By KPSP Local 2 News
It is a fitness challenge for the Valley straight from our governor's office-- and it officially got started Wednesday morning at one local school.
Governor Arnold Schwarzneggar challenged Coachella Valley residents and students this week to get fit in a competition like no other yet.
The City of Palm Springs and the City of Coachella decided to square off in the "Desert Fitness Challenge" and it kicked off Wednesday at 10 am at Cahuilla Elementary in Palm Springs. Mayor Steve Pougnet Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia and Governor's Council Fitness and Sports Chairman Jake Steinfeld producer of Body by Jake were on hand for the kick off event.
"It really helps kids get motivated. Easy thing to say yes to" said Mayor Pougnet. Pougnet also offered members on Mayor Garcia's team free tickets to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway if Palm Springs doesn't win.
Mayor Garcia countered that side bet by saying he would give Mayor Pougnet's team a supply of dates if they didn't cross the "finish line" first. Coachella is known for its date farms.
The challenge pits the Palm Springs team of Mayor Pougnet and Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Lorri McCune against Mayor Garcia and Coachella Valley Unified School District.
The challenge invites local students and residents of the two cities to be physically active 30-60 minutes a day for at least three days a week as part of the Council's statewide Governor's Fitness Challenge.
"This generation of kids might not outlive theor parents" said Jake Steinfeld who is also Chairman of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
The Council will select the winning city based on the number of active days that each City's residents record in the Challenge by May 31 2009 - and by the percentage of students who take and complete the challenge in each school district.
In addition to helping their cities compete for bragging rights participants will help their local schools be considered for fitness prizes. The top three school prizes in the statewide Governor's Challenge are $100000 fitness centers; 11 regional awards of $5000 each will also be awarded. Individual incentives in the challenge include free passes to 24 Hour Fitness and free lift tickets to Mammoth Mountain.
Last year 158000 Californians participated in the challenge and the regional winner was Coachella's Bobby Duke Middle School.
K-12 students can participate in the challenge through their schools and adults can sign up by visiting www.CalGovCouncil.org/Challenge
