Shane Raw
Age: 44
Hometown: Pietermaritzburg KZN
Occupation: I am foremost a whitewater kayaker but I tend to get involved in many other sporting disciplines that keep me challenged and outdoors in the fresh air… oh and I moonlight as a financial manager too.
About me:
I grew up in PMB, the paddling centre of the universe and have had a paddle in my hand for as long as I can remember. My other sporting interests include paragliding, adventure racing, MTB’ing and climbing. Apart from my love (some say addiction) for adventure sports, my other main passion is wildlife. I worked in a very successful private conservation organisation in Swaziland for almost 2 decades during which time I was exposed to many incredible experiences, from the somewhat scary midnight anti-poaching patrols to the awe of watching a rhino give birth or a herd of elephant frolicking in a water hole in the midday sun. I also experienced the gruesome horrors of rhino poaching up close and personal and this sparked something in me, to want to do everything I can to protect our beleaguered wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Over the years I have developed a real affinity with the bush – the simplicity, the genuineness, the ebb and flow. We just cannot allow this to be obliterated right before our eyes. Together with my partner, the beautiful and extremely talented wildlife photographer Chantelle Melzer, we have started several initiatives to create awareness and hopefully make a tangible difference in the fight to protect our natural heritage.
Sporting bio:
- Taken part in kayaking expeditions in over 30 countries on 4 continents… so far!
- Multiple times South African Freestyle Kayaking Champion and competed in 2 World Championship events
- Winner of several local extreme down river races and the South African National Extreme Downriver Race Series in 2014
- First decent of the Zambezi’s Batoka Gorge on a standup-paddleboard as part of the #StandUp4Rhinos team.
- Two times winner of the Swazi Xtreme Adventure Race (Sport Edition) as part of team Aieesh.com
Reason for taking challenge:
Last year I co-founded a fundraising initiative called #StandUp4Rhinos and our first project was to raise funds for security upgrades at Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, which rescues and rehabilitates orphans from rhino poaching incidents in KNP and surrounds. Together with 7 other crazy athletes we completed the first descent of the rapids of the mighty Zambezi on stand-up paddleboards and in the process we raised over R100,000 for Care For Wild. It felt SO good to be able to make a tangible difference but there is still so much more to be done.
When I heard about the Rhino Peak Challenge conceived by former classmate Spurgeon Flemington, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved and help them to better their 2016 total. Believe me it’s going to be a personal challenge too. You see, I’m a kayaker and kayakers are not generally known to be well endowed in the legs department. I think each of John Smit’s legs are bigger than mine put together. But these little legs have got some work to do because my goal is to beat John up the hill and raise as much money as possible in the process! I would REALLY appreciate your support to make this happen - so hit the pledge button and let’s GO!!
Personal sponsor:
First Ascent
GoPro South Africa
Raw Adrenaline
Salomon
Fluid Kayaks
Pelican
Sweet Protection
