LoginMarch 10, 2017
"Nothing is impossible, unless you believe it to be." – Chris Bertish
Chris Bertish held this mantra as he crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a paddleboard, unassisted. This feat started months ago on December 6, 2016 and was finished on March 9, 2017.
On his three-month solo journey, he traveled 4,500 nautical miles – Starting from Agadir, Morocco and arriving at English Harbour, Antigua.
If you’ve ever been on a paddleboard, you might be thinking, “How in the world did this man paddleboard across an open ocean?” Well, it wasn’t just any paddleboard. He lived on a custom, 1,360 lbs paddleboard that was 20-feet-long and fitted with a tiny cabin and solar panels.
To complete this journey he paddled the equivalent of a marathon each day for 93 days.
This wasn’t Bertish’s first escapade either; he has also won the 2010 Maverick Big Wave Invitational in California, set the world record for open ocean 12-hour non-stop stand-up-paddleboard in South Africa in 2013, and set the fastest time crossing the English Channel on a stand-up-paddleboard in 2013.
Through his adventurous activities, Bertish promotes the charities he works with, Signature of Hope Trust, the Lunchbox Foundation and Operation Smile. Through these charities, Bertish hopes to raise enough money to build at least five schools in South Africa, provide monthly dividends to feed and educate thousands of children and support surgeons to carry out life-changing cleft lip and palate operations. As of today, Bertish has raised $412,000!
Bertish is an incredible athlete and chooses to use his abilities to give back to others. He has made history by accomplishing a feat that no man has ever done and he did it while raising money for charity. He is a perfect example of someone who can strive after his dreams while also having a positive impact on society.
To learn more about Chris Bertish please visit:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/09/sport/chris-bertish-sup-atlantic-crossing/index.html