
OUR TEAM
SHAKA PARTNERS
Troy Lafayette is a partner and guide for Shaka Rafting. He started his love of rivers in the Boy Scouts, canoeing many class 1-2 rivers and lakes on the Southern Oregon coast. After graduating from Oregon State University, Troy started working as a river guide on the weekends. Twenty-seven years later, his favorite part of commercial guiding is sharing an experience with customers and helping them catch a glimpse into something that means so much to him.
After guiding rafting and Stand Up Paddleboard trips in Brazil for Canoar Rafting and Selva SP near the city of Sao Paulo for 10 years; then guiding 2 years in Massachusetts at Crab Apple Rafting; Troy returned to Shaka and is now taking many of the reservation calls and working behind the scenes in the office. Nowadays there is a slight chance he will be sitting behind you but a good chance if you hear your guide yell, “Remo Frente!” (Portuguese for Forward Paddle!).
Shaka is looking at offering international rafting and adventure trips to Brazil in the future. If this sounds interesting to you, call our reservation line and ask to be put on the contact list.
TROY LAFAYETTE
MIKE TRESE
Mike Trese is native to Florida where he loved to surf, boat and fish. It was a natural progression to become involved with whitewater when he moved to Colorado, quickly falling in love with the rivers and high mountain lakes there. He has spent time on rivers in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, and of course our beloved Oregon. Seeing the spark that got him hooked on whitewater in others is what drives him to provide exceptional experiences for our guests on the Dechutes River in Oregon as Operations Manager for Shaka Rafting. Come out to Maupin and let him show you a great time on the river!