This year’s South Bass Island Kayak Rendezvous (SBIKR) potluck speaker is Joe Motz. Joe is a man whose stone grows no moss. Lake Erie and the waters that surround Ohio are no stranger to a man who’s logged mega miles in his strip-built decked canoe and trusty Falcon sail. As a successful businessman, Joe is the CEO of the Motz Group, a world-renowned sports field design/build organization.
When Joe turned 65 years young, he committed to a cross country, 6,500-mile bike ride to fundraise and raise awareness for Parkinson’s. That 2019 ride raised over $314,000 and now has evolved into a larger movement which Joe spearheads to better the lives of others. His “Together We Will Go Further” philosophy spawned a bike ride across Ohio in the fall of 2021. Most recently Joe is tackling a paddling challenge in support of one of his favorite charities, The Bridge. The Bridge eliminates barriers and brings disable individuals to the great outdoors through adaptive sports.
Joe’s paddling exploits include an over the top 3,000-mile canoeing adventure through the Great Lakes, many mid-west lakes, rivers and canal systems. There have been three massive legs in Joe’s fundraising efforts. Leg #1 took him 1,200 miles from Cincinnati to Chicago via the Ohio, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Leg #2 went 1,060 miles from Perrysburg, OH across Lake Erie to Cleveland, OH and down through Ohio’s river and canal systems to the Ohio River. Once reaching the Ohio River he turned north towards Pittsburgh, PA. Once reaching the steel city, he turned around and headed back down the Ohio River to Portsmouth, OH. Leg #3 is a winter challenge as he’s adding 381 chilly miles on rivers north of Cincinnati. Joe will finish off his 3,000-mile challenge in the spring of 2025.
Join us at the SBIKR to hear Joe talk about his quest for 3,000 miles in his Verlen Kruger inspired homemade, strip-built decked canoe. Proceeds from the potluck raffle will go toward Joe’s Paddle for a Purpose in support of the Bridge
