Travel just tip of Berg
Former Ironman star to swap water fun for life on the road
WES Berg has stood down as head coach at Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Club, leaving the surf lifesaving movement for the first time since joining as a nipper.
Berg, though, will not be lost to the sport entirely, vowing to turn out for the club at the Aussies if called on by coach Zane Holmes, while maintaining a lifelong connection with the ocean.
The former ironman, who only retired from the NutriGrain series at the end of the 2016-17 season, will throw himself into his job as a representative for creative surf brand Vissla, taking his family on the road with him to explore some of Australia’s great beach spots.
“We’re about to launch a women’s brand and I’ve got to travel and be head of brand, so I’m fortunate enough to be able to take the Jayco van and take the family and explore and mix pleasure with business,” Berg, 38, said.
With three children under the age of 10 – daughters Mila 7, and Billy, 5, and son Tally, 2 – now is the time for Berg and wife Jade, a former ironwoman, to head on the road.
Berg is not totally lost to surf lifesaving.
“I’m still going to be a part of Burleigh Surf Club and paddle when I’m back and race at Aussies in the teams events – if needed,” he said.
“But I’m not held to being there every afternoon or every weekend for the carnivals, so I’ll be able to explore a lot more of this beautiful coastline, which I’m really excited to do.”
Berg has long known the value of a life well lived.
Years of training is the only thing that stopped Berg from life in a wheelchair after he broke his neck on New Year’s Day 2016 after spearing headfirst into a sandbank while surfing.
“I’m very fortunate to be able to do it because with my neck, I’m just very grateful that I’ve got this opportunity to work and I can still be employed and I can be in the ocean still and can carry my kids,” he said.
“I lost my brother when I was eight, so I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve always looked at life as a gift, which is why I try to always be happy and positive and don’t let too many things get me down.
“When I broke my neck, eight other people on the Coast did theirs and there’s still three people in wheelchairs.”