Chris Bertish
Chris Bertish
Chris Bertish is an accomplished South African Surfer who holds many prizes and accolades from international competitions he has participated in, including the Mavericks Big Wave International Competition.
Early Life & Personal Life
Chris holding a paddle.
Chris was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa.
He has brothers.
He is a graduate of Rondebosch Boys' High School.
He began to surf at the age of 10 years old.
He then began to also get involved in other forms of watersports as well such as Sailing, which he did all over the world at the age of 20. He also practiced Windsurfing, Water-skiing, and Standup Paddling.
Chris runs his own business and enjoys riding big waves around the world whenever he gets the chance to do so.
This includes participating in international competitions.
Education
Rondebosch Boys High 92′
Desktop Publishing Course-6 months
Marketing & Sales Degree -3 year
RYA & CASA Sailing & Power Coastal Skipper
BSA Level 3 Surf Instructor
RYA First Aid Instructor
RYA Personal Watercraft Instructor
K38 International Water Safety Instructor
Spanish Sailing Instructor
Work
Shell International- Customer service- RSA
Professional Maxi Sailing Race Team & chartered skipper- USA
Billabong South Africa- National Sales & Promotions Manager- RSA
Gul International- Surf Brand Manager- UK
Balin & Rhino International Reasearch & Design Manager
RYA Personal Watercraft/ Training & Rescue Centre- Director- UK
O’Neill South Africa Brand/ Sales & Marketing Manager- RSA
CMB Agencies- Director- O’Neill/ Fox/ Hurricane & Ocean Minded Agent
Surfing
Chris with his surf board.
He is not a full-time professional Surfing athlete, but has earned the respect of many in the in the sport.
Sponsors
O'Neill, Jim Beam, Jeff Clark Shapes, DVG Shapes, True Blue Surf Travel, Naish, Hurricane
2014
New Open Ocean Guinness World Record: SUP 12-hour Record: 130.10km/12 hours Nightjar People’s Choice: “Adventurer of the Year Award”
2013 ISA World SUP Championships, Peru, 6th place World first 325km unsupported/unassisted SUP up West Coast of South Africa Mavericks Big Wave Invitational California, 7th place Nominated for the Nightjar, South African Adventurer of 2013 First Source-to-Sea: River Thames, England (Run 20km/Paddle 243km/Cycle 42km) New English Channel World Record: SUP – 5:26:03 Runner-up: Adventurer of the Year Award – Global SUP Awards: USA
2012 SUP World Championships, Peru, 9th place Distance TEDx and Global International Motivational Speaker
2011 South African Surfing Awards: Pushing the Boundary Award Big Wave World Tour, 3rd place finish, after only surfing 3/5 events Eddie Aukia Invitational Big Wave Classic, Oahu, Hawaii
2010
Mavericks Big Wave Invitational – Half Moon Bay, California, Winner Nellscott Big Wave event, Oregon, 2nd place First person to SUP Dungeons First person to surf Seal Island
2009 Nellscott Big Wave event, Oregon, 3rd place First person to SUP Nellscott Reef, Oregon
2007 Red Bull Big Wave Africa – 3rd place
2001 First person to paddle in at Jaws – Peahi, Hawaii
2000 XXL Swell.com Award – Biggest Wave Paddled in the World
Paddling Boarding the Atlantic Ocean
Chris celebrates his arrival in Antigua after crossing the Atlantic Ocean alone.
On December 6, 2016, Chris Bertish began the first ever, solo, SUP Trans-Atlantic Crossing and all for charity.
Paddling the equivalent of a marathon every day for 120 days, over 4500 nm (7500 km).
Chris started his voyage in Agadir, Morocco with the intent to travel around the Canary Islands, across the Atlantic Ocean, towards the Leeward Island of Antigua in the Caribbean.
he deck of the craft is equipped with four ports that allows Chris to store all of his freeze dried meals and 50 liters of emergency water for the 120 days duration of the Sup Crossing.
The emergency water on board will also act as moveable ballast for the craft as supplies are diminished.
The Sup Craft includes a rigging system for the use of a para-anchor, a specially designed parachute used under water.
An anchor rode is attached to the parachute, tied off the bow of the craft and dropped into the water.
The parachute opens up from the tug of craft as it’s pushed back by blowing wind or drift.
The bow of the craft will automatically aligns itself into the wind and sea condition.
Deploying the appropriate amount of anchor rode allows Chris, the craft and sea anchor to ride in unison on opposing waves.
In these conditions it not uncommon for you to see Chris on the live tracker, going backwards or in circles.
When the para-anchor is deployed, you will find Chris locked up in the watertight cabin and waiting for the conditions to change.
Sometimes this last for days.
So far in Chris’ voyage, he has been on the para-anchor quite a bit.
When he approached the Canary Islands, Chris thought some type of marine life became caught up in the para-anchor and was trying to dive deeper and taking the Sup craft down with it.
On Thursday, March 9th, 2017 Chris Bertish arrived in Antigua after 4,050 miles in 93 days, the first person ever to paddle a stand-up board across the ocean.