Renee Raisanen

Co-Owner

Who knew a collection of green stamps, a family reunion, life-long neighbor, and a science camp stipend funded road trip would set into motion a lifetime hobby, turned passion, turned business.  Renee and Andrea certainly did not! 

Acquiring their first boats in unusual fashions, Renee and Andrea, the daughter-mother dynamic duo and owners of BH Paddlesports both started their paddling journeys on an adolescent whim never thinking it would ever lead them to still be paddling much less start a business together.  Twisting, turning, and often unpredictable, life has a funny way of working itself out - much like a river. Organically over the last few years, various contributing factors set into motion what is today Black Hills Paddlesports. Through collaboration and education, our goal is to help others feel comfortable and confident on the water so they can safely enjoy all the fun and enrichment of water and our beautiful Pahá Sápa - Black Hills.