2014 US Open - Nantahala

This past weekend we had a race in Nantahala at NOC, in NC - 2014 US Open.
Both days I placed 1st and also finished 1st in the overall ranking, Ashley Nee 2nd and Anna Ifarraguerri 3rd. Congrats to all!
Thanks Doro for awesome pictures!

US National Championships - 1st place

I am the US National Champion this year! Nantahala, NC

Season 2013 - 5th at the World Championships!!!

This has been my most successful paddling season so far. During the first part of the European World Cup Tour I raced in Germany, Spain and Slovakia. I finished 14th in Augsburg-Germany with a good run and twice in the top 30 after making a mistake in my run (with 50 second penalty).

Later I was preparing for the World Championships in Prague in Czech republic. I finished 5th at the World Championships! I am very excited and happy about this result! It was only one extra penalty that cost me a bronze medal in the finals. But overall I am very satisfied with my performance.

Next year we will have the World Championships in Maryland in Wisp/McHenry and I will do again my best to bring home some medals!

Thank you all for your support!

Pictures by Peter Prazenka:

2 SP Pau

Tento rok máme pred sebou 5 pretekov svetového pohára. Prvý v Cardiffe - GBR, máme už za sebou. Momentálne sme v Pau, FRA. Aj tento rok sme boli na výlete v Lurdoch.
Potom sa presúvame do Seu, ESP. Pokračujeme v auguste v Prahe a následne finále SP je v Bratislave.

Koniec sezóny 2011 - Majstrovstvá USA

Po Majstrovstvách sveta sme sa s bratom zúčastnili ešte na poslednom väčšom preteku sezóny - Majstrovstiev Ameriky v Severnej Karolíne. Je to krásna, ale studená prírodná voda uprostred Great Smoky Mountains. Počasie nám neprialo, ochladilo sa a bolo iba okolo 5 stupňov. Večer pred slalomovými pretekmi boli ďalšie preteky: head-to-head na slalomových lodiach (vyraďovacie preteky), čo bolo zaujímavé nielen pozerať ale aj pretekať - pri umelom osvetlení a veľkom ohni na brehu. Ja som skončila prvá ako aj neskôr na slalome. Scott bol druhý na head-to head, v slalome bol 5., bohužiaľ si 2 krát ťukol, inak by vyhral... Maťo head-to-head nepretekal, keďže mohli štartovať iba kajakové disciplíny a on je kanoe. V slalome sa kvôli dotyku na bránke umiestnil na 2. mieste aj keď mal najrýchlejší čas, s ťukom to na výhru nestačilo. Po pretekoch sme sa vrátili do Washingