For the 78th daily installment of Big Wheel Blading’s Inline Skating and Life During COVID-19 series we talk to Samuel Cabezas. Samuel is a 37-year-old inline skater and construction engineer living in Oslo, Norway.
What steps did Norway take to battle COVID-19 and how are things there now?
Norway has been lucky so far, it is recommended you practice social distancing, that you quarantine if you show symptoms and get sick and no more than 5 people are allowed in a group. Norway did not go into full lockdown like other countries. Schools, daycare, restaurants and so on have been closed since the middle of March but started opening last month, with heavy restrictions. Life is slowly feeling like normal again but it’ not the same as it was pre-COVID-19.
Are you skating?
I have been trying to go out and skate 2-3 times a week.
Where are you going out to skate?
I have been going out to skate in my local area or around Oslo, trying to stay productive and get some footage if possible. I just don’t get too close when filming with the fisheye.
Is there anything that would make you stop skating?
I would stop if we were ordered to stay inside, stay safe out there!
Full moon skating down the Opera House in Oslo.
Are you doing any cross training?
No. I usually go to the gym to keep my injuries in check, but the gym has been closed so that means more time for skating.
What other activities are you doing to occupy your time?
Home office, field office and binge watched all of the modern Doctor Who episodes. I’m living a normal life really.
Wizard Skating
How has COVID-19 affected your normal everyday life?
Not more than having to keep a distance from people , but I have friends and colleagues who have gotten sick, so the gravity of this pandemic is quite real.
What are you major concerns right now and looking into the future?
Right now I’m adjusting to the fact that I’m home a lot more , but I’m enjoying it. Rolling down my local streets and seeing more people on skates is a good sign and puts a smile on my face Hopefully we can all start traveling a bit more again once the world returns to normal. I’m going to keep staying optimistic.
How is your local skate community responding?
Since the rules for gathering people were restricted to 5, we managed to get a session going on here and there without breaking any rules and even managed to have a small birthday skate with the boys a few weeks ago. The restriction has no been raised to 20 people.
Do you have anything you’d like to add?
Just keep uniting us. It’s an important job, thank you!
Photos by Greger Flak
Links
- Follow Samuel Cabezas on Instagram.
- Follow Greger Flak on Instagram and his b/w Instagram to see more of his amazing photography.
- 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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