For the past few years Derek Cook has been making quite a name for himself as one of the guys in the Nor-Cal wake scene. This past summer, with regular appearances in magazines and his first big video section in Delta Sessions II, Cook cemented his name even more. Being back in Northern California for the Thanksgiving holiday, I was able to catch up with Derek and find out what’s going on in his life.

A: How was your Thanksgiving?
DC: It was good; I was up at my grandparents’ place in San Jose. My little cousin got one of those Nintendo Wiis – that thing’s pretty fun. There’s this bowling game and you bowl just like in real life. My grandma was getting strikes and stuff, doing some fist pumps. It was hilarious.

A: You’re graduating from college in a few weeks, what are you going to do in the real world?
DC: Real world? (laughs). Umm, I’m actually moving to Tahoe for the winter to work for a resort up there. Maybe get a real job after that, who knows?

A: Do you plan to keep wakeboarding much?
DC: I’d like to. Definitely for the next couple years and do a lot of traveling. (in a Borat voice) That would be very nice. (laughing) Have you seen Borat yet?

A: No, I haven’t.

DC: (laughing) I’ve seen it three times already.

A: What’s on your Christmas list for Santa?
DC: I don’t know, I haven’t really put too much thought into it, maybe a new watch.

A: How was the Nor-Cal wake scene this past summer?
DC: It was fun. There were a lot of people that came from out town and rode in Nor-Cal this year. So it was cool riding with different guys like Rob Jacques, Jeff House, and all the guys who came out for the trip to Schwenne’s. I also rode with Jimmy Wolf, Collin Wright and some others. It was a good summer, for sure.

A: You recently started riding for Gator Boards, how’s that working out?
DC: It’s working out good. I’m stoked to be on a solid team after riding a blank board for a year. I’m definitely looking forward to riding for Gator next season. I didn’t have a board sponsor at all last year, so this is cool. I’m supposed to go to Florida in January and meet up with Gator and some other guys and shoot for their team video, which I think is coming out in the spring.

A: And you also signed on with O’Neill recently, right?
DC: Yeah, I’m riding their clothing and wetsuits now, which is really cool.

A: Now that it’s officially cold in Northern California, how much wakeboarding have you been able to do?
DC: I still get out about once a week right now. But with school finishing up in a few weeks that’s pretty much taking up all of my time. But as long as it’s above 55 degrees your hands won’t freeze, so you can ride. That’s my little rule of thumb.

A: What do you do in Morgan Hill for fun other than wakeboard?
DC: There’s a new bowling alley – that’s a pretty big scene right now. Oh, you can also run into Parks and Shane anytime in Morgan Hill now because they’ve been staying with Todd Hicks from Fox. I’ve run into them a couple times.

A: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
DC: Probably as much as he would desire.

A: Do you have MySpace page?
DC: No, I’m anti-MySpace. Very anti-MySpace. If I want to talk to my friends I just call them.

A: What’s your favorite TV show?
DC: Family Guy.

A: Any last words?
DC: I can’t think of anything right now.