Hello everyone—I’m Derek Appelblatt, the DDS from across the parking lot you’ll often spot squeezing in a quick 25-minute workout during my lunch break. Though I grew up in Sacramento, I’ve been coming to Tahoe since I was born, and my earliest memories here go back to toddlerhood. After graduating from dental school in San Francisco in 2018, I jumped at the chance to join Nicole Gordon’s practice here in Tahoe in 2020. I’ve always been more drawn to mountains than city streets.

My love for mountain recreation started with rock climbing, which gradually evolved into mountaineering. These days, I’ve ventured into a lesser-known extreme sport called speed flying—paragliding’s more exhilarating cousin—and yes, I do that too.

Like other downhill sports we all enjoy, speed flying is all about gaining altitude—whether by hiking, driving, or riding a lift—so you can enjoy the thrilling descent. Instead of fresh snow, we chase “sky-pow,” that smooth, still morning air that lets your wing carve through the atmosphere much like your favorite powder tool carves through snow.

The real pro move, though, is adding skis to the mix—combining sky-pow with snow-pow in what’s called speed riding. This three-dimensional skiing has been featured in Warren Miller films thanks to local pro JT Holmes. With only an estimated 3,000–5,000 pilots worldwide, it’s fair to call this sport niche. The Alps serve as its ground zero, thanks to terrain that sits above the tree line and the tireless advocacy of speed riding pioneer Francois Bon, who has helped make the sport welcome at European ski resorts over the last decade.

For me, staying fit means staying safe so I can keep playing in the mountains, because a playful life is a joyful one. A big thank you to everyone at Club 100 for creating such a warm and welcoming community.