Big Wheel Blading’s COVID-19 Coverage
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every skater in the world in some way. In this series, Essential Workers, Inline Skaters on the Front Lines of COVID-19, we talk to inline skaters from around the world who are considered Essential Workers. This is the second part of our COVID-19 coverage; check out the series Inline Skating and Life During COVID-19, where we check in with various inline skaters from around the globe to see how the pandemic has affected their lives.
Alexander Schlosser is a 29-year-old inline skater living in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Alex works for FedEx Ground.
Do you consider your job essential?
Yes I do.
Do you feel secure at work or would you rather be at home self-isolating?
I do not feel safe at all and had to take an unpaid leave of absence.
What are your concerns about working during this time?
The spread of this virus, I’m not so worried about myself getting it, but more worried about passing it on to my family.
How has the pandemic affected your everyday life?
No friends, no socializing, no money, my sleep schedule is all jacked and I have no toilet paper to wipe my ass. The things you take for granted…
What are your concerns going into the future?
My concerns going in to the future are that I hope our country doesn’t go through a recession, that I still have a job, and that I can pay my bills.
Are you still skating during the pandemic?
Nothing will stop me from skating when I can, even if I have to wear a hazmat suit.
Jesse Giovanni is a 31-year-old inline skater living in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Jesse works in the medical marijuana industry.
Do you consider your job essential?
Currently yes, I work in a medical marijuana facility which our governor has made it clear that medical uses of Mmj is still essential to people’s lives. From my understanding through our government officials, an essential job indicates any position of work that is essential to living. I.e. medical offices for people’s medical needs for living.
Do you feel secure at work or would you rather be at home self-isolating?
I’m 50/50 on that. It’s a pandemic, meaning it can and probably will spread everywhere. I feel secure in a position of work, yet no secure for my health. It can happen anywhere, anytime, at any place. Self-isolation is essential. But I also have to work.
What are your concerns about working during this time?
My only concern personally is for me or one of my loved ones to catch this virus.
How has the pandemic affected your everyday life?
This global pandemic has affected my life in many ways for one my workplace is pretty hectic right now with being as cleanly as possible and also we have to keep at least 6 feet away from each other to lessen the chance of spreading the virus. And I’m really a people kind of a person I like to Talk to people a lot about their lives so I feel so separated having to stay so far apart it’s just a weird time in a weird thing to get used to. I do like being cleaner though.Also it has affected my every day life through shopping for food or whatever else I need everything seems to be out of stock because of people having to go crazy with shopping. #teamtp
What are your concerns going into the future?
Currently my concerns for the future are more people dying because of this, or just what people have been saying in general about the New World order and the collapse of the economic world.That kind of scares me because I can see it happening but at the same time it’s even more crazy to think that we actually live in a time like this.
Are you still skating during the pandemic?
I have a few times before it got really bad to the point where it is now. But I haven’t much lately I’ve just been working a lot. Maybe things will change in the next few days.
Richard Corley is a 37-year-old inline skater living in New York City, New York, USA. Richard works as an elevator starter, doorman and in building maintenance.
Do you consider your job essential?
Yes, who will keep the building safe, clean, maintained, etc…
Do you feel secure at work or would you rather be at home self-isolating?
Things are definitely more sketchy on the streets in Midtown right now. I’ve seen an odd ball on a bike trying to open a locked door to a cafe with the lights off at noon on a Saturday noon. Today there were cops stationed every other block, that is safe… A lady I know working a little past 5pm was nervous to take the train home because the previous night she was the only person on the platform around 7pm.
What are your concerns about working during this time?
The death rate numbers multiplying.
How has the pandemic affected your everyday life?
I’ve been developing better habits and keeping germs away. My favorite coffee shop hasn’t been open, so I have been using the coffee machine at work and saving a lot of money.
What are your concerns going into the future?
I haven’t heard of anyone personally effected nor anyone they know of personally effected, so in the near future I’m concerned too. But as they say, no news is good news!!
Are you still skating during the pandemic?
I am skating for 15 minutes a few days at work while on break. I caught an inclined toe truck unloading a construction rig and ripped right off the side of it into Madison Avenue with no traffic on it. I still managed to do it in front of the police nevertheless!
Troy Alan Dezeeuw is a 34-year-old inline skater living in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. Troy works as a pest control technician.
Do you consider your job essential?
Yes, pest control is a completely undervalued service.
Do you feel secure at work or would you rather be at home self-isolating?
I’m not interested in isolation, more things come into play than just a random risk of exposure from being outside.
What are your concerns about working during this time?
Be smart about distance, don’t make contact with your skin on anything and always wear gloves. Avoid situations with anyone looking or sounding unhealthy.
How has the pandemic affected your everyday life?
I cannot get groceries late at night due to adjusted hours, also my part time job coaching at a gym is not happening at the moment.
What are your concerns going into the future?
People need to adopt better diets and hygiene so we can avoid this being prolonged.
Are you still skating during the pandemic?
I am getting out when my hips allow it.
William Isaac is a 28-year-old inline skater living in Houston, Texas, USA. William is a supervisor for Pioneer Wine and Spirits.
Do you consider your job essential?
My personal role is essential to an extent I’d say. Personally, I don’t agree with the reasons why the Liquor Industry as a whole is deemed essential but there is always two sides to the scenario which calls for difficult decisions… I get it.
Do you feel secure at work or would you rather be at home self isolating?
To be honest, No. With the new information we’re getting about this virus, which seems to be almost everyday, I feel a bit safer at home where I can be a bit more cautious keeping clean.
What are your concerns about working during this time?
Our operations run 24/7. So my first concern is the procedures in place while I’m away. Whether or not the rest are following proper cdc rules put in place for us essentials businesses. Being short of employees has also made me have to jump on a delivery truck just to get the job done. I don’t agree with making anyone have to come in counter with dozens of random people a day just for a few bottles to stock a shelf… I just don’t. Everyone needs to have their personal preference of pinot for the night though right?
How has the pandemic affected your everyday life?
Paying attention haha. It’s weird, I’ve never paid this much attention to germs and hygiene. Growing up rollerblading I touched everything, never cleaned cuts, and truly just didn’t care to be the cleanest I could be. Now we worry about touching the smallest things and I wouldn’t think twice about picking something up off of the ground.
What are your concerns going into the future?
I’m just ready to see what the future entails… whatever it may be, because this all seems like a movie right now.
Are you still skating during the pandemic?
I just got my hands on some Ground Control 80mm frames not too long ago so I’m having a great time cruising the city streets at the moment. For the most part I’m just cruising the streets a few times a week. I got word of some homies working on a new magazine issue… may have to through the real deals back on to get some photos! #essentialactivities
Links
- 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.
- Go to Inline Skating and Life During COVID-19 to read interviews with skaters from around the globe to see how the pandemic has affected their life.
- For our full COVID-19 coverage go here.
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