Wheel in the sky will keep turning - for 53 hours
PANAMA CITY BEACH - Most people who get on the SkyWheel at Pier Park likely think the ride ends too soon. Jake Navarro wants to go 53 hours straight with no sleep.
Navarro, known to 96Rock listeners as “Paco on the Radio,” is attempting to break a world record for longest ride on an observation wheel while raising money for the Gulf Coast Children's Advocacy Center, among others. Navarro started the trip in his new temporary home Wednesday and plans to step off Friday afternoon.
“We originally were going to do it in October. This has been, like, nine months in the making and the hurricane hit,” Navarro said, referring to Hurricane Michael, which hit here Oct. 10. “Originally it was about just promoting the new radio station 96Rock, which has only been around for not even two years yet, and promoting SkyWheel because they just opened up. We were going to raise money for a charity as well. Then the hurricane hit and everything hit a standstill.”
Charity is now the priority for the event. The world record attempt is raising money for the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and hurricane relief and collecting toys for the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Children’s Center. Navarro is also on the air in Tallahassee with X101.5.
People can contribute to the Advocacy Center “by doing a Paco ride/flight, which is $25 and gets you in the gondola with me. You get to ride with me a full ride during the attempt,” Navarro said. “Or they can ride just a regular ride because it’s business as usual here at the SkyWheel, so they can ride a regular ride and proceeds from those sales are going to go to the Advocacy Center as well. But 100 percent of the Paco flights go to the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.”
The ride will be live-streamed on the 96Rock Facebook page, with the biggest question being whether the once-an-hour five-minute break will accommodate his restroom needs.
“Every single question has been, ‘Paco, how are you going to the bathroom?’” Navarro said. “And it’s one five-minute break an hour. Sometimes it’s going to have to be quick but I’ll get it done.”
Navarro has some designated guests already set — like musicians with acoustic sessions and an artist to do a tutorial reminiscent of Bob Ross.
“We’re going to have early morning yoga sessions Thursday and Friday from local instructors. They’re going to be doing yoga with me in a very tight space,” Navarro said. “We have a bartender from The Salty Hobo coming and doing a tutorial on how to make a Paco Kool-Aid, which involves tequila and a bunch of other stuff. We’re doing various activities.”
Volunteers will also act as witnesses for the world record.
Rachel Beckerman, marketing and brand manager for SkyWheel Attractions, said they are “super-excited.”
“We are here to support Paco in his world record attempt,” Beckerman said. Raising money for charity is “the best part of it."
SkyWheel will be open at Pier Park 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily to the public for regular rides. The wheel will be running overnight for Navarro.
“Come on out. Help him get this record smashed in 53 hours,” Beckerman said. “Give him all the support he needs. He’s going to need a lot to keep him awake, keep him occupied and keep his energy up. We hope everyone comes out to support him.”
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