Wounded Warrior Team at Speed in 2006 Rochester River Challenge
Cape Ability Logo

Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana Inc.

Home

2011 Programs

History/Facts

Past Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Projects

 

Rochester River Challenge

Event Details

Donors & Sponsors

Sponsor a Race Class

 Photos

Photo Galleries

International Rankings on Concept 2 Paddling Adapter

Board of Directors
Links
Donations

 

Our Mission:
"To provide the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to gain confidence and dignity through participation in paddle sports, recreation, and related educational programs."
A Chapter of
Disabled Sports USA
 
&
Paralympic Sport Club
DS/USA Logo

News & Events 

January 2012 - CAOO selected to receive grant funding in support of Paralympic sport and physical activity programs for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.  Click here for full news release.
December 2011 - Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana, Inc. extends our sincere thanks to the
Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation for their continuing support of our wounded warrior programs and activities in Western New York.  




Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2011 ROC the Day event! We greatly appreciate your support.
Congratulations to 2011 USA ParaCanoe/Kayak Team
CAOO is proud to have provided complimentary training to Tammy Jopson, Bob Balk and Derrick Mertowski, three of the U.S. paddlers who were among the 70 ParaCanoe paddlers with disabilities from 28 nations across five continents entered in the championships. Congratulation to CAOO member, Bob Balk, who earned a silver medal in the Men’s V-1 TA class.
May 22, 2011 - CAOO Participated in Town of Henrietta Memorial Day Parade
The outrigger canoes donated to DS/USA by the Non-Commissioned Officers Association will be towed on a pontoon trailer as a float in the parade that starts at 1 pm. The parade route begins at the Rush Henrietta Senior High School and ends at the Veterans Memorial on Calkins Road.
March 7, 2011 - More Offerings to Athletes with Disabilities
Local veteran Cole Canada is featured in this article from the Messenger Post News.  Canada participated in CAOO's 8-week outrigger canoeing program last summer and will be competing in the 15th Annual Rochester River Challenge in September.
March 1, 2011 - Outrigger Canoe Paddlers Train at Nazareth College
Visit the HenriettaPost.com for a pictorial of the canoe training sessions at Naz
December 11, 2010 - International Paralympic Committee Votes Para-Canoe into 2016 Summer Games  read more

My sincere thanks and congratulations to everyone who has supported the vision of va'a¹ as a Paralympic sport for the past 14 years and made this milestone in the sport of va'a and disabled sports possible. Western New York can be very proud of the pioneer Para paddlers who competed in regional, national and international competitions and proved that they could "inspire and excite the world"²CAOO is very thankful for the many people, organizations and sponsors who have made a difference in the world of paddle sports for individuals with disabilities.
-Jan Whitaker, President

¹ Va'a is the Hawaiian term for 'outrigger canoe'
²
International Paralympic Committee web site: Paralympic athletes are constantly inspiring and exciting the world with their performances - always moving forward and never giving up - as embodied in the new Paralympic vision "To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and to Inspire and Excite the World".
December 2010 - Home Front Heroes

Please join us for the worldwide launch and premiere webisode of Homefront Heroes on Tuesday, December 21, 2010. You may never look at a wounded warrior the same again. 

Homefront Heroes, is an original webseries and community devoted to telling the stories of our wounded warriors, their families, and the people that support them throughout their recovery to fulfill their dreams. Each webisode will highlight a journey of healing and gaining strength from new experiences. They will delve into the issues that confront these men, women, and their families from their perspective.

Homefront Heroes is about their stories and sharing their examples of inspiration, hope, resiliency, dreams and love of country.

CAOO was proud to host Rick Yarosh for the 2009 Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project Weekend and his story, "I don't have one regret. The story of Rick Yarosh." will be featured as the first webisode on December 21.
USCA Canoe News, Spring 2010
Featuring ParaCanoeing and local paddler Tammy Jopson - check it out!


Rancho Cordova, California -- August 1 - 9, 2008

Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana Members and their Teammates on East Coast Outrigger Racing Association’s International Va’a Federation World Sprint Adaptive Paddling Team, Medal in 2008 IVF World Sprints in Sacramento, California.

Congratulations to all Adaptive Paddlers from California, ECORA, England, Germany, Hawaii, Italy and New Zealand who competed in the 2008 Internal Va’a Federation World Sprints. 2008 was a historical year for outrigger canoe paddlers with physical disabilities. For the first time in the history of the sport, races in the V12, V6 and V1 divisions for Adaptive Paddlers were offered as world championships events. CAOO members, Sue Beck, Tammy Jopson and Augusto Perez, members of East Coast Outrigger Racing Association ‘s twelve-person team, earned two silver medals and one bronze medal in the team events and one gold medal in the solo race. Team ECORA included veterans Dan Gilyeat, Joshua Stein, Rosemary Salak and Matt Profitt, who had previously competed in the Rochester River Challenge.

 

 A classification system was used to evaluate the functional ability of paddlers prior to the races and a maximum number of team points was established to ensure fair and equitable competition. Members of the IVF Classification Panel included John Court from England, Dr. Robert Durkin from Hawaii, Jill Frank, a physical therapist/sports classifier from Rochester, Aka Hemmings from Hawaii, and Jan Whitaker.

 

The next IVF World Championships will be held in 2010 in the French Republic of New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific. For information, contact Jan Whitaker, President of Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana, Inc.

V6 Team Race V1 Goal Medal Race
V6 team photo - ECORA team (center canoe) V1 Photo; Augusto “Goose” Perez in canoe #2 earns a gold medal in the V1 500-meter race


2008 International Va'a (Outrigger Canoe) Federation World Sprints results. Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana members and friends excel individually and as members of the ECORA team at this international competition. Full results are available here.

Washington, D.C. -- June 3, 2008

Janet Whitaker, President of Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana receives the 2008 American Patriot Award from the National Defense Foundation for her current efforts to help veterans with disabilities.

NCOA 2008 Patriot Award Presentation Photo

Ms. Whitaker receives the 2008 American Patriot Award present by Mr. H. Gene Overstreet, National Commander, Non Commissioned Officers Association for "efforts and motivation (that) have allowed America's Wounded Warriors and countless other disabled citizens to overcome personal physical limitations to participate in recreational and competitive water sports activities. With profound appreciation and respect." The plaque's inscription reads in-part "This award recognizes sustained achievement in the care and tendering of men and women who serve, or have served, in the Uniformed Services of the United States of America and their survivors. Continuing the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln: To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan."

More information is available here.

Buffalo, NY -- June 23, 2008

 Vets handle an Outrigger on Tonawanda Creek

The Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System and Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana coordinate an opportunity for vets to gain confidence and dignity while participating in an activity with fellow veterans, family members and VA staffers.            Photo and more information available here.

  Rochester, NY -- October 3, 2006

Heritage Christian Services presented their 2006 Community Partner Award to Jan Whitaker and Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana. A photo plaque was presented to Jan at the Annual Heritage Christian Services Dinner on October 3, 2006.

Heritage Christian Services Logo

 

The plaque's inscription reads:

2006

Community Partner Award

Presented to

Jan Whitaker

Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana, Inc.

For your outstanding dedication to people with developmental disabilities.

Thank You