Cole Sanderson is used to being the only deaf person when he plays in local beach volleyball tournaments.

The 21-year-old – who has been deaf since birth – communicates through hand gestures, signalling how high of a set his partner needs and making eye contact with his teammate after every point.

So it will be a new experience to compete in Taipei, Taiwan this fall, where he will be surrounded by more than 3,000 other deaf athletes and officials in the 2009 Summer Deaflympics.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be communication challenges, however.

The South Surrey resident’s teammate, Ian Molenaar of Langley, doesn’t use sign language.

“That’s a bit of a challenge because I sign and he talks,” Sanderson said through the interpretation of his mother, Kim.

And, as sign language isn’t universal, all 67 participating countries will have their own dialect.

But Kim knows that won’t stop her son from connecting with others, whether it be by fingerspelling or writing in the sand.

“He’s a communicator,” she said. “He’ll find a way.”

And he always has.

Sanderson’s involvement in sports began when he was five years old, and he has since tried his hand in everything from T-ball, soccer and roller hockey to badminton and squash.

“I’m very competitive and I’m really social, too, and I like to see my development,” he said.

He started playing indoor volleyball in Grade 10 through the White Rock Volleyball Club, and moved from a Burnaby high school for the deaf to Semiahmoo Secondary, in order to play in the school’s reputable volleyball program.

He won provincials with the school and played with Team B.C. in Grade 11.

But the indoor sport took its toll on his body; he injured his back and had to take time off from playing.

Sanderson has since found his true passion – on the beach.

“Beach volleyball is by far my favourite. You’re more involved in the game. There’s a lot more pressure in beach. I’d say it’s about 80-85 per cent mental. It’s a really tough sport, mentally.”

Because there are only two people on a beach volleyball team – compared to six in indoor volleyball – players are required be know all three skills; setting, hitting and passing.

“I feel beach volleyball fits my skills,” Sanderson said, noting he has been able to achieve a lot in the sport. “I think maybe that made me feel successful.

“I can continue to get better and better. I haven’t hit the limit with beach volleyball.”

Since taking on the sport six years ago, he has won gold in the BC Summer Games and was provincial champion for U16, U18 and U21 for Volleyball BC championships.

He plays every weekend in Kitsilano, and, last year, finished 13th in nationals in Toronto, where he played in the adult division.

Sanderson has also proved his leadership skills with Semi’s Grade 8 boys volleyball team, which he has coached for the last three years.

He doesn’t expect he’ll have time to continue coaching, however, with the long list of endeavours he has planned for the near future.

Currently attending UVic for a degree in physical education and coaching, Sanderson has also launched his own lawn care business.

He has also been chosen for an alternate team to represent B.C. at the August Canada Summer Games in P.E.I.

But Sanderson’s main focus is still Tapei. He will be training with Molenaar until the end of August, before flying to China for the event, set for Sept. 5-15.

“It’s a huge event,” he said, noting his participation has been made possible by the support of The BC Deaf Sports Federation, the Canada Deaf Sports Association and Elks lodges. “It’s my first time I’m going to that big of an event.”

His main goal for the competition?

Bringing home gold.