Chris Bertish Honours Ocean Advocate Kholofelo Sethebe as First Community Hero on His Super Stoked! Book Tour

By Flux Communications

On Friday, 31 October, big wave champion, adventurer, and ocean advocate Chris Bertish kicked off his Super Stoked! South African book tour at the Sentinel Ocean Alliance in Hout Bay - and in true Bertish style, the focus wasn’t on him, but on someone who embodies the spirit of kindness, courage, and giving back.

Through his non-profit organisation, The Chris Bertish Foundation, the first of many community heroes to be celebrated on his nationwide Super Stoked! Roadtrip of Impact and Inspiration, Kholofelo Sethebe is being honoured for her extraordinary work as a Programme Director and Educator at the Sentinel Ocean Alliance for the Parley Ocean School.

Originally from Limpopo, Kholofelo’s journey to the ocean was anything but predictable. Having grown up far from the coast, it took a single school trip to Cape Town in Grade 8 to ignite a deep fascination with the sea - a spark that would go on to define her life’s mission.

Today, as a Marine Biologist and certified Level 1 Free Diver, she dedicates her career to inspiring and educating young people from under-resourced communities about ocean conservation, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. Her work empowers the next generation to see the ocean not just as a distant concept, but as part of their shared future.

“Kholofelo’s story is a perfect reflection of what Super Stoked! stands for,” says Chris. “She didn’t grow up with the ocean in her backyard - she discovered it through curiosity and courage and then built her life around protecting it. She’s showing young South Africans that you don’t have to come from privilege to make waves. You just need passion, purpose, and the drive to pass that energy forward.”

For Chris, honouring unsung heroes like Kholofelo is at the heart of his new book and road trip. The Super Stoked! tour is more than a launch - it’s a movement to celebrate everyday heroes who are doing extraordinary things in their communities, and to remind people that kindness and action are what truly make a difference.

“The heroes in our communities are often the ones who work quietly behind the scenes, making real impact,” adds Chris. “Kholofelo’s dedication to educating the next generation about our oceans, despite the challenges, is what makes her so inspiring. She’s living proof that you can turn obstacles into opportunities - and that’s the essence of staying stoked.”

And in true Kholofelo fashion, she brings humour and humility to her achievements. “I’m a marine biologist and a free diver - but not a strong swimmer,” she laughs. “I can swim to save my life, just don’t ask me to do it for fun!”

As Chris’s Super Stoked! book tour continues through Cape Town, Johannesburg, and KwaZulu-Natal over the next two months, he’ll continue to highlight remarkable individuals - each a living example of how small acts of kindness and courage can ripple out to create real change.

The Super Stoked! movement encourages everyone to Stay Stoked. Be Kind. Pay it forward. Pass it on. - a message that both Chris and Kholofelo are proving, through action, can change the world.

For more information, please visit https://chrisbertish.com/