By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Chris Umphres has had his hands full since taking over as Great Bend Rec Director on Nov. 1. The Rec made some big changes to its annual Santa's Workshop event on Dec. 5, moving it back indoors after two years of the Santa's Workshop Express outside, and indoor soccer teams wrapped up their seasons last week. Umphres said staff is now turning to new activities like Teqball and spin class.
"New to soccer this year, we added Teqball, which is kind of a combination between soccer, ping pong, and volleyball, so that will be out for people to use," Umphres said.
The rec will put up a portable Teqball table in the city auditorium, and a permanent table will be installed at Heizer Park once the weather warms up.
The Rec will also help with New Year's fitness resolutions with a new resistance-band training class beginning in February, and spin classes at the activity center.
"The tough part is we only have six bikes for each class," said Umphres. "We're trying to see what the interest is. We'll either run more classes, and if the interest is there, we'll start looking at getting other bikes."
The Rec hopes to offer an advanced class and a beginner class. Spin classes are typically more challenging rides than the usual outdoor ride.
"Riding your bike is leisure; you can do it at your own pace," Umphres said. "Spin bike class, you're going to be there with other people. There will be an instructor leading the way. It's still at your own pace, but you've got some motivation with other people pushing you and giving you encouragement to keep going."
Indoor basketball season begins just after the New Year with a registration deadline of Jan. 3. The Rec brochure for spring programming will be mailed out after the New Year, with enrollment opening for most of those programs on Jan. 16.