Individuality reigns supreme in skateboarding, yet straying too far into the unconventional can draw criticism. Navigating this delicate balance is an art, and few skaters embody it as skillfully as Ben Koppl. His latest video part, aptly titled “Euro Part,” is not just a display of innovative skateboarding but also a glimpse into a broader exploration of European skate culture and urban spaces. This “Euro Movie,” filmed during a research trip across Europe, showcases Koppl’s signature blend of technical prowess, fluid style, and playful creativity.
Ben Koppl’s skating defies easy categorization. Eschewing conventional trick names and rigid styles, he embraces an improvisational approach that feels entirely his own. While echoes of influences like Leo Valls and Gou Miyagi might flicker through, Koppl’s overall style is distinctly original, earning him the fitting moniker “Rollersurfer” on Instagram. His skating is a captivating mix of the unexpected, the technical, and the purely fun – a style perfectly captured in his new “euro movie.”
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Ben Koppl skateboarding in an urban European setting, captured by David Manaud.
To delve deeper into the mind behind this unique “euro movie,” Jenkem Magazine sat down with Ben Koppl for a Q&A session that reveals the inspirations and ideas shaping his skateboarding and this European adventure.
Q&A with Ben Koppl: Unpacking the “Euro Part”
Your skating style is incredibly unique. Do you name your tricks, or is it more spontaneous than that?
I try not to get too caught up in naming tricks. I think language can actually limit your creativity. If you’re always thinking in terms of existing trick names, you’ll only do what already has a label. For me, the most exciting tricks are often hard to describe, born from the specific features of a skate spot. While names can be useful, especially for iconic tricks like the caballerial, focusing too much on labeling can box you in. I prefer to focus on the feeling and flow, which is what I think this “euro movie” captures.
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A short animated GIF showcasing Ben Koppl performing a skateboarding trick.
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How long did filming for this “euro movie” take?
The majority of the “euro movie” was filmed over about two months during a three-month trip. I was really motivated and skated every single day for the first 50 days or so. We were exploring so many new spots, and I just wanted to keep filming and capturing the energy of these European skate scenes.
This “euro movie” project stemmed from an academic grant, right? How did that connection happen?
Yes, the “euro movie” trip had its roots in an academic research grant. Before the pandemic, my partner Zoe, who was studying Landscape Architecture, had the idea to research skate urbanism projects in Europe. She applied for a grant, and surprisingly, we got it. Even with the pandemic restrictions, they allowed us to keep the funding and pursue our project independently. This freedom allowed us to really explore and create this “euro movie” with Film Trucks, and we’re really grateful to Jeremie, Bastien, and the team for their support.
“I don’t think I took any days off skating in the first 50+ days of the trip”
What specific aspects of European skate urbanism were you researching during this trip that inspired the “euro movie”?
While neither of us are formal “skate urbanism” experts, we’re both fascinated by how European cities are integrating skateboarding into public spaces. We were looking at projects that make cities more skate-friendly, preserve existing skate spots, and how we could apply those lessons back in the US. For this “euro movie,” we wanted to capture the spirit of these skate-friendly cities and the unique spots they offered.
We looked at various models, from the community-driven projects in Bordeaux to the historical preservation efforts at Long Live Southbank in London, and the architect-designed skate spaces in Copenhagen. Each city had a unique approach. Meeting with Gustav Eden in Malmö, who’s doing incredible work there, was also a highlight. The “euro movie” is in part a visual document of these diverse urban skate environments.
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Another animated GIF of Ben Koppl skateboarding.
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Are you aware of other skate videos that have emerged from educational grants, similar to your “euro movie” project?
While maybe not full video parts, I know there’s a growing trend of skaters using grants for travel and collaborative projects. The skate sculpture exchange between Leo Valls’ Bon Voyage sculptures from Bordeaux and Rich Holland’s sculptures from Malmö is a great example. These kinds of cross-cultural exchanges, supported by grants, are becoming more common and are really enriching the skate community. I hope this “euro movie” also contributes to that spirit of exchange and learning.
What were your key takeaways from examining these European public spaces that embrace skateboarding, reflected in your “euro movie”?
The biggest takeaway was realizing that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each successful project in Europe arose from unique local conditions and processes. Seeing how city governments operate and studying these different case studies was inspiring. In the US, skate advocacy often focuses on skateparks or preventing the destruction of existing spots.
But Europe showed us that there are many other avenues – cultural grants, public art installations, community events – to make urban spaces more inclusive and democratic through skateboarding. This “euro movie” is partly about highlighting this broader vision of what’s possible.
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Another animated GIF of Ben Koppl performing a skateboarding trick.
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You spent time living in Japan, which has a very distinct skate culture. How did that experience influence your skating, and perhaps indirectly, this “euro movie”?
Living in Japan was incredible. I’m a huge admirer of Japanese skate culture, and skating with those guys was surreal. It was like being immersed in a world I had only admired from afar. Experiencing that scene firsthand definitely broadened my perspective on skateboarding.
In what ways did the Japanese scene impact your style, which we see glimpses of in your “euro movie”?
I felt like I experienced a special era in Japanese skateboarding. Skaters like Gou Miyagi, Takahiro Morita, Chopper and the Osaka Daggers, and Koichiro Uehara really showed me the importance of developing your own unique style. They have distinct approaches, fashion senses, and culturally rich scenes around them. It reminded me of the larger-than-life personalities in 80s skateboarding, making it feel more like comic book superheroes than just athletes. That emphasis on individuality resonates in my skating and, I think, in the spirit of this “euro movie.”
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Another animated GIF of Ben Koppl skateboarding.
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Many of your clips go viral on both skate and non-skate Instagram accounts. How does it feel to see your skating reach such a wide audience?
I owe a lot to repost pages like @Metroskateboarding for helping my skating reach a wider audience. It’s been a positive thing for sure. When non-skate pages repost my clips, it can be a bit strange to see people outside of skateboarding culture commenting on it, sometimes missing the context. But ultimately, I appreciate the reach, even if my skating isn’t intended as just a spectacle.
“Skateboarding is a pretty objectively bad way to make money when compared to virtually any other job”
What’s your take on Instagram’s overall impact on skateboarding?
It’s probably a mixed bag, leaning towards negative overall. But personally, Instagram has helped me in many ways I wouldn’t have imagined. We’ll really understand its long-term effects in another decade.
You seem to genuinely enjoy skateboarding. Do you think people in skateboarding sometimes take it too seriously?
It’s interesting to see how intensely people pursue skateboarding as a career, especially considering it’s not the most financially rewarding path compared to many other jobs. However, I also believe that passion is important, and we should all be passionate about our hobbies and interests. For me, skateboarding, as shown in this “euro movie,” is about that passion and enjoyment above all else.
Filmed by: Bastien Regeste, Andrea Dupre, Vincent Herbert, William Boardman. Edited by: Bastien Regeste. Photo by: David Manaud.
Watch Ben Koppl’s full “Euro Part” to witness his unique skateboarding vision in action and experience the energy of European skate spots.
