Dixon Recreation Center
From OSU Wiki
Dixon recreation center Is a division of RecSports, and is the main recreation facility at OSU. The center offers a wide range of facilities, programs and services. Current full-fee paying OSU students are automatically members of RecSports. Indoor Dixon Recreation Center facilities include: a weight room stocked with free weights and machines, cardio rooms with treadmills and stair machines, swimming pools and courts for a variety of sports including basketball, badminton, volleyball, pickle ball, squash, and racquetball. For those who are not interested in the services that Dixon Recreation Center offers, there are endless opportunities for students to find opportunities for recreation that they enjoy through OSU Clubs.
The Dixon Weight Rooms
If you are interested in resistance training, you'll find that Dixon Recreation Center's Weight Rooms provide adequate equipment for a complete and high-quality weight training experience. Dixon Recreation Center offers two weight rooms, Weight Room 1 and Weight Room 2.
Weight Room 1
Weight Room 1 is large, and occupies a considerable portion of the first floor of the facility. The room has a large variety of top-of-the-line equipment. Equipment includes (but is not limited to):
- 7 Pro-style Olympic power racks w/ attachable bench
- A large number of rubberized weights w/ handles
- Dumbbells ranging in size from 5 to 150lbs
- Set-weight barbells
- Various Olympic barbells
- Adjustable free-benches
- 6 Flat benches
- 2 Incline benches
- 2 Military Press benches
- 1 Decline bench
- Full complement of of Cybex Eagle selectorized weight machines
- Full complement of Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral plate-loaded machines
- 2 cable systems
- Belts, etc.
- Many duplicate weight machines
Weight Room 2
Weight Room 2 is much smaller than Weight Room 1, and is located near the basketball courts, downstairs in Dixon Recreation Center. This weight room contains many weight machines, but no free weights. Weight Room 2 is a quieter, lower-intensity space for people to perform resistance training exercises.
Basketball at Dixon
One of the most popular features of Dixon Rec Center is it's complement of 6 full length wood-floor basketball courts. During quieter periods of the day, virtually anyone is able to find a space to shoot around or play a pick up game on a full or at least half court. However the Dixon courts are also the location of fierce intramural basketball competition that is one of Dixon's defining characteristics and often takes over the courts during evening hours. There is however plenty of oppurtunity to join or even create a team and you can be assured that you'll always have plenty competitors.
Volleyball and badminton at Dixon
Volleyball & badminton utilize the same courts as basketball. It is possible to set up a court when free during off-peak hours however intramural competition is perhaps the best way to play these sports at dixon. If intramural is not your thing courts can be reserved in advance to assure space.
Racquetball at Dixon
On the main level of Dixon there are courts available to play in, but sometimes they are full. Walking up stairs to the cardio level and almost directly above the main level courts are additional courts to play in. The courts on the main floor a little nicer and have more ventilation than the upstairs courts, but they all set the stage for a good time. During busy times some courts may be on reserve so make sure to set an appointment if you plan to play during a busy time like lunch time. Racquets and balls can be checked out at the equipment check out area between the locker rooms by using your student id card. If you plan on playing a lot it may be a good investment to purchase your own racquet because the ones at Dixon are not in great shape. A racquet can be purchased at most sporting goods stores from $30 to $300. I got my racquet at Racquetball Warehouse Balls are cheap and are a good idea to use your own to optimize performance. You're only as good as your equipment. Knowing the rules can be an important part of playing after one gets tired of just hitting the ball off the wall. It can be more fun to just follow a few simple rules at first and increase the number of rules you use as your performance increases. A list of rules can be found at USA Racquetball. Enjoy.
Times to Visit Dixon
As another term begins on campus, you are bound to see fresh new faces all around. One of the locations to see a great number of those new faces is at Dixon Recreation Center. The center experiences fluctuations in activity throughout the day, with peak activity between the hours of 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The following is the a description of approximate activity patterns throughout the day at Dixon Recreation Center, which may be helpful in deciding when to plan workout times.
