About
POWERFUL HUMANS
Powerful Humans is founded by Grant ‘Axe’ Rawlinson to build stronger humans and more powerful teams.
Grant 'Axe' Rawlinson is a world class human-powered explorer and team development coach. With over 50 expeditions across the globe including walking across countries, swimming around islands, cycling across continents, scaling virgin mountain peaks and the north ridge of Mt Everest, to paragliding through the alps and crossing many sea's completely by human-power, Axe dedicates his life to building teams to take on bold, unique goals in the world's more extreme environments.
A native of New Zealand, Grant currently resides in Asia, holds Bachelor and Post Graduate degrees, is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), former chair of the Royal Geographic Society (Singapore branch) and is happily married to the beautiful Stephanie whom he shares the joy of raising twin explorer's, Kate and Rachel.
GRANT 'AXE' RAWLINSON'S JOURNEY
Everyone has a powerful purpose in life. We just need to uncover it. Axe's purpose is to make bold, unique journeys that inspire the potential of the human spirit.
Here is a snapshot of some of his journeys.
PARAGLIDING
Starting in 2025 Axe began explorations at altitude and has paraglided in Spain, France, Thailand, Switzerland and Indonesia as he takes his adventures to new heights!
ROWING THE TASMAN SEA
In 2025 Axe together with teammate Luke Richmond set the world record for the fastest human powered crossing of the Tasman Sea, 22 days, 4 hours and 40 minutes!
THE MILLION BAHT SWIM
In 2023 Axe swam a world-first, 122km, complete circumnavigation around Phuket Island (without swimming propulsion aids) raising one million baht for charity
THE BAY OF BENGAL
Axe founded, funded and led the team to make the the first human powered crossing of the world's largest bay - the Bay of Bengal, in a pedal powered boat, collecting scientific data to measure the health of the bay.
ROWING FROM HOME TO HOME
In 2017, Axe founded and lead the first team to attempt a completely human powered journey 14,000km from Singapore to New Zealand by rowing boat. The journey was life changing for Axe and his family, it took years of preparation, execution and dealing with failures and setbacks until he finally saw success.
PEAK TO PEAK – NEW ZEALAND
Axe founded and lead the first team to make a non-stop, 1,300km, unsupported, completely human powered journey from the summit of Mt Ruapehu to the summit of Mt Cook in New Zealand. He wrote the book "From Peak to Peak" about the experience.
PEAK TO PEAK – EUROPE
Founded and lead the first team to attempt a non-stop, 2,000km, unsupported, completely human powered journey from the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland to the summit of Mt Blanc in France.
CLIMBING AROUND THE WORLD (INCLUDING MT EVEREST)
Axe has summited over 50 mountains worldwide including Mt Everest, Exploratory 1st ascents in Kazakstan and Kygrystan, to peaks in Patagonia, USA, Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Iran. Climbing, especially mountaineering was the main focus for Axe for ten years of his life.
INTERNATIONAL RUGBY
Twenty-five years of competitive rugby including 3 years representing the Singapore National 7-aside rugby team. Eventually forced out of rugby through multiple injuries. Axe still actively coaches the next generation of junior players today.
HUMAN POWERED EXPLORER
Growing up in a remote rural in New Zealand, Grant ‘Axe’ Rawlinson developed a love for human powered exploration from an early age.