17 Questions for 2017: Devon Kershaw

Welcome to “17 Questions for 2017″, where we are catching up with American and Canadian national-team members before the beginning of the winter season. 

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2011 World Champion Devon Kershaw may have been spending more time in Europe than in his native Canada this year, but he told FasterSkier in a podcast in August that he’s all in for Team Canada through the 2018 Olympics. As he adjusts to the prospect of becoming a dad in the next year, Kershaw has been training with Norwegians and Swedes around Oslo, where he is based with his wife.

He tackled FasterSkier’s “17 Questions for 2017” from Utah, where the Canadian ski team was having a training camp.

1. Biggest change in your life in the last five or so months since the ski season ended?

Spending more time in Norway and finding out I’ll be a father for the first time this winter!

2. Biggest change in your training?

Getting back to a more volume based program.

3. Major areas of improvement you’ve seen so far?

For sure the double poling – I’ve focused on that quite a bit this year.

4. Whom you’ve been working closest with this offseason (coaches or training partners)?

Jess Kryski (our team’s physiologist) has been really important and I have trained some great sessions with some Norwegian skiers and Martin Johansson (who also lives in Oslo).

5. Best trip in the last five months (and why)?

A quick weekend in Copenhagen with Kristin. It rained a lot, but what a cool city!

6. Favorite cross-training?

Hmmmm. Backcountry skiing or climbing.

7. Favorite non-athletic activity or pastime this summer?

My usual favourite would be fly fishing – but the Norwegian rules are so complicated.

8. Song that was your jam this summer?

I am really liking the new Bon Iver album and Angel Olsen’s latest. I am never a “one song” kind of dude.

9. All time favorite race moment?

Seeing Alex [Harvey] edge out Hattestad to take team sprint gold in Olso in 2011.

10. First thing you pack in your bag when you leave for Europe?

I absolutely hate packing… So the first thing I pack is usually shoes and boots – to create a good base at the bottom of my bag. But this is at an ungodly late hour after procrastinating as long as humanly possible.

11. Venue/event you’re most excited to visit this season?

The World Champs in Lahti will be a great event. After being sick AF with pneumonia and whooping cough in 2015 10 or so days prior to Falun which ended my season, I am really excited to race a championship again!

12. Who will win the World Cup title this year?

I can’t believe I am writing this, but after training with Martin (Sundby) over the last months I really can’t see anyone coming close. He’s a beast.

13. Biggest sacrifice you feel you’ve made choosing this career path?

Money and education. A Canadian skier is not what you pick if you want to be stable financially and my mom will be really excited to see me finish up a university degree when the spandex no longer fit.

14. If you could change one thing about your sport, what would it be?

Hmmm…. Having it be more simple for fans. The fact that our sport is the only one in the Olympic program that you cannot be a defending champion confuses folks. That and I guess finding some way to make it healthier for the wax techs. Thinking of what they breathe in week-in and week-out for something as frivolous as skiing fast around a little loop is a bit scary. The trucks help – but is it enough?

15. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Oatmeal with fruit, brown sugar, a cappuccino and a cortado (I know…).

16. In 5 years, I’ll be ____?

Exhausted in school and probably have two kids. Hopefully I will be fully (or at least close) trilingual at that point.

17. In 50 years, I’ll be ____?

Probably dead, but if not then I hope to still have my wits about me to enjoy conversations and time with family. Still being able to be active – no matter what that looks like – would be a big goal in 50 years if I am still around.