Chris Bertish: Ocean Adventurer
Motivational speaker and extreme adventurer Chris Bertish helps leaders execute bold goals, build resilience, and sustain performance using proven frameworks from record-breaking ocean expeditions.
Quick Facts:
- Extreme adventurer with record-breaking solo ocean expeditions
- Expert in resilience, execution, and performance under pressure
- Translates adventure into actionable leadership frameworks
- Delivers both keynote presentations and hands-on workshops
- Formats: Keynote Speaker and Leadership Workshop Facilitator
- Audiences: Corporate leaders, teams, and organizations focused on execution, resilience, and achieving ambitious goals.
- Outcomes:
- Execute bold goals with clear planning and accountability systems
- Build resilience and adapt effectively to changing conditions
- Sustain performance and momentum over long-term initiatives
- Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
All In!
What if you chose to see challenges as Adventures?
A talk about what it takes to succeed in anything- a project, a start up, a goal.. going “All In!” is not just a phrase, it’s a philosophy. A code for achieving anything against all odds, when everything is on the line and success is the only option.
What it takes, from mindset and attitude, the planning and preparation of your team, and the resilience needed to achieve anything, even the seemingly impossible!
ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE! THE MAVERICKS BIG WAVE STORY
Virtual or In Person Talk
Chris rides waves the size of four-story buildings for fun. He won the Maverick’s Big Wave International surfing event in the biggest waves ever recorded in the history of the sport.
He holds the South African Open Ocean Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) 24-hour Distance World Record.
Chris is living proof that if you truly believe in something, set your sights on your goal – no matter how big – if you work hard at it, stay focused and never give up, you can achieve anything.
The Maverick’s Big Wave Story tells the tale of how a regular working guy from South Africa manages to get halfway around the globe to win the prestigious Maverick’s competition (TITANS OF MAVERICKS), the world’s premiere, high adrenaline, big wave surfing event, overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles along the way, against all odds.
THRIVE! SURVIVING & THRIVING IN TURBULENT TIMES
THRIVE is a 1 hour Virtual and Interactive talk & workshop via Zoom / WebX, designed to arm employees for the challenges they are currently facing.
Thrive will give them the necessary tools to face and overcome these unprecedented and challenging times, while staying positive, productive and emerging more evolved, resilient and even stronger.
10 Tools for Remote Success! For Business & Life
As the Mavericks Big Wave Champion and the only person on the planet to survive in a tiny box sized space, paddling alone in the Atlantic Ocean for 93 days, Chris Bertish is probably one of the best and most qualified and equipped individuals to talk and give guidance on isolation and how to get through adversity, change and challenging times.
Chris Bertish has learned some highly valuable tools and skills that helped him get through these challenging times which he will share with you through this interactive Talk / Workshop.
Other Topics
- Virtual – 10 Tools for Remote Success! For Business & Life
- Unlock Your Superpowers! And Achieve Anything
Talent Short Bio
Chris Bertish is an extreme adventurer and author who turns ocean-scale endurance into leadership lessons you can actually use. His solo expeditions become case studies in planning under pressure, executing with discipline, and recalibrating when conditions change. Chris pairs cinematic storytelling with frameworks that leadership teams can borrow to manage uncertainty, maintain momentum, and execute bold initiatives.
What sets Chris apart is the translation: how do you turn a survival moment on the water into a reliable meeting cadence, a risk register, or a habit that protects performance over months? His talks answer that question with practical tools, checklists, and accountability methods. He is equally at home inspiring a conference crowd with dramatic multimedia or running a hands-on workshop that leaves teams with a 90-day execution plan.
Organizers get both spectacle and substance: vivid visuals and emotive narrative, plus operational takeaways that leaders can implement immediately. For groups trying to move from ambition to consistent delivery, Chris provides the mental models and tactical steps that make bold goals achievable.
Read Full Bio
Chris Bertish has become a sought after global motivational keynote and TEDx guest speaker. Whether talking at corporate events or schools, his tale of overcoming obstacles to get halfway around the globe for the Mavericks competition final always has audiences clinging to the edge of their seats.
Like every successful sportsperson, team-leader, businessperson or entrepreneur, Chris Bertish knows that it’s the reasons why we do something that determine how we do it – or whether we do it at all. His mantra – Dream It. See it. Believe It. Achieve It – has led Chris to redefine his approach to success – not only across multiple sports, but also as a respected Author, Filmmaker and Businessman.
In March 2017, Chris Bertish completed his most daring challenge yet by becoming the first person to single handedly cross the entire Atlantic Ocean (over 7500 km) on a Stand Up Paddleboard over 93 days. In doing so, Chris dared to achieve what most perceive to be impossible.
Now he has his speaking series on the SUP Crossing, starting in South Africa and touring abroad. Known to inspire, educate and motivate audiences by sharing his captivating experiences, Chris delivers a spellbinding and captivating narrative complimented by a powerful audiovisual presentation that will blow your audience away. Engaging Chris to address your organisation is a worthwhile investment, as your team members will be inspired to adopt a “can do” attitude and implement the tools and skills he teaches through his powerful storytelling.
In 2010, Chris Bertish achieved a major milestone by winning the Mavericks Invitational, one of the most prestigious big-wave surfing competitions held in Northern California. This victory solidified his reputation as a formidable force in the world of surfing.
While big-wave surfing was a significant part of Bertish’s life, he had even more audacious dreams beyond conquering waves. In 2017, he embarked on a solo journey that would captivate the world and redefine the limits of what could be achieved on the open ocean. Bertish set out to paddle across the Atlantic Ocean on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), covering over 4,050 miles from Morocco to Antigua.
This incredible journey took 93 days, during which Bertish faced monumental challenges, including brutal weather, exhaustion, and encounters with marine life. He relied on a specially designed paddleboard equipped with solar panels, satellite communication, and an emergency beacon, as well as meticulous planning and unwavering determination.
The crossing, known as the “SUP Crossing,” was not only a personal triumph but also a testament to human endurance and the capacity for individuals to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It was also a fundraiser for various charitable causes, including the Lunchbox Fund and Operation Smile, further illustrating Bertish’s commitment to humanitarian efforts.
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Overview of User Reviews for Chris Bertish's Speaking Engagements
Chris Bertish has garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback for his motivational talks, with attendees praising his captivating storytelling and inspiring life experiences. Reviewers highlight his exceptional ability to engage audiences through a blend of humility, insight, and humor, making his narratives both relatable and spellbinding. Many describe his talks as life-changing, emphasizing the themes of determination, resilience, and the power of the human spirit to overcome obstacles.
Strengths:
- Engaging Storytelling: Reviewers consistently mention Bertish's ability to keep audiences riveted with his extraordinary life story.
- Inspiration: Many attendees felt motivated to improve themselves and pursue their own passions after hearing him speak.
- Relatable and Humorous: His use of humor and humble approach resonates well with diverse audiences.
- Practical Takeaways: Participants appreciated the actionable insights and tools he offers, especially in challenging times.
Weaknesses:
- Desire for More Time: Some attendees expressed a wish for longer sessions…
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