For the 75th daily installment of Big Wheel Blading’s Inline Skating and Life During COVID-19 series we talk to Erik Bill. Erik is a 32-year-old inline skater, skate video creator and vintage clothing store operator living in Boise, Idaho.
Photo by by Nicholas Swan
What steps did Idaho take to battle COVID-19 and how are things there now?
Well, the folks in charge of my city and state are almost as clueless as the man in charge of my country, so they pretty much treated it like some inconvenience that’ll soon go away on its own. My girlfriend and I take it more seriously though and have been working around our home a lot. Avoiding unnecessary interactions ‘n such. Things are becoming more normal in Boise but I think it’s too early to be sitting in bars and restaurants!?
Were you skating during the COVID-19 lockdown?
Yeah! There’s a few skate spots by my store that are safe to skate during all this. My friend Nicholas Swan and I also filmed a small section together when the lockdown first started.
Lockdown Edit for The Blade Clothing
Where are you skating?
Just spots around town for me. I love to travel but I don’t love to travel for skating…hahah.
Is there anything that would make you stop skating?
I guess it would take a lot. I think I will always at least skate to work occasionally. Even if it’s a mega-lockdown.
Are you doing any cross training?
Just making sure I drink enough beer to stay healthy.
Top torque soul clip by Jay Smith
What other activities are you doing to occupy your time?
I’m always digging through barns and other rural buildings to find the old clothing I like. Guitar. Fetch with my pup. Yard work. Quality time with my gal.
How has COVID-19 affected your normal everyday life?
At first the main differences for me were not going to antique stores and bars. Haha. But now that they’re open I don’t even want to go. Other than that I guess it’s mostly just different not being able to see some of my friends and family.
I’m always kind of a germophobe…
Eric’s vintage clothing shop, Bill’s.
What are your major concerns right now and looking into the future?
People pretending everything is normal just because they’re bored of it. Soooo stupid. Without a cure for all this, these folks are making our future real dim.
How is your local skate community responding? Are they self-isolating or are they still getting together and not social distancing?
Certain friends have just been skating together totally normal. Other friends won’t leave their house hahah. Got a pretty diverse crew.
Do you have anything you’d like to add?
I would just like to thank you for thinkin’ of me! Keep skating and good luck with the dang state of the world.
Header portrait by Nicholas Swan.
Links
- Follow Erik Bill on Instagram to keep up with his Bill’s Vintage Clothing Shop.
- To watch some amazing skating check out Erik’s Vimeo page.
- Go to Inline Skating and Life During COVID-19 to read more interviews from skaters from around the world.
- Go to Essential Workers – Inline Skaters on the Front Lines of COVID-19 to read about inline skaters from around the world who are considered Essential Workers.
- For our full COVID-19 coverage go here.
- Contact Big Wheel Blading for any questions, suggestions, story ideas or to contribute content.
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