Roos Zwetsloot wearing her new Decathlon collection.

Roos Zwetsloot is 25 years old and started skating when she was 12 in her hometown of Utrecht, in the Netherlands. You may have seen her at contests all over the world skating with technical precision, but I can guarantee that she can also tackle the gnarliest street spots with speed and aggression.

She was there when skateboarding was introduced for the first time in the Olympics in Tokyo and last year in Paris she was back to represent her country. In 2021 she got a double spread in Thrasher after becoming the first woman to grind down the Hollywood 16 handrail. Undoubtedly, a lot has happened since she was just a little girl starting out. Fast forward to today: after launching her first wheel pro model last year, Decathlon Skateboarding is now putting out a whole clothing collection which Roos helped design - a capsule which showcases her personality, makes a subtle homage to her home country and aims for a clean, simple look.

So come along for a little chat with Roos! Let’s find out more about this new collection, her career, her personal life and what it means for her to work alongside Decathlon - a brand which, according to her testimony, makes skateboarding accessible for everyone.

A perfect example of how Roos tackles the streets: mean fronside boardslide down the hubba.

What’s up Roos? How are you? What have you been up to lately?

I’m doing great! I’ve been super busy with studying, skateboarding, traveling (SLS in São Paulo last month), and working on some exciting projects like my new collection with Decathlon. It’s been a whirlwind, but I’m loving it.

Now that we’re entering a new year, can you reflect on what the biggest highlight of 2024 was for you?

Definitely competing in the Paris Olympics. Even though the results didn’t go my way, the experience of skating on that stage again and seeing how far skateboarding has come was unforgettable.

I bet! Congrats on your new clothing collection for Decathlon also. Can you tell us everything about it? 

Thank you! The collection is all about combining functionality with style for skaters. It includes a sweater, a hat and a hoody, designed to be durable but also cool for everyday wear. I was deeply involved in every step, from brainstorming ideas to picking fabrics and designs. I went to Lille and we had some good conversations about the design as well. We thought it was a fun idea to include a poppy rose in the design, just like we did with the wheels. I’m super excited about the end result of the clothing collection, I love to wear it in my free time and during skate sessions!

What inspired you when helping design it?

My personal preference for clothing that’s simple and clean. That’s why I chose the colors beige and white. Besides that, I wanted to refer to my home country a little bit and that's why I chose the color Delft Blue as well. 

“It’s all about combining functionality with style for skaters. I was deeply involved in every step, from brainstorming ideas to picking fabrics and designs.”

Roos aimed for these clothes to be basically like her skating: clean, elegant, streetproof.

Is that a flower? What’s the meaning behind it?

Yes, it’s a flower! I worked with the design team on it, and it’s a direct reference to the poppy rose, a Dutch flower, which is my favorite flower. 

I see what you did there. And is this your first clothing collection ever? How does that feel?

Yes, it’s my first one! Having my own collection with Decathlon Skateboarding means a lot because it feels amazing to see my ideas come to life.

What about your wheel pro model, how did that come about?

The pro wheels are a really special project for me. They’re designed not just to perform well but also to represent my personal style and what I stand for as a skater. I worked closely with their design team to make sure the wheels were both functional and visually striking. We tested different materials and shapes to ensure they could handle all types of skating, from street to park. Having pro wheels feels surreal because I remember dreaming of this as a kid. Now to see my name on something that skaters everywhere can use—it’s a huge honor.

“Decathlon is an incredible sponsor - I love how they make skateboarding so accessible for everyone. It really does feel like a full-circle moment to be working with them now, knowing how many skaters—like you!—got their start with a Decathlon board.”

Out for a sesh with the Decathlon team

Decathlon is such a cool sponsor - I myself got my first skateboard ever from Decathlon. How does it feel for you to have their support, is it like a full-circle moment at all? 

Decathlon is an incredible sponsor and I love how they make skateboarding so accessible for everyone. It really does feel like a full-circle moment to be working with them now, knowing how many skaters—like you!—got their start with a Decathlon board. The products are awesome and the boards are among the best in the market. What makes it even more special is the Decathlon Skateboarding team itself. Everyone on the team is an actual skater, which creates this super authentic, tight-knit, family-like atmosphere. We all genuinely support each other and I’ve had the chance to go on some amazing trips with them. Another thing I love is how easy it is to stay connected with the team. Their headquarters is in Lille, which is super close, so I can visit often or just swing by for meetings. They have a really cool indoor skatepark at the office, which is free and open to the public all year round. And they’ve even visited me in Amsterdam, we had a blast skating together and hitting up some of the best street spots in the city.

“Candy Jacobs is a good friend of mine, but when we play Game of SKATE, we go all-in!”

The capsule includes a sweater, a hat and a hoody. Roos Zwetsloot pro wheels also pictured here!

You took part in the Tokyo Olympics back in 2020 and finished 5th place, when skateboarding was part of it for the first time ever. This year you were part of it again and took 10th place in Paris. Do you see a change in skateboarding after witnessing it become an Olympic sport? 

For sure! There are more girls skating now and the exposure has been incredible for the sport worldwide. I love to see so many new faces at skateparks, especially young girls in the Netherlands.

Who were your biggest inspirations of women skating when you started?

My biggest inspirations were the women skateboarding the SLS, like Aori Nishimura and Alexis Sablone. They inspired me to push my limits and try new tricks. I loved watching SLS as a kid, I always hoped to stand there one day myself. Being on the podium in 2021 for the first time during an SLS, that was also a dream come true for me. 

Which skater gives you the most fight when playing Game of SKATE?

Well this is definitely Candy Jacobs! She is super good at nollie heels, kickflips and tre flips, all the tricks I think are pretty hard to do. Especially kickflips, they’re extremely hard for me. I started with learning heelflips and I never really switched to kickflips. And Candy is super good at flat ground, she always keeps me on my toes. She’s also a good friend of mine, but when we play Game of SKATE, we go all-in!

What can we expect from Roos in the new year? 

There’s an exciting new project with Decathlon Skateboarding coming up soon: I can finally share that I’ll be designing my very own pro board with them! It’s honestly a dream come true. I’m super excited about the quality of Decathlon’s boards, and we're going to work hard together to create the perfect board, tailored to my own preferences. Aside from that, my focus this year will be on pushing my skating further, both on the streets and in competitions. I’m also looking forward to continuing to grow as a skater and working on some other exciting opportunities. But my main wish for 2025 is that everyone I love will stay healthy and happy! Nothing is more important than that.

“It feels surreal because I remember dreaming of this as a kid. Now to see my name on something that skaters everywhere can use - it’s a huge honor.”

Functionality and style. Roos helped design this collection through every step of the process.

Find the whole interview in Dolores Magazine #12 and be sure to check out the new Roos Zwetsloot collection by Decathlon Skateboarding.