Derek Musashe

united states

Derek lives in Santa Barbara, California, USA with his wife and young daughter. He started flying in 2015 after returning home from a 5-month backpacking trip with his wife on the Pacific Crest Trail. He had wanted to fly since he was a teenager, and that backpacking trip taught him that if you really want something, you just have to just do it! A “regular 9-to-5 family guy”, he says he’s lucky to live in a place where he can fly on the weekends and still uphold all his other responsibilities. Paragliding has given him an amazing lens with which to view the landscape of the place he calls home, plus a community of amazing individuals with a shared passion. Vice president of the Santa Barbara Soaring Association (SBSA), he works to promote free flight in Santa Barbara, secure site access and help up-and-coming pilots. He says BGD’s simple mission to share paragliding with friends and family is what draws him most to the brand as it closely aligns with his own approach to flying, emphasizing fun, safety, and connection with others above everything else. “Performance is important, but at the end of the day, I fly to have fun with my friends, to see beautiful places, and to come home safely to my loved ones”.

#Cross Country

• Age : 41
• Flying since : 2015
• Current kit : Breeze
• Top sites : Santa Barbara, CA
• Gig : Medical Science Liaison
• Activities : Hiking and backpacking, fishing, cooking, music, astronomy, and playing any sport that involves a ball