The current Coronavirus pandemic is a completely unprecedented global crisis that will be a life-changing experience for many. It would be no exaggeration to say that no event in recent history has affected people on a global scale as greatly or caused so much uncertainty at the challenges it continues to present us.
Whether it be to travel for your work, visit family or friends or simply to carry out your daily exercise, the Coronavirus pandemic has turned lives and daily routines upside down. It has ruined plans, events, holidays and with the process of self isolating and quarantine, it has prevented us from seeing family and friends.
With virtually the entire world on lock down and government restrictions ordered, any video footage you see of how quiet cities have been has made for some eerie viewing. The endless sights of total emptiness of what otherwise would be busy roads, streets, public parks and shops.
Some skateboarders however have seen this as an opportunity to take advantage of the empty freeways with traffic and pedestrians now basically non existent.
Russell Houghten’s epic ’Urban Isolation’ video posted on The Berrics shows us what Skateboarding in a Pandemic looks like and it is beautifully shot in the city of Los Angeles. Any skateboarder will tell you that in an ideal world you would be left alone to enjoy ‘hassle free’ skate spots with no interruptions. The Pandemic seems to have temporarily created this world. A world with no security at skatespots or locations throughout the city which are usually inaccessible, now free to roam.
Despite the scenes looking something out of a zombie apocalypse movie or that of the TV series 'The Walking Dead,’ Russell and his posse set up the camera and enjoy various random city skate spots which would otherwise be off limits.
The 3:44 powerful video is impressively shot, contains some awesome aerial views and is quite simply a thing of beauty. Russell shows silky editing skills and there are also some beautiful still camera frames of areas of the quiet city. It almost looks so peaceful.
Whilst the ‘Ghost Town’ is the dismay of many, it is the delight of the skaters, with not a car or pedestrian in sight. It is almost as if you are at home playing the "EA Skate" computer game on the Xbox or Playstation and you have the luxury of turning off pedestrians and traffic within the level.
Some may have conflicting opinions of whether anyone should actually be outside skateboarding and ignoring the advice from the government on the quarantine ordered, however on the flip side you could argue the emptiness of the city shows that most people are adhering to the advice and staying inside.
The video is quite a spectacle and in years down the line will be one of those clips you look back on remember how crazy a time we are currently living in.
Stay safe and we shall meet again soon on the sidewalks...
