The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a seemingly endless number of challenges for everyone this fall. While IU students do their part to stay at home and stay apart as much as possible this semester, many have turned to activities which allow them to be active while still adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Over the past six months, nothing else has gained quite as much traction in Bloomington as skateboarding. The activity is solitary, takes place outdoors almost always, and still allows students to leave home, take in some fresh air, and stay healthy.

And in Bloomington, there is no shortage of resources. Located on the south side of town just off South Walnut Street, the state-of-the-art Switchyard Park opened to the public in November of last year. In the time since, it has quickly evolved into a central meeting place for skaters of all kinds, alongside the skate park at Upper Cascades, located on the opposite side of town, off North Kinser Pike.

“At least for the time I’ve been here, I’ve noticed the skate scene popping up,” IU senior Drew Kubacki said. “You have Switchyard, and there’s also a new one that just went up on the other side of Nashville. There are a lot of people that are extremely interested in it.”

When it comes to mental health, the pandemic has certainly taken its toll, as more people tend to spend time isolated and indoors. And that trend is expected to continue as temperatures across the nation cool and the fall season arrives.

But at a time as crucial as ever for the wellbeing of students, those like Kubacki see skateboarding as a valuable creative outlet.

“It’s been pretty stressful staring at a computer screen and doing all my work,” Kubacki said. “Having a place where I can come to take a break, and I know there’s going to be like-minded people around me…it’s been a great thing for my mental health.”

Despite what many will immediately assume given a global pandemic, for a few local businesses in particular, sales have actually improved since the coronavirus initially came to the United States.

For Rhett Skateboarding, a greater number of skateboarders means a greater number of skateboards sold. The shop was initially forced to close for two months, a process which owner Jonathan Prather calls “terrifying,” but business stayed afloat through delivery and curbside pick-up orders.

But it was the shop’s official reopening which truly made a difference.

“It was like, as soon as we reopened, everyone seemed to want skateboards,” Prather said.

Provided that Rhett Skateboarding is essentially the only skate shop in town, local skaters are grateful to see the business survive, especially because of its role not only as the go-to spot for skate goods, but also because of its place in the community.

Prather estimates that roughly half of the customers that enter through the shop’s doors are there to make purchases.

As for the rest, they’re at the shop to meet up with others, just “hang out,” or talk about skating – and sometimes life in general.

“I think we do have a sort of responsibility,” Prather said. “The skateboard industry realizes how important small skate shops are.”