs. Whilst every trick can be documented and rewatched, These are the moments I remember most vividly every moment of gratitude, the stoke, the casual banter, the jokes, they are fleeting and are interpersonally entwined in the experience of roller skating.
Tell us about your personal philosophy, phrase, ethic, and/or value as a skater! Yes, you can write a book…? I’m a strong advocate and believer in physical interaction and connection. I build on this in my architectural design career and sharing space, especially at skate parks. This means that skating to me is less about the tricks and more about the community. I came out of a career in volleyball broken with no friends and no community. So much in my life was changing at that time and roller skating gave me solidarity and stability, a whole bunch of amazing people to lean on. I cherish that and wish to foster a safe and inclusive community for new skaters to find their place and come into their own through skating the way I had that opportunity.
