Rec. district provides new activities

RANGELY I The schedule for the Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District (WRBM) includes new offerings and community favorites this winter.
Ginger Bollen, who became certified to teach Turbo Kick earlier this month, will offer the course twice a week starting in January. Turbo Kick mixes kickboxing moves with a high-intensity cardio routine set to music.
“It’s so much easier to work out in a group setting where everybody’s sweating and laughing at themselves at the same time,” Bollen said. “I used to do (Turbo Kick) in Denver four days a week, and I missed it a lot. I thought, ‘Hey, I’ll teach it so everybody can benefit from it.’”
Parents of children ages three to six can consider a new tumbling class offered by Laryssa Hadley starting Jan. 10.
“There were a ton of moms taking their kids to Vernal for tumbling,” aquatics/recreation director Camilla Kennedy said. “(Assistant) Kirsten (Cushman) and I thought, ‘We know nothing about tumbling.’ But then Laryssa wanted to teach it, so we’re excited to see how that goes.”
A sewing class offered by Kristina Klein this fall will make a comeback in the new year. The first class featured girls’ pillowcase dresses made with the school district’s sewing machines. Those attending the second class could be making makeup bags, Kennedy said.
Handmade items make several appearances on the schedule, from a Mom and Daughter dinner and craft night to a Ladies’ Nights Out craft project in February. Giovanni’s Italian Grill will likely cater the dinner event, scheduled the week before Valentine’s Day.
“Our last snowman project was big, so we’re hoping to keep the craft nights going,” Kennedy said. Childcare is included in the Ladies’ Night Out price.
Personal training is a relatively new option that includes eight sessions per month for $100. CNCC assistant baseball coach and personal trainer Greg Dupas offers individuals cardio and weight training along with a meal plan.
The district can offer more events more often partly because lifeguard and dance instructor Natalie Kurrasch has moved into a more regular position with the district, Kennedy said. That has given Kennedy and assistant Kirsten Cushman the flexibility to do more.
“The board wanted to bring on an extra person and do more crafts,” Kennedy said. “Kirsten and I are both pretty crafty. Kirsten picks up what I don’t know on the sports aspect. And we can have more things going at one time since we have Natalie now.”
Other favorites return to the schedule next year, including ballet lessons and drill team—down in cost from previous years—Iddy Biddy Sports, featuring indoor play ranging from soccer to balloon games, and an adult group exercise class involving circuit training and weights.
Adult volleyball will begin in January at Parkview Elementary while the Rangely Junior/Senior High School will host adult basketball open gyms.
Two out-of-town trips round out WRBM’s plans, including a Vernal ice skating trip on Jan. 25 and a kids’ trip to the Jump ‘n’ Jive inflatable park in early February. Trips will now run with fewer people since several recreation district employees have completed the school’s driving course, Kennedy said, eliminating the need for a bus unless more than 14 people are signed up.
For more information or to get signed up, pick up a schedule at the recreation center or call 675-8211.