Team Surpas Norseman 2023

TEAM SURPAS SELECTION

8 amazing athletes make up this year’s Team Surpas Norseman. 6 of them are already Surpas brand ambassadors and the remaining 2 are the lucky winners from our NXTRI competition we ran on social media at the end of last year.

‌As a proud partner of Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, Surpas had a total of 5 slots for the 2023 event. 3 of our slots were given to our ambassadors, and we decided that we wanted to offer the 2 remaining slots to a man and a woman outside of our ambassador program. On top of that, 3 of our ambassadors already had their own slots, and they will also be a part of this year's team with a total of 8 athletes.

Over 250 athletes signed up for a chance to get one of two slots for Norseman through our competition on social media. Thank you so much to all of you for your applications. It was not easy to choose amongst so many great athletes.

MEET THE TEAM

Get to know the 8 athletes making up this year's Team Surpas for Norseman.

EMILIE BERGHEIM

What do you do for a living? I used to work in a bank, but decided to quit my job last fall, to do triathlon full time.

When did you start with triathlon? 2018.

Did you do any other sports before? Road cycling, cross country skiing, running.

FLORA COLLEDGE

What do you do for a living? I’m a researcher and lecturer in sport, exercise and health science at the University of Luzern.

When did you start with triathlon? 2017

Did you do any other sports before? Nothing serious!

Merits: 3x Swissman Winner | 3x Norseman Podium

FRIDTJOF ROINAAS

What do you do for a living? I'm a full-time student. I recently completed a bachelor's degree in marketing and brand management, and now I'm pursuing a master's degree in business and finance.

When did you start with triathlon? 2021

Did you do any other sports before? Before triathlons, I was into road cycling and pursued it as a job until the end of the 2020 season.

Merits: In cycling, I've been fortunate to become the Norwegian champion twice as a junior and achieved a notable 10th place in the world championships. I also secured two UCI victories during my time as a cyclist. In triathlons, my best result so far came this spring in the Ironman 70.3 Mallorca, where I finished 5th in my age group and 15th overall.

HELENE MELSOM

What do you do for a living? I'm a Medical Student.

When did you start with triathlon? The start of 2023.

Did you do any other sports before? Mostly running, cross country skiing in the winter.

Merits: Marathon time of 2:49:59

JULIE ASPESLETTEN

What do you do for a living? I am a full-time student. Master's in public health.

When did you start with triathlon? 2019

Did you do any other sports before? Handball and running.

Merits: Norseman 2021 - 1st | Ironman Mossel Bay, 2022 - 3rd | European Long distance Championships Almere, 2022 - 4th

LARS WICHERT

What do you do for a living? I'm a journalist at a triathlon magazine in Germany. There I am responsible for podcasts, race reports and documentaries as well as classic articles. It's a very exciting job.

When did you start with triathlon? 2021

Did you do any other sports before? Before I started triathlon, I was a competitive rower for years. There I was in the national team for thirteen years and could celebrate some successes.

Merits: I could win my first triathlon directly in 2021. In the last years I could win my age group at the Ironman 70.3 Mallorca as well as at the Challenge Almere Overall. At Ironman Hawaii I finished 18th in my age group and three weeks later at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship I could secure the runner-up title in my age group. In rowing, I was a three-time world champion and have been to the Olympics twice (2012/2016).

RICHARD SANTIAGO

What do you do for a living? I work as a lawyer. I know, it could hardly be any further from athletics :)

When did you start triathlon? 2018

Did you do any other sports before? I started endurance sports with running a few years before toeing the start line of my first triathlon. And before that, I did some kitesurfing and taekwondo back in the days.

Merits: Qualifying for Ironman World Champs St George '21, Kona '22, 70.3 Worlds St George '22 just 1 year after having started triathlon has been a nice achievement. Made the podium in my age group at Ironman 70.3 Astana in 2022 and qualified for 70.3 Worlds Lahti '23.