Seize The Oar Foundation

Mission

Seize The Oar Foundation, established 2013, champions inclusion in the sport of rowing. We create and support inclusive environments where rowers of any ability can participate and thrive. We believe that rowing is transformative to the mind, body and spirit. We believe that the technical learning, the natural environment and the physical movement itself accelerates positive change in those affected by physical and intellectual challenges and their families/support networks.

Description

Seize The Oar was founded in 2013 out of a request for private rowing instruction from a spinal cord injury survivor and athlete, who was either ignored or told "no" by every boathouse he reached out to. Note that there are over 20 boat clubs in the Pacific NW. That founding athlete set the stage for a successful and ever-changing roster of new athletes, developing relationships with local rehabilitation centers, hospitals and adaptive sport organizations in our region. Through our programs, we successfully partner with athletes through rehabilitation therapy outreach providers and clinics like our regional Level 1 trauma center and our Veterans Administration SCI clinic, through adaptive sport interest groups like Paralyzed Veterans of America, Outdoors For All Foundation and through word of mouth among athletes and caregivers.
We offer one-on-one sessions, team training and rowing-specific strength and conditioning programs, as well as outreach programs that serve larger affinity groups around adaptive sport. We are completely inclusive, offering economic accessibility like scholarships, payment plans and "Get Sponsored" training, along with and equipment accessibility, having adapted even our adaptive equipment to serve more athletes. Recently, we've expanded our geographic accessibility with virtual team members from all over the globe seeking training advice and camaraderie from Seize The Oar - many are living in a community where they may be the only adaptive rower, thus decreasing isolation. Another unique aspect of our team is that we train in pairs - everyone is paired up on the water in 2-person boats. We believe this accelerates learning, further decreases isolation and invites a true collaborative and team spirit.
Since its inception, Seize The Oar has carried a roster of anywhere from 4-18 athletes actively training to row in competition (both land and water), executed outreach events involving national and international adaptive sport groups serving over 1000 athletes. We have developed new adaptive technology and training methods where there were none on record. We are unique in our team approach, mentoring coaches and volunteers from the vast rowing community of the Pacific NW.
Seize The Oar Foundation was established as a non-profit in 2018 to better expand its Seattle-based efforts to include a larger region of the Pacific NW, including communities in Southwest Washington, Coastal Washington, Northwest Washington as well as our own greater Seattle area. Despite its immense and growing popularity, we are currently the only para-rowing team program in the state and because of that, we receive a large amount of interest and inquiry from coaches and athletes alike, but lack the resources to meet all the needs and interest in inclusive and adaptive rowing. We are confident with our years-strong relationships with providers and the adaptive athlete community that we have the network to fulfill our mission.