Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Award Female – Hunter Dejean

Hunter Dejean is an impressive Laser Radial sailor, hailing from the Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club, she has climbed the ranks of Canadian Youth Sailing. She has represented Canada on a national level, finishing top female Radial at the 2019 Sail Canada Youth Championships, and at an international level, at many events, including competing twice at the Youth Worlds Championship; in 2018 and 2019. Hunter continues to work and train hard as one of Canada’s top female youth athletes.   
  1.     How does it feel to be the recipient of the Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Award for two years in a row?
  I feel very honoured to be the recipient of this award two years in a row. I was fortunate to return to worlds in my last year as a youth and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to represent Canada for another year. I am also humbled to be in the company of all the other talented award winners.  
  1. What motivates you to work hard and to continue improving as a sailor?
  My teammates motivate me to work hard and continue improving. Training with others who have similar goals helps me stay focused and pushes me to keep getting better. Each of my training partners have their own strengths and seeing them excel as a result of hard work inspires me to keep working on my own skills.  
  1. Who is an athlete that you look up to? What is it about them that inspires you?
  An athlete who inspires me is my sister Davis. She is a fantastic volleyball player and plays with the objective of giving the greatest contribution she can to her team. She is a great teammate and is always there to cheer on other players to do their best. Davis reminds me of the importance of staying positive and encouraging other athletes to keep progressing.  
  1. What is one piece of advice you’d give to a sailor who’s just starting out in racing?
  I would advise a sailor just starting out in racing to focus on enjoying the sport and have fun. You will be more motivated to improve if you can find the fun in competition.  The last thing my Dad normally says to me before I start a race is: “Go out there and have fun.” This helps me remain calm and normally the results work out if I’m just enjoying the opportunity to go sailing.   Join us in recognizing the 2019 Sail Canada Awards recipients at the Sail Canada Rolex Sailor of the Year Awards on Friday, March 6th, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario at The Carlu. Click here for more information about the Sail Canada Rolex Sailor of the Year Awards night. Looking for more information? Please contact sailcanada@sailing.ca  -30-