Aloha and Welcome  to Our 2024 WBR Fundraising Page!

Who We Are

The NAC/Makapo Para Outrigger Team is an inclusive outrigger racing team for athletes of mixed abilities.  The team is a collaboration between Makapo Aquatics and the Newport Aquatic Center, and has members who have vision loss, have physical disabilities, or are typically developed.

What We Are Doing

On April 7th, a mixed-ability team of paddlers with physical disabilities and vision impairments  (along with a few supportive able-bodied paddlers) will participate in one of the biggest races in Southern California: The Wild Buffalo. This is a relay race across the Catalina Channel from Avalon to Newport Beach and into the Newport Back Bay (approximately 34 miles). 

Makapo Aquatics is one of three non-profit organizations associated with the Newport Aquatic Center. We will be racing the Wild Buffalo Relay to bring attention to these programs which also include We Are Ocean (providing ocean-based adventures for teens and young adults fighting and surviving cancer) and Open Water (supporting the health and wellness of first-responders and veterans).

Why We Race

We race to bring awareness that outrigger paddling is for everyone of all abilities and ages. Competitive races are held throughout the Spring and Summer and are hosted by various teams from Santa Barbara to San Diego within the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association (SCORA). This year, there will be three races that include an exhibition Para Division!

Outrigger canoe races are large events, drawing upwards of 1,000 paddlers each. Paddlers travel to Southern California from places such as Arizona, Hawaii, New York, Canada, and even Tahiti. Our team is truly made up of strong cooperative athletes who conquer great challenges. Giving these paddlers the ability to compete against their peers is what drives Makapo’s efforts for further inclusion and expansion.