Name ? First name ? Age ? Size ? Weight ?
Name: Devon Kershaw Age: 28 Height: 178cms Weight: 72kg
Where do you live ?
Canmore, Alberta, Canada
The top of your season ?
Without question winning the gold medal at the World Championships in Oslo with my teammate Alex Harvey. Unbelievable experience!
The flop of your season ?
It's a tie between the Falun mini-tour and Gallivare. The first and last races of the year were terrible!
Who are your sponsors ?
Skis: Fischer Boots/Bindings: Salomon Poles: Swix Sunglasses: Oakley Personal (financial) Sponsors: Teck and BirchHill Equity
The best race of your life ?
Whoa - that's a tough question! Probably winning the Tour de Ski sprint in Toblach last season... That and finishing 2nd in the Tour de Ski's 2nd stage last year (the 15km classic pursuit) where I started way back in 37th place, and moved up to finish 2nd - less than 0.5 seconds from the win (Dario Cologna)
Your main character trait ?
Lots of energy, passion and enthusiasm
Your major flaw ?
At times impulsive...
Your motto ?
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Emerson. (Ce qui est devant nous et derrière nous, ne sont rien par rapport à ce qui est en nous)
Your biggest fear ?
Not super scared of much right now... Maybe sharks in the ocean while surfing? Although - I still go (when I can), so it's not THAT scary, haha (ma plus grande peur ? Peut-être les requins dans l’océan lorsque je surfe mais après tout c’est pas si terrible puisque je le fais !)
What would you like to change in your physique ?
Longer legs? I have a long torso and quite short legs - it'd be nice if my legs were more proportionate to my upper body, which would make me taller too - bonus! (des jambes plus longues)
What would you like to change in your sport ?
Get rid of the "skiathlon" and go back to the old style 2 day pursuit which is much more exciting. (Il souhaite revenir à l’ancien systême des poursuites avec classique le premier jour, puis skating le deuxième avec un depart selon les écarts du premier jour)
Change "Holmenkollen 50km World Cup" back to individual start. I think it's tragic that a race with over 100 years of history has been completely changed and that the only traditional race we had left in cross country skiing is dead and gone. Making Holmenkollen mass start is like changing the the Boston Marathon to a 10km road race "because tv wanted it..." The Holmenkollen 50km Mass Start is not nearly as prestigious (without the history behind it) and now has no history whatsoever other than the fact that you are racing a World Cup in Norway (which is always amazing). It's now just like any other World Cup stop. Nice to win of course, but not "epic" and "historic." It's too bad. (Là encore Devon regrette énormément le 50km d’Holmenkollen avec depart individual. “Le mass-start n’apporte rien à l’histoire du ski, cette course devient presque banale’ explique t’il. »)
How many true friends ?
Haha, I have a lot of them! I'm great friends with my teammates, and have an amazing support/friend network both in Canmore (my adopted home) and from Sudbury, Ontario (my hometown).
With whom you will never go on vacation ?
Anybody that is boring. Vacations are supposed to be fun!
Your last three SMS sent? and received ?
1) Chandra (my girlfriend and Canadian ski racer) 2) Babs (Ivan Babikov - my teammate) 3) The Nish (Graham Nishikawa - friend and Canadian Development Team member (xc ski))
Your favorite sportsman or sportswoman (any sport) ?
Sidney Crosby (hockey), Jose Bautista (baseball), Bjørn Dæhlie (xc skiing) , Kenenisa Bekele (running), Aaron Rodgers (football) - there's a ton! I love watching sports. Anyone who is passionate, exciting to watch and seems like a good person is a favourite "sportsperson" to me.
The last movie you saw at the cinema ?
"Walls of Perception" - A surfing/windsurfing movie that I saw in Maui when we were there a couple weeks ago for a training camp.
The music you love ?
I love music! Lots of good stuff: Neil Young, Wilco, Ray LaMontagne, The National, White Stripes, Ratatat, Foster the People, M Ward, Clap your Hands Say Yeah, Muddy Waters, Phoenix, Michael Franti, The Strokes, Bahamas, Band of Horses, TOO MANY great bands out there!
What is a perfect saturday night for you ?
Head out to a great restaurant with some great friends and kick back and enjoy.
What you like to watch on TV ?
I don't really understand the question - but tv shows I like: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Modern Family, Entourage, Californication, and ESPN 30for30 sport documentaries - those things are amazing.
Your favorite hobbies ?
Playing guitar, enjoying cappuccinos with friends, fly fishing, reading, "other sports" (like climbing, surfing (if I am near the ocean), etc...), some photography, having a good time - I'm always up for that!
The dish that you love to cook ?
Halibut on the BBQ with a fresh mango or pinapple salsa, roasted red peppers, corn on the cob, quinoa and some sort of salad with a balsamic vinaigrette
What is the perfect and ideal gift for you ?
Guitar stuff or fly fishing gear. Always goes over well !
What is perfect happiness ?
When everything in your life is at a great place - that's happiness - that and being on top of a bad ass mountain, winning races - whatever it is that's damn hard to accomplish. That feeling of accomplishing something you thought impossible is a happy moment.
Your last vacation ?
Tuscany. My last training camp was in Hawai'i on the island of Maui - not a vacation - but an amazing place to be hanging out and working hard...
The biggest mistake you have done ?
Whoa - too many big mistakes - but no regrets.
Your first car ?
VW Golf.
Your life after your sports career ?
I'd like to be a Medical Doctor.
What are your goals for next season ?
Improve my World Cup Overall standing, and hit the podium a couple times on the World Cup circuit. Ok - and ski well in the Tour de Ski.
Last question : Are you able to write something in french for the fans of www.ski-nordique.net ?
Oui - je parle Français aussi! En Ontario j’ai grandi) dans une un ville qui est 50% Française et je suis allé a une école Française quand j'étais jeune. Je suis ami avec des fondeurs Français, alors je parle Français avec ces gars-là, et aussi avec Alex (Harvey) and les autres fondeurs et entraineurs de Québec.
Photos : Nordic Focus
