You may know Discovery Bay rider Derek Cook from his cover shots, numerous magazine spreads or his popular wakeboarding schools, Nor Cal Wakeboard Camps and South Bay Wakeboard Academy, but what truly sets Derek apart from his fellow wakeboarders is his commitment to a different style of riding.
 
During the early years of his career, Derek realized that focusing on perfecting a trick with numerous variations then sticking it and making it look perfect for the camera was what would set him apart from the norm. While it wasn't the most popular way to do a trick at the time, he stayed focused on what was true to him and what ultimately gave him the most comfort.
 
This veteran wakeboarder must have been doing something right as his career continues on an upward trajectory and some of the most progressive industry folks are his most loyal companions, including Josh Twelker, rider/filmer Trever Maur and Photographer of the Year, Rodrigo Donoso. Keep an eye on Derek Cook because his commitment to style, tricks and his future with his new wife, Lisa, will keep his career going strong for many years to come.
 
WW: What path brought you here to this point in your life as a wakeboarder and owner of Nor Cal Wakeboard Camps and South Bay Wakeboard Academy?
DC: As a wakeboarder, I got into it in high school. I went on a family trip to Lake Shasta one summer and got hooked. My family then bought a 1987 Marlin. We were fortunate enough to have Lake Anderson in my home town and rode there a ton with a group of friends I had. Eventually I got good enough to enter the local grassroots contest scene and met a bunch of riders and now good friends.
 
Through this I ended up taking a day trip up to Discovery Bay and met Josh Smith, Darin Razor and Rich Facciano. I stayed up there for a month on Josh's couch that summer and got to ride and see what all the pros were doing at the time. It was a pretty influential time. Those guys only cared about how the trick looked rather than the technicality of it. If it wasn't grabbed "correctly," it was garbage.
 
As for the wakeboard schools, I've always been excited to see people land a new trick or even get up for the first time. Being able to enjoy that moment with them and see the expression and satisfaction someone gets from accomplishing a goal is awesome. I graduated college from San Jose State with a BS in Business Marketing in 2006. I went out and got a "real job" for three months and wasn't happy, so I decided to open up South Bay Wakeboard Academy in Morgan Hill. Four years later, Josh Smith, who ran Nor Cal Wakeboard Camps in Discovery Bay, was looking to move on and I decided to expand my business and take over what he had started in the Delta.
 
WW: What are you known for in wakeboarding?
DC: I guess I'm know for having good style or that's what I hope to be known for (haha)! I've never put the pressure of riding contests on myself too much and have always rode for myself. I've always wanted to stand out from other riders and have my own perspective and influence on the sport. I feel like I've been able to accomplish that, but I'm not done yet. I still have a ton of personal goals that I would like to accomplish as well.
 
WW: Do you have any weird habits?
DC: I don't know. I know if my binding laces are sticking out the side of my boots at all I can't stand that. I'm sure if you watched me throughout the day there's probably a lot of weird things I do (haha).
 
WW: What’s the most unexpected compliment anyone has ever given you about your riding style?
DC: My favorite story of this is the day I first met Lisa, who is now my wife. I went out to go ride with some friends on Lake Jessamine in Florida and she happened to be in the boat. She grew up wakeboarding on Lake of the Ozarks and has seen a lot of other pros ride before. During my set she was asking all the guys in the boat if I even knew what I was doing out there or if I have ever watched myself wakeboard before. I guess my unorthodox style and weird wrapped tricks I do were something she's never seen before. I thought it was hilarious once she told me that and so I took it as a compliment.
 
WW: What most excites you about wakeboarding and the contribution you can make?
DC: I think the endless possibilities of what you can do out there and my addiction to progression. Being able to modify tricks over time and have my own twist on them is important to me. Also, the sport gets bigger every year with over 25 cables in the US and a more stable economy, I feel like the industry is on the way up.
 
As for contribution to the sport, I would like to have influence on the younger generation caring about style and not being satisfied with half-ass grabs. Also, through the camps stoking people out on wakeboarding and growing the sport every year.
 
WW: What other things are you passionate about?
DC: My wife, Lisa, and our dogs, Ollie and Nika. I also like to skateboard a lot and snowboard as well.
 
WW: What’s your favorite way to spend the day?
DC: On the water with friends and family.
 
WW: Where did you grow up? And where do you live now?
DC: Good question. I grew up in Morgan Hill, California and now I split my time in between the Delta in Discovery Bay during the summers and Columbia, Missouri in the winters with my wife. She's in school at Mizzo right now.
 
WW: It looks like it takes some flexibility to accomplish some of the tricks that you are doing. Do you stretch often or are you on any type of training program?
DC: Yeah, I do stretch a good amount. Not sure if it really helps though. I just think if you're flexible you're less likely to get hurt.
 
WW: What do you think you would be doing if you were not a wakeboarder?
DC: I’m not sure. I have a degree in business marketing, so I’d like to get into marketing more once I’m not fully committed to wakeboarding.
 
WW: No matter how fun a sport is, there is still burn out. What do you do to keep from getting burned out?
DC: There’s definitely highs and lows over the years. I’ve always tried to mix up my riding and trying new things. It’s easy to get stuck in a groove where you go out and do the tricks you already know. Riding with different people helps and grabbing your board in different spots always helps me keep it fresh.
 
WW: Looks like you have been filming a bit with Trever Maur. Is it for a full-length video or just Internet videos?
DC: We have been working on a new full length film called, Dog Dayz. The trailer will be dropping soon and the video will be out in April.
 
WW: Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
DC: Still riding and hopefully have some sort of influence on the sport.
 
WW: With all the years of wakeboarding under your belt, there has to be some advice you could share for those starting out, right?
DC: Keep it fun and enjoy your time out there. And if you want to get better, take a lesson from a pro or ride with better riders than yourself.
 
WW: Do you have any new sponsors lately?
DC: Yeah, just this year I started working with MB Boats. They are an awesome group of people and the boats that are coming out of the factory are insane. The wake is huge and has a really fun shape. If you haven't ridden on one yet, come out to the camps and try one out.
 
Also, I am riding for Wake Effects. They are a board shop out of Lake of the Ozarks. They just launched their new web site this year at wakeeffects.com. If you're looking to grab a new setup, I'd check there first. Always a ton of great deals.