6:00-8:00am - The only people you see are the regular morning advocates. This is a great time to go because many of your peers are still sleeping. Take advantage! If you enjoy swimming, there is virtually nobody in the pool area. If you enjoy playing basketball you are able to enjoy whichever court you prefer, upstairs or downstairs, as nobody occupies these courts this early.
8:00-10:00am - More people than the morning, but still pleasant as you can use the machines you want and even find a top locker in the locker room. The pool and courts are still empty, making it easy to enjoy these activities.
10:00-1:00pm - Many people working out, even though it is still not even close to the prime time hours. Machines are still pretty much available, but some waiting may occur, depending on number of people and the machine you want- some are more popular than others. Also, if you're a male, many girls seem to frequent Dixon between these hours.
1:00-4:00pm - This isn't really a bad time to go because many people are in class. The basketball courts usually have a few courts occupied with single shooters and the pool usually has one or two older people doing laps. Very enjoyable overall. The weights are usually free and the machines require little wait time, if any.
4:00-7:00pm - These are the prime hours of Dixon among students. Do not go here during these hours if you don't like waiting for the machines or shooting on a single basketball hoop with 7 or 8 different kids, with only 4 balls. The locker rooms are packed, and many times it is difficult to get a lock for a locker. The swimming pool is occupied and as mentioned before, the basketball courts are always packed with full court and half court games. However, if you enjoy basketball pick-up games, 4:00 is the time to get there. If you wait until after 5:00, it does get a little packed at times.
7:00-10:00pm- Many people are still present at Dixon. If you are in to badminton or racquetball it is a good idea to reserve a court for a specified time before you go. The basketball courts are usually occupied but they are sometimes available closer to 9 or 9:30. The weight room is still full and the upstairs cardio section is usually near capacity. It seems like people like to run during the night rather than during the day.
10:00-12:00am - This is a good time to go because many people are heading out around now. The basketball courts are usually free, but still with the chance to get into a 3-3 game. The pool is closed at 10pm, so no pool time, but the weight room is cleared out with minimal waiting times. A great time to come if you have been studying all night or need something to do.
This detailed time schedule will allow students to choose when they want to get their workout in. It's a great benefit to know when people will be there and how often you must wait for the machines or basketball courts.
Activities at Dixon
I have been to several college campuses, and Dixon Recreation Center is by far the biggest & best facility that offers the widest variety of activities. If you want to work out, the options at Dixon are endless. The weight room has dozens of machines and free weights to work any and all parts of the body. For more of a cardio workout, they have treadmills, rowing machines, stair steppers, bikes, elliptical, and most any other type of cardio machine you could think of.
Competitive sports are also a great aspect of Dixon. They have 5 NCAA regulation size basketball courts that are only a few years old, and there are 5-on-5 games every evening of the week. If you like ping pong, racquetball, or badminton, Dixon has all 3 sports with top of the line equipment. If you don’t have anyone to play with, they have a buddy system that allows students to find others who have similar interests and ability levels. Other great aspects of Dixon are the swimming pools and saunas, which provide relaxation and a great workout as well.
Indoor Track
Great addition on the third floor of Dixon. Very nice surface and a great place to run during the winter when it's either freezing or raining outside. Policy in which direction is determined by day of the week can be problematic with people that either don't want to follow the rules or the majority of the runners are going the wrong way and there's someone that wants to follow the rules. I have seen a few confrontations because of this.
Fit Pass Classes at Dixon
Dixon Recreation Center offers a wide variety of fitness classes to participate in. There are Fit Pass Classes which offer classes such as Cycle Fit, Kickbox Express, Step, Cycle Sculpt, Turbo Kick, Hip Hop, Aqua Jog, Core Abs, Sculpt Express, and Advanced Kickbox. These classes are offered several times a week so that everyone has a chance to attend. To see the schedule of classes, please visit this website: Fit Pass Class Schedule. There are also many choices for purchasing Fit Passes. If you only want to attend one class, you can purchase a single Fit Pass for $4. Your can either charge it to your student account or pay for it in cash or card. The price for 5 Fit Passes is $13, 10 passes is $20, 20 passes is $30, 30 passes is $36, and 35 passes is $40. It is nice to have the option of purchasing the amount that is right for you.
In addition to the Fit Pass Classes at Dixon, there are also specialty classes which have an extra fee and require registration. The classes include Belly Dance, Function Training for Beginnners, Functional Training for Advanced, Judo, Pilates, and Yoga. The prices for these classes range from $20-$80, depending on whether you are a member or not. The classes are more expensive if you are not a member. The classes are offered several times during the week. Please see this website for the exact schedule: Specialty Class Schedule.
As you can see, Dixon Recreation Center is a great place to go if you want a variety of workout options. Each class offers different techniques so that you will never get bored. So why not try it?
HFC Availible to Students
Many people view Dixon as just a place to go and workout, but that's not the case. There are several different programs and services that are available to students for free or a small fee. The Health and Fitness Connection (HFC) is located in Dixon and offers athletic training, physical therapy, personal trainers, nutritionists, massage treatment, and counseling. Athletic training is free for students and gives them the oppertunity to be physically tested for injuries and overall fitness. physical therapy comes with an extra fee but it is much cheaper than going off-campus. You will most likely be trained by Guido, who is very good at what he does. You can sign up to have a personal trainer go through with you and create a workout plan for whatever goal you wish to accomplish. Worried about your diet? Then go see the nutritionist at Dixon, who will be able to tell you what you need to eat and give tips on how to eat healthier for cheaper. If you are feeling stressed or have some kind of muscle injury, then sign up for a massage that is much cheaper than anywhere else. There are also counselors and life coaches to help you if you need advice on making a decision, or if you just need someone to listen to you. Those are some of the great programs at provided by the HFC at Dixon.
Outdoor Recreation Center
The ORC plans outdoor recreation events all year long. Sign up for the shuttle bus to Mt. Hood Meadows for skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Be a part of the rafting trips, climbing trips, hiking adventures, and camping trips that are held throughout the year. Need some outdoor equipment for a trip with your friends? The ORC rents out almost everything from tents, sleeping bags, and coolers to inflatable kayaaks, life jackets, and ski equipment. The ORC is also the coordinator of the footsteps program, a valuable experience for incoming freshman to get the chance to know each other before the stresses of class start through different recreational trips.
Indoor Climbing Center
Features include a 42’ height, multi-pitches, bouldering cave, hang boards, universally accessible rappel station, cracks arêtes and overhangs. Shoes are available for rent. To access the ICC you must first take the belay certification class. These free (for students) classes are available M-F at 5:15pm and 6:45pm and on weekends and 2:15pm and 3:45pm. In order to boulder when ropes are not open, you must fill out a simple release waiver.
Rec Night
Rec Night is an event that happens at the beginning of each year to welcome back students from summer vacation. It is a "kick off party" to start off the new year. With a variety of different activities, Rec Night offers something everyone would enjoy. Just this past year, there was a Halo tournament, Segway Obstical Course, poker tournament and karaoke! There are also sponsers there that give away free food. Qdoba, Quizno's, Woodstocks, and Cold Stone are just some of the sponsers we had last year. This is also a great time to showcase the different programs offered by Rec Sports, such as Sport Clubs, the HFC and Challenge Course. So as your summer winds down, don't feel too bad. You get to come back and have a great time at Dixon!
Safety Programs
Ever had a job that requires First Aid? Ever wonder how to handle a friend who passes out and isn't conscience? Well you can learn how to handle situations like this through the Safety Programs at Dixon Rec Center. They offer classes on First Aid, CPR and AED training and are offered throughout the term. They offer group sessions or you can have individual sessions for more of a one-on-one experience. Are you certified but the certification is about to expire? Dixon offers recertification classes which are much shorter than the actual class and much cheaper. The Safety program also handles all of the First Aid stations in Dixon, as well as provide First Responders for Intramural and Sport Club events. The staff is very knowledgable and friendly, making any class a fun one. I would definitely recommend checking them out, and you can sign up for any class at Rec Services!
