UPDATE BELOW: Please Read!
Hey, everyone. Sorry the Quick Quiver has been a little quiet recently. The truth is, I’m working on some big reviews. Some cool new decks, some wheels, some trucks, it’s quite a lot. Testing so much at once has made my already extensive review process take even more time. I’ll have to make sure to only test one setup at a time in the future, instead of the four (update: five) I’m skating now. I bought more than I can skate.
Anyway, I’m reaching out with this more informal post because I don’t know about you, but social distancing is making me crazy. I had always been a bit of a loner growing up, but something changed in college and I became a social butterfly. On top of that, I used to commute to work on a longboard. Even my commute in had two small hills on it for some fun and standup slides. Now I sometimes yank myself away from work to skate, but it hasn’t been the same. Working from home, cooped up in my tiny apartment, has been stressful.
And it probably has for you too. That’s why I’m here to remind you that if you can get out to skate, (update: and you’re experienced) you should.
Table of Contents
But What About Corona…?
Listen, I know what you’re thinking because I think it every time I go out too. Every time I’ve gone outside during this pandemic I’ve felt my heart in my throat. The truth is, I’m anxious about COVID-19, way more than I let on. If I do get sick, that will really mean 2-4 weeks of no skating and harsh isolation. That is just not something I want to think about. I’m expertly isolating myself, but there’s still a chance I could spread it too, and that would be terrible. And, while small, there’s still the chance of death or permanent lung damage. I was never a germophobe, but suddenly I find myself wanting to skate in a hazmat suit (which would make a cool video).
But the truth is, this virus isn’t hanging in the air. It’s not like air pollution. You’ll get it from touching something that someone with the virus recently touched and then touching your own face. You’ll get it from standing within 6 feet of someone who has it and having a chat with them. You are not going to get it skating outside. As long as you bring some hand sanitizer and make sure your hands are clean after getting outside (if there were many doorknobs along the way), you’ll be safe to skate.
And there are a lot of benefits to getting outside to skate.
For Your Sanity
Being cooped up in a small area, especially if you’re accustomed to exercise and socializing, will drive you a little crazy. “Cabin fever” is a real thing. I worked from home for many months before. During the day, it would get a little weird. I’d talk to myself a lot or even leave the TV on in another room to make me feel less alone. Also, every night I hung out with friends at my local dive bar. With COVID-19, I can’t do that last part to maintain sanity. But I can skate.
If you’re working from home, home from school, or out of work, you are likely stressed and starting to bounce off the walls right now. This is perhaps your second week of isolation, maybe more depending on where you are in the world, and things can get a little maddening. Grab a deck and head outside. You’ll feel better after just a few minutes of having your heart racing for a good reason.
Stress doesn’t just feel lousy, it hurts your chances of making it through this crisis. Really. Stress can lower your immune system, and research has shown that high blood pressure has been a leading indicator of the seriousness of COVID-19 symptoms. Those with lower blood pressure may not even notice the effects of the virus, but older people and those with higher blood pressure are at an increased risk. Stress causes high blood pressure. If you can’t get out and skate, at least try meditation and yoga. Plus, yoga will help with your balance and flexibility, making getting into a tight tuck easier!
I’m not saying take public transit to get to your favorite spots. Stay within skating distance of your house. Be extra safe. The last thing you want right now is to break something and have to head to the ER. Some people have gotten sick at the hospital. Infections frequently spread at hospitals, unfortunately. So please, wear a helmet, wear slide gloves, wear knee pads and elbow pads.
For Your Health and Immunity
Note: The Quick Quiver does not condone drinking and skating or Edward 40 Hands.
Yeah, you read that right. Exercise is a huge factor in your immunity. Studies have shown that exercise can help your body fight off disease. You’ll also sleep better at night if you get exercise and that too will help you fight off a certain novel virus. Furthermore, there’s sunshine outside. Get an hour or so with your skin exposed to sunlight and get more than enough Vitamin D to fight off infections. Your body needs Vitamin D for your immune system, and your body can produce it when exposed to sunlight. It’s super cool.
Exercise, Vitamin D, and better sleep. Those three things you’ll get from just an hour or so of skating in the middle of the day. As long as you are washing your hands, sanitizing anything that comes in contact with something an infected person may have touched, and not spending any time within 6 feet of someone, you will be both preventing this disease from spreading while also lessening your chances of getting it. Just be safe, keep your hands clean, and don’t touch your face. I find having dirty slide gloves on keeps me from it. I once fixed my sunglasses with my gloves on and had a big black stripe going up the center of my nose for who knows how long. I spent hours skating that day, how many people saw me looking like that? Never again!
Stay Safe, Friends
It is hard to find positives in a disease that will likely kill many people, at least 10,000 so far. That’s heartbreaking. But I hope we emerge from our social distancing, having dealt with a global pandemic as the human race, ready to be more united, a new oneness for us all. Maybe this will make us appreciate humanity just a little bit more. I hope so. There’s got to be a silver lining to this cloud.
Oh, and yes, this post is full of skate videos to inspire you (update: for when you get out of isolation, that is, see update section below). Get some cardio. Just push around your neighborhood until you’re sweaty and gross. Just get out there, get some vitamin D, get some exercise, take some deep breaths, and feel better.
I wish everyone the best of luck. Stay safe, stay sane, and keep skating.
Clarification: Hey, don’t skate if your government has told you to stay indoors except for emergencies or shopping. However, no one said you can’t skate to the grocery store!
Update
So, we’ve been doing this quarantine thing for a while now. It’s definitely lousy. Yesterday I got yet another new setup and gave it a ride. You know what I realized? I was taking it easy. Really easy. The truth is, a fall would mean a scrape or a cut. This would drastically increase my chances of getting or spreading the disease. Furthermore, a bad fall could land me in some serious medical limbo. On one hand, I could have a broken bone, and on the other hand, going to the doctor for treatment could spread the virus.
So, should you skate?
Yes and no.
Yes: If you’re skilled, go out for a leisurely skate. Grab a stable board and just push around for some cardio.
No: If you’re a beginner, stay home. Even a stupid slip stepping on the board could lead to you falling backwards and breaking your wrist.
Extra no: don’t do half the things you see in this post. Just think about them for when the hospitals clear up. It’ll be fun to get into some dancing and tech sliding, won’t it? It’s something to look forward to because we will get through this. This will not be the new normal.
I’ve updated this post to reflect a more responsible position now that hospitals around the world are at capacity. Definitely get outside and exercise, if you still can, but take all precautions and don’t get hurt.
If you go out, wear your gear as well as latex gloves if you don’t have slide gloves on and a mask, scarf, neck gaiter, or whatever you have to filter the air you’re breathing in and out.
Stay safe.
The good folks of Downhill254 (another great skate blog you should follow) have a good list of do’s and don’t’s for skating during this crisis. Check it out here.
As for me? I’ll continue to cruise alone, but reviews will slow down with the exception of those that are nearly finished. I just can’t push my setups hard enough to review them yet. Hopefully we’ll kick this thing by the summer together.
