Coming up on my first year full year leading USA Canoe/Kayak, I’m very excited with the progress we’re seeing in competitive paddlesports. We are adding new Clubs and new Club Coaches at a terrific pace; Collegiate racing opportunities and programs are on the rise; And today we are benefiting from more capital investment in Canoe/Kayak racing in the U.S. than any other time in history of the our sport.

While we’re enjoying some terrific momentum, our Olympic program is trying to overcome a big challenge. At the end of last year, the U.S. Olympic Committee significantly reduced funding to our Flatwater Sprint National Program, our top athletes and role models for our young racers (check out this video to see the story of a GREAT role model!) These Olympic Hopefuls are struggling simply to make it to the Start Line at this year’s World Cups and World Championships. With their primary support system and coaching team threatened, our National Team’s participation and performance at the year’s most important competitions are severely jeopardized.

Taking Action

It was unthinkable to me that this could happen within our program so I am doing what I can to help. I decided to align my participation in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and Half Marathon (I am running the half) with our new USA Canoe/Kayak fundraising program, “Ascend As One,” where our Clubs are teaming up to help our program overcome this gap. On behalf of the athletes and coaches for whom I work, I would be grateful for your contribution to our Ascend As One program.

Contributing is super easy. Just email me a commitment to me at Joe@usack.org. Commitments could be a per mile contribution (13 mile run – which I’ve never done before!) or just a flat contribution – either way, 100% of all proceeds will directly support our National Team Program (no administrative fees!) Gerald, my colleague at USA Canoe/Kayak, will then follow up to find a payment option that works best for you.

And with the assistance of our partner, the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, our Ascend As One has some cool incentives for various levels of participation. Please email me for more information about that but I can tell you that the coolest incentive is being permanently recognized on a plaque on the brand new Chesapeake Finish Line Tower in Oklahoma City. This four-story, six million dollar glass building that sits on the Finish Line of the Oklahoma River venue will become an iconic symbol of our sport’s new direction and spirit of progress!

Thank you for your support of our athletes and our sport.