For the 56th daily installment of Big Wheel Blading’s Inline Skating and Life During COVID-19 series we talk to Kevin Quintin. Kevin is a 37-year-old inline skater, skate instructor and social worker, with his association POINT 13, living in Marseille, France.
What steps did France take to battle COVID-19 and how are things there now?
France was placed under quarantine for 60 days beginning on March 14th. On May 11th the government began to roll out de-confinement measures and published a map of France depicting three departments colored green, orange and red. The current situation and restrictions are different in each department, with the government using the colors to mark a region based on infection rates. Red being used for the department with the most people infected by COVID19. At the end of May the government plans to re-evaluate the restrictions in the different departments with the potential of loosening some of them at the beginning of June.
In Marseille we are on level green, so we are slowly getting back to life. However, restaurants and bars are still closed. Most of the schools have reopened, but with crazy restrictions, so many parents have not sent their kids back, including myself.
Were you skating during the quarantine?
During the quarantine I was skating along the coast, free riding or speed skating. I was unable to skate the bowl because it was forbidden to go there, but since last week I’m now back to my roots in the Marseille Bowl!!
Are you doing any cross training?
I’ve been running daily around my area, between 25-50km (15-31 miles) per week. During the lockdown I did a double Marathon (one on skates and one running), in my parking lot, to raise money for kids that are hospitalized fighting against cancer. You can make a donation to www.mcswimchallenge.fr, it will help a lot.
What other activities are you doing to occupy your time?
Cooking, shopping and being a school teacher for my kids…
How has COVID-19 affected your normal everyday life?
Because of COVID-19 I had to stop working. It made me realize not to take our healthy and beautiful lives for granted. It made me think about all the kids in hospitals, who are under quarantine, that don’t know when they will be able to get out and go home. It made me think that we should all take care of each other in our daily lives and need to break out of our comfort zones. It made me think of a lot of things, but I’m not going to go that deep…
What are your major concerns right now and looking into the future?
Being happy and healthy and enjoying everything I can. Hopefully I will be able to get back to work soon…
How is your local skate community responding?
The local skating community has been very conscientious about the situation, with everyone respecting the quarantine. Now that the lockdown is over I’ve already had a few sessions at the Marseille Bowl with many of the locals.
Do you have anything you’d like to add?
I hope that the whole skating community will come back stronger than ever!! Peace.
Links
- Follow Kevin Quintin on Instagram.
- Visit point13.net to find our more about Kevin’s association.
- Follow Point 13 on Facebook.
- 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 and questions, suggestions or ideas.
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