For the 69th daily installment of Big Wheel Blading’s Inline Skating and Life During COVID-19 series we talk to Shredpool. Shredpool, aka Blade Skillson, is a 28-year-old inline skater, antihero and fruit cobbler living in Providence, Rhode Island.
What steps did Rhode Island take to battle COVID-19 and how are things there now?
I don’t watch the news anymore (I was blocked from twitter), but last I heard we were told to drink bleach and eat tide pods for permanent immunity to everything, one sip and you’re cured. We tried thoughts and prayers for a while with no luck! Which is weird because that usually does the trick.
Were you skating during the COVID-19 lockdown?
When you have skating on the brain, you are always shredding. Oh and yes, I “real” skated as well. I went on a few low-key practice rail sessions and a few three man filming sessions. Don’t worry, we brought our bleach sippy cups with us to stay safe
Social Distancing since 95’ with Ragone Bones and Andy Leitermann (left), Mistrial photo by Guy Penha (right)
Is there anything that would make you stop skating?
Would love a break, as soon as I figure how how to get these knots untied… Do you know what its like to get up in the middle of the night to go downstairs for a midnight snack and forget your wearing skates?
Are you doing any cross training?
I am not very religious.
Reading (left), Went for a stROLL (right)
What other activities are you doing to occupy your time?
Oh well, there is always work to do around the slum, audio games, skate maintenance, taking the turtles for a walk, shadow boxing, setting fires, hiding left socks, kitty karate, juggling juggalos and that thing where you focus on your breathing speed then you can’t focus on it. You know, the usual.
How has COVID-19 affected your normal everyday life?
For a while I thought everyone was mocking me, but I guess they were instructed to wear masks…
Zoom call with Family (left), Attaining Oneness (right)
What are your major concerns right now and looking into the future?
Why can I see the future and how can I make it stop?!
How is your local skate community responding?
“Rollerblading” is a synonym for social distancing, we’ve been training for this our whole lives.
Double Baggin (left), They see me Rollin’ with Ragone Bones (right)
Do you have anything you’d like to add?
Do you know how to untie an angler’s loop? Need to get these skates off… 
Header photo by Brendan Barry.
Links
- Follow Blade Skillson on Facebook.
- Follow Project Shredpool on Facebook and Instagram.
- To see more awesome videos follow Project Shredpool on YouTube.
- 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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