I love skating curbs, I have for years now, and it hasn’t faded away. I recently finished a slappy session and found myself going to Phil Zwijsen’s Instagram account for some inspiration, and to just enjoy his curb skating specifically.

After scrolling through his clips, I decided to reach out to Phil to see if he’d be down to do a quick interview, specifically about curbs. He was down, and here’s how the convo went –

🌀: What’s up, Phil? How are you?

I’m good, thanks.

🌀: Thanks for being down to do this. I want to talk to you about slappy’s. Over the last few years, you’ve posted some crazy ones on Instagram. What got you stoked to start skating curbs so much?

Thanks for making this edit. I forgot about a lot of these clips already. I got into it because my friends Clément Le Gall and Sammy Mould were doing a lot of them and fixed up a spot, so that was one of the biggest reasons. I mainly skate curbs because I’ve had so many injuries, my body is only allowing more low-impact skating these days.

🌀: Is there a specific skater you like watching do slappy’s?

Lucas Puig. Every time he skates slappy’s it looks like whatever he can think of, he just does. He is amazing at them. Also, all the guys who skate the one in Lyon. The one Jeremie Daclin always skates. I always watch those guys from Wall Street Skate Shop Lyon! Shoutout Ben and Jeremie!

🌀: You’ve gotten pretty tech on the curbs. Have they helped you open up to new ideas/combos?

Yeah, a lot. Since you don’t ollie, I feel like you can try way more before getting tired. I can’t do a proper frontside crooked grind on a ledge, but I’ve got them really good on slappy’s. Waxing a lot helps as well, so you can sit on the grinds or slides, which gives you more time for combos. I learned so many new tricks skating slappy’s, which is great because once I started getting older, it felt hard to even do the tricks I already had. But with slappys, a new world opened up.

🌀: Which trick in this edit was the biggest battle for you?

Maybe the frontside crook to switch crook. It took me a few sessions of a few hours, hahaha. But I was so stoked I got it, because on a ledge I’d probably never be able to do that.

🌀: You’ve posted clips skating curbs back home in France, as well as some around Long Beach. Do you have a favorite curb spot?

I live in France so mainly skate the ones around me. But I love the US. They have the best slappy’s by far. Any curb grinds. 

🌀: Have you skated the Santa Monica curbs?

I would love to! I’ve been there before, but it has been a very long time. That was before my slappy “career” hahah. 

🌀: Hopefully, you get there soon, you’d love that spot. Is there a curb spot you haven’t been to yet but have on your list?

Just any in the U.S is good for me. Or maybe the curved one in LA. It’s more of a ride on grind, I would say. Just any slappy that grinds good. 

🌀: What’s your dream slappy trick?

I’ve been working on so many different combos, but the one I want to get now is Front Crook to Switch 5-0 and then turn to a Crook and pop back out on the same side. Hard to explain haha.

🌀: Wow! I hope we see that one soon. Thanks, Phil!

Thanks!