While much of Pembroke Recreation Department’s “Summer in the City” program has ended, there are still plenty of activities going on in town to keep residents on the move.
According to Pembroke Recreation Director Carol Wilson, the recreation center is continuing to offer swim days, water aerobics classes and Zumba classes on a weekly basis.
“For swimming, right now we’re just open on the weekends and that’s due to school being back in session,” she said. “Our main participants are school-aged kids.”
Wilson said the exercise classes are also very popular, each having about eight to 10 participants each week.
Instructor Danise Sarrazin hosts the Zumba class from 6:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday. She said she has enjoyed teaching the class and hopes it generates more interest.
“It’s going really well — every week we have more people,” she said. “We want more, though, as many as we can fit in here.”
The class draws participants from ages 10 to 73, Sarrazin said.
Activities Coordinator Lee Lawrence has been busy planning the city’s first-ever skateboarding competition, set for Aug. 18. Dubbed “Country Town Throwdown,” the contest is open to beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters ages 12-25.
Lawrence said skaters from as far as Alabama, South Carolina and Jacksonville have shown interest in the competition.
“We’re looking for a pretty good turnout,” he said.
On average, the recreation center’s skate park at 91 Lanier St. sees between 10 and 15 skaters, Lawrence said, which is where the idea started.
“Some of the guys wanted me to do something here for the skaters,” he said.
Lawrence said the contest is being sponsored by several skateboard-affiliated companies, such as Evidense, Syndicate Skateboard Company USA, Woody’s Halfpipe of Atlanta and others.
While Lawrence has been in charge of getting the event together, he said several professional skaters will announce the event. The four judges for the event are also professional skaters, he said.
The entry fee for the contest is $15. Helmets must be worn during the competition, and a waiver must also be signed. Lawrence said registration will be open through the day of the competition.