Background

National Ski Team Background:

Cross-country skiing wasn’t even on Derek’s radar seven years ago when he was first introduced to the sport. He progressed through the development pathway with ups and downs along the way. A triple medal performance at the Canada Games in 2015 (one gold, two silver), gave Derek the belief he could represent Canada in the sport internationally. After years of hard work and commitment he finally made his way onto the National Team in 2019 and is now poised to secure his first World Cup medal.

Introduction to Cross-Country Skiing:

Derek got involved in the sport as a cross training opportunity for hand cycling. He adapted quite quickly and enjoys the competition. His dreams are simple and requires hours of work – win a medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

Personal:

Prior to his accident in 2006, Derek was enjoying life like any youngster – finished secondary school and was at the height of his motocross career. Life changed in a blink of an eye with his accident and he struggled for years trying to adapt to the challenges he now faced. Skiing, and being a part of the team, has helped him overcome many obstacles and challenges along the way. He still is keen to complete post-secondary education, ideally something in the sports field. Outside of skiing he loves snowmobiling, quadding and water activities.