Avenue Magazine Calgary

This September, more than 900 competitors from 51 countries will go head-to-head at WorldSkills 2009 in Calgary. Considered the “Skill Olympics,” the biannual event has young competitors — all no older than 22 — competing in 45 categories from flower arranging and beauty therapy, to mechatronics and bricklaying.

The seven-day event (September 1 to 7) includes opening ceremonies, four days of competition at Stampede Park and a parade of champions during the half-time show at the Stampeders’ Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium.

WorldSkills is also responsible for bringing Calgary students back to school early so they can begin the year with a big-time field trip to watch international talent in competition. Team Canada represents with 38 competitors, including 20-year-old Calgarian Devon DeBoer, who will participate in auto body repair.

To prove he’s the best in the world, DeBoer has four days to return a brand-new 2010 Corolla — beaten, bashed and rendered un-recognizable by the judges — back to its original glory. “We basically have to rebuild the car,” says DeBoer, who explains here in more detail how he’s been training for the championship.

Learn from an early age.
DeBoer went to car shows as a kid and took his high school’s auto body class before going straight into SAIT Polytechnic’s four-year auto body technician apprenticeship program. His instructor keenly observed DeBoer’s high grades and strong work ethic, and suggested he compete at the Provincial Skills Competition in 2008. DeBoer won. Two days later, he competed in the National Skills Competition and placed second. He made the national team because the gold medal winner was too old for the competition.

Prepare for crowds.
This past May, when DeBoer went to the National Skills Competition in Charlottetown, P.E.I., he practiced competing under the glare of media and spectators. But he acknowledges it was no comparison to what will take place in Calgary. “You can’t know what will happen until it comes,” says DeBoer. Although he’s had some more experience with crowds as one of the honorary parade marshals for the Stampede, nearly 150,000 bystanders, 2,500 judges, delegates and experts, as well as 300 domestic and international media are expected to swarm Stampede Park for WorldSkills 2009. And don’t bother trying to say “Hi” — DeBoer isn’t allowed to speak to anyone while competing.

Practice.
DeBoer trains every day while working on customer vehicles in his apprenticeship at Powerchief Auto Body. He spends evenings and weekends practicing at SAIT with his trainers and expert coaches and he has travelled as far as Detroit to brush up on his skills in techniques including metal finishing, framework and welding. His hobby is restoring old muscle cars, including his father’s ’64 Beaumont. DeBoer can manipulate a mangled car back to within a millimetre of perfection; three millimetres is considered good enough for the industry.

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 takes place September 1 to 7 at Stampede Park. Admission to Skills City and to the competition — where you’ll find DeBoer and the rest of Team Canada — is free.