Switzerland is beautiful, is considered a tax haven, and has a reputation for being spotlessly clean. But even this idyllic mountain landscape and its many lakes are not immune to the coronavirus. How is IDM Superbike rider Dominic Schmitter, 25, a Yamaha rider for Hess Racing who lives in Altstätten in the canton of St. Gallen, doing right now? We checked in with him.
How are you coping with the COVID-19 crisis?
At first, it felt very strange that all the stores were closing and everyone was supposed to practice social distancing. Little by little, more and more places here in Switzerland are shutting down. I think we’ll soon be at the peak of the crisis. At least, I hope so… Even our postal service has been scaled back to a minimum. I’ve had to reorganize a few things. Right now, everything is more of a hassle than usual.
Is your region heavily affected?
Fortunately, we still have few cases in eastern Switzerland. But even here, the number is rising every day.
Do you have any family members or friends who are sick? Or are you sick yourself?
At the moment, we’re lucky in our district. But that’s also because we’re all strictly following the federal guidelines. In other words, every citizen should act as if they were infected themselves.
How do you protect yourself?
I stay home as much as possible and avoid direct contact with other people.
How are you spending your day? Working out?
In the morning, I have a half-hour spinning class on the schedule, followed by breakfast. After eating, I’m currently studying languages like English and Italian. Since I have a lot of free time now, I want to use it wisely. Before lunch, I do some strength training. Right now, I’m eating Asian cuisine. I want to try out even more recipes. In the afternoon, I ride my exercise bike, and the evening is set aside for Netflix or gaming.
Are you in touch with other IDM riders?
I chat with "Fifty" Christof Höfer and my teammate Jan Mohr from time to time.
Do you have a chance to go for a motorcycle ride somewhere?
Right now, gaming is my only option. Technically, I could ride on public roads since I got my motorcycle license last year. But as an athlete, I want to set a good example and follow the federal government’s recommendations.