Devon Kershaw
Encyclopedia
Devon Kershaw is a Canadian
cross country skier who has been competing since 2000. Growing up in Sudbury, Ontario
, Canada
, he split his time between several sports before choosing to focus on his skiing career.
city of Sudbury, Ontario
. His father (Will) and mother (Maureen) were instrumental in developing and nurturing a love of the natural environment and active lifestyle. Kershaw was a serious sports enthusiast growing up, playing hockey, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and running competitively in his younger years.
Skiing for Laurentian Nordic as a young skier in Sudbury, he participated in 3 World Junior Championships (2000, 2001, 2002) and won 18 National Junior Medals. As a senior racer he moved West to Canmore, Alberta, home of Canada’s National Ski Team, to pursue his athletic dreams and pursuits.
finished 14th in the individual sprint.
He was also the first Canadian male cross country skier to medal in the sprint category - placing third in the Freestyle Sprint in Borlänge
, Sweden, on March 7, 2006. In November 2006, he skated his way into the history books again by placing a best finish for a Canadian male in more than 10 years in a World Cup distance event - 15th in the Men’s 15 kilometre freestyle race in Gällivare
, Sweden.
During the first Tour de Ski
in 2006-2007, Devon came 2nd in the first Stage - the Freestyle Sprint, a position that was later upgraded to first when the first place skier, Christoph Eigenmann, was knocked out in a later stage. Unfortunately, Devon became sick and was unable to defend his title in the second sprint race later in the Tour, causing him to lose the overall title.
In 2009, Kershaw and the Canadian team
finish fifth in the 4 x 10 km relay in the Liberec
World Championships.
In the Vancouver
2010 Winter Olympics
, Kershaw's best individual finish was fifth in the 50 km event
, and fourth in the team sprint
with teammate Alex Harvey
. This is the best placing ever for Canadian
men in an Olympic cross-country
competition.
In the Oslo
2011 World Championship Kershaw and Alex Harvey
won the gold medal in the team sprint
, bringing Canada
their first FIS Nordic World Ski Championship
medal ever.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cross country skier who has been competing since 2000. Growing up in Sudbury, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he split his time between several sports before choosing to focus on his skiing career.
Early life and career
Devon grew up in the Northern OntarioNorthern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
city of Sudbury, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. His father (Will) and mother (Maureen) were instrumental in developing and nurturing a love of the natural environment and active lifestyle. Kershaw was a serious sports enthusiast growing up, playing hockey, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and running competitively in his younger years.
Skiing for Laurentian Nordic as a young skier in Sudbury, he participated in 3 World Junior Championships (2000, 2001, 2002) and won 18 National Junior Medals. As a senior racer he moved West to Canmore, Alberta, home of Canada’s National Ski Team, to pursue his athletic dreams and pursuits.
Athletic career
In the 2005 World Championships in OberstdorfOberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
finished 14th in the individual sprint.
He was also the first Canadian male cross country skier to medal in the sprint category - placing third in the Freestyle Sprint in Borlänge
Borlänge
Borlänge is a locality and the seat of Borlänge Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 49200 inhabitants in 2011.- History :Originally Borlänge was the name of a tiny village, and the first historical information about it is from 1390. The village was insignificant up until about 1870...
, Sweden, on March 7, 2006. In November 2006, he skated his way into the history books again by placing a best finish for a Canadian male in more than 10 years in a World Cup distance event - 15th in the Men’s 15 kilometre freestyle race in Gällivare
Gällivare
Gällivare is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 8,480 inhabitants in 2005. The town was founded in the 17th century...
, Sweden.
During the first Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski
Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing event held annually since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 1,055,000 Swiss francs , shared out on both men...
in 2006-2007, Devon came 2nd in the first Stage - the Freestyle Sprint, a position that was later upgraded to first when the first place skier, Christoph Eigenmann, was knocked out in a later stage. Unfortunately, Devon became sick and was unable to defend his title in the second sprint race later in the Tour, causing him to lose the overall title.
In 2009, Kershaw and the Canadian team
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
finish fifth in the 4 x 10 km relay in the Liberec
Liberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
World Championships.
In the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, Kershaw's best individual finish was fifth in the 50 km event
Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 50 kilometre classical
The men's 50 kilometre classical cross-country skiing competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada was held on 28 February at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia at 09:30 PST. on the final day of the Games....
, and fourth in the team sprint
Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's team sprint
The men's team sprint cross-country skiing competition in the freestyle technique at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada was held on 22 February at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia....
with teammate Alex Harvey
Alex Harvey (skier)
Alex Harvey is a Canadian cross country skier who has competed since 2005. Harvey is also a member of the Quebec National Cycling Team.-Athletic career:...
. This is the best placing ever for Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
men in an Olympic cross-country
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
competition.
In the Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
2011 World Championship Kershaw and Alex Harvey
Alex Harvey (skier)
Alex Harvey is a Canadian cross country skier who has competed since 2005. Harvey is also a member of the Quebec National Cycling Team.-Athletic career:...
won the gold medal in the team sprint
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 – Men's team sprint
The Men's team sprint took place on 2 March 2011. Sprint qualifying at 12:00 CET and finals at 14:15 CET. The defending world champions were Norway's Ola Vigen Hattestad and Johan Kjølstad while the defending Olympic champion were Norway's Øystein Pettersen and Petter Northug.- Semifinals :-Final:...
, bringing Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
their first FIS Nordic World Ski Championship
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
medal ever.