Fifteen years ago, he went on a paddling excursion down the Youghiogheny River. Upon his return to shore, he bought his own watercraft, became a certified instructor with the American Canoe Association (ACA) and started volunteering his expertise to local landlubbers.
While overseeing kayaking demonstrations at a Chicago boat show, Gioia met a boy with a below-elbow amputation who shared his enthusiasm for the sport.
“I was a bit in shock,” Gioia admits. “I didn’t know the words to use or even how to approach the situation as an ‘able-bodied’ paddler. I was curious and interested in how he does what he does. I talked to his dad, we became Facebook friends and I soon learned that there is this big, wide world of adaptive sports.”
Recognizing a need in the community, Gioia, a technology consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, got another ACA certification in adaptive paddling and launched Dynamic Paddlers. Gioia, one of 13 ACA-certified Adaptive Instructor Trainers in the world. The organization helps people of all ages and abilities develop independence, confidence and personal fitness through kayaking. Unlike canoeing, where people use a single-blade oar to propel themselves through the water, kayaking’s tool is a double-blade paddle.
Gioia adjusts each private lesson to an individual client’s needs, all they have to do is show up with a smile on their face.
“That’s the beauty of this sport. Who has a disability? On the water you can’t tell,” Gioia says. “Water is the ultimate equalizer. It levels the playing field.”
For more information about Dynamic Paddlers, visit www.dynamicpaddlers.com or call 412-916-9960. www.facebook.com/dymamicpaddlers
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