Cyril Derreumaux
Extreme Athlete-Kayaker & 2x World Record Holder
Cyril Derreumaux
Extreme Athlete-Kayaker & 2x World Record Holder
Biography
French born, now American citizen, Cyril Derreumaux considers himself a citizen of the world. Fluent speaker of 6 languages (and counting!) Cyril is attracted to learning and discovering new cultures and places all the time. This natural curiosity of people and places led Cyril to backpack around the world at 25 for one year. With $7,000 and a can-do attitude Cyril embarked on this life changing experience that permanently changed his outlook on life and how he wanted to live it.
A move to California following his profession in the wine business led Cyril to begin exploring the world of outrigger canoeing and kayaking and reignited a childhood passion for windsurfing and all things water related. He soon began pushing his limits further and further in ultra endurance water events.
A serendipitous find of the Great Pacific Race which advertised “you don’t need to be a rower to row an ocean” led Cyril to embark on his biggest challenge at the time, rowing in a team of 4 men from California to Hawaii which resulted in in a Guinness Record for the fastest ocean rowing crossing of a team in 39 days and again changing Cyril’s perspective on what was possible.
Always a dreamer, Cyril soon found himself thinking about his next expedition. Inspired by the stories of maverick ocean explorers, Cyril began to plan his biggest expedition to date, crossing the mid-Pacific on a kayak with solely human power from California to Hawaii. Despite delays and a failed attempt, Cyril accomplished this goal in September 2022 reaching Hawaii to become the first 100% human powered kayaker to accomplish such a feat.
Cyril didn’t want to stop here: On March 4th, 2025, Cyril completed another exceptional expedition in 71 days, 14 hours and 57 minutes: crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a kayak, solo, 100% human-powered. After his Pacific crossing in 2022 (California-Hawaii), he becomes the first person to have crossed two different oceans in a solo kayak!
As a member of the famed Explorers Club Cyril continues to dream big, thinking of his next big adventure and encouraging others to do the same. Advocating to “live life to the fullest,” Cyril hopes his adventures inspire others to find their own dream and go after it.
Cyril is currently working on a book and a documentary chronicling his kayak crossings.
Speech Topics
Completely Alone Across the Pacific & the Atlantic in a Kayak. Lessons Learned.
Completely alone in an unforgiving and relentless environment: what does it take to think, act and deliver like an athlete, to elevate your game, over and over again, until you reach your goals. An incredible story of human potential, rising to the challenge and overcoming all odds: "Cyril is not just in it to win it. He is in it to expand limits, to rise to the occasion, to redefine the possible, and to share what he has learned".
91 days Alone on the Pacific Ocean, 71 days Alone on the Atlantic Ocean: Kayaking solo, unsupported and non-stop across an ocean takes a distinctive character, one with grit, determination, and resilience. In his inspirational talks, Cyril relates to his audience his incredible solo journeys crossing both oceans in a solo kayak and all that this expedition taught him. With authenticity and true emotions, Cyril demonstrates the power of passion and inner-fire and delivers a message on man’s universal ability to find grit and resilience. Down to earth and spontaneous, Cyril’s infectious enthusiasm and positive energy will leave the audience full of new ambitions, inspired and refreshed with ideas of endless possibilities.
KEY TOPICS
- GOAL SETTING - “How do you make the toughest challenge a reality”
o Making radical choices and risk management
o Living your best life, finding your Purpose & Feeling Alive - AIMING HIGH, DREAMING BIG, FOLLOWING YOUR VISION - "Impossible is nothing if you allow yourself to dream big"
- TEAM BUILDING - “Teamwork is the secret that makes common people achieve uncommon results”
o Leadership and building a successful team. - IT’S ALL IN THE MIND - Reframing: It’s all a question of perspective
o Attitude is everything: Embrace the “Never Negativity” Attitude
o Feel your inner-fire, fuel it and feel the Power of Passion
o Dealing with fear: go towards it embracing Reality / Gradual preparedness
o The All-in Mindset: “The only way to get there is forward” - MENTAL FORTITUDE - “It all starts and ends in the mind”
o Mental, Physical, Emotional are connected.
o Mental Endurance: Resilience and perseverance
o Self-awareness: Becoming unbreakable
o Beginner’s mind: Find your own Voice & Unique Path - LEANING INTO CHANGE - “Morphing Forever to win””
o Adapt & Execute - OBSTACLES & FAILURES - “The obstacle is the way”
o Staying motivated in seemingly impossible situation
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