Image courtesy of Jack Affleck Photography.
Sofia Galiano and Alexandra Mosquera Netzkarsch
The Recreation Center at BBC is starting the semester off with a splash by launching this year’s Panther Paddle with a daytime paddle boarding event on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Day paddle boarding trips will run through the month of October and will be on the first Saturday of each month; while the BBC Rec Center introduces the first line of nighttime paddle boarding events on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m., taking place the first Thursday of each month.
“The paddle boarding program is a fairly new sport that allows participants to paddle through the water while standing,” said Jonathan Torrey, Recreation Administrator at BBC, in an email. “This would also allow participants to observe aquatic wildlife as they move about the bay.”
In addition to paddle boarding, the BBC Rec Center is kicking off its calendar of day and night kayaking trips next month as well.
Both activities are free to FIU students and BBC Rec Gym members, and $10 for guests — cash is not accepted.
The daytime paddle boarding events offer three trips from which participants can choose from, the first trip at 9:30 a.m., the second at 11:15 a.m. and the third at 1 p.m.
The nighttime paddle boarding event however, only offers one trip at 7 p.m.
“I’m very excited that this semester we are introducing the night paddle board trips,” said Michael Vasconez, a junior psychology and criminal justice major, who is a lifeguard and front desk clerk at the BBC Rec Center.
Vasconez, who has worked at the Rec Center since 2010, said he chose to work there so he could kayak and paddle board as he pleases.
He said BBC is such a “unique location” for many outdoors activities.
“What makes these particular activities so unique is that the Biscayne Bay is actually an extension of the campus, which gives the students an opportunity to enjoy the bay during their time at the university,” said Torrey.
“How many other universities can say that they have that type of resource right in their own back yard?”
To register, participants must visit the front desk located in the BBC Rec Center prior to the event.
“I encourage students to come out and paddle with us at least once, and take back an experience you may not forget,” said Torrey. “No experience needed and all equipment is provided for a day of fun in the sun or a cool night under the stars.”
-bbc@fiusm.com
Do you still offer the paddle boarding at BBC for FIU campus in the 2016 spring semester? My friends and I really want to go paddle boarding but we haven’t seen any dates or times for the spring semester. Thanks!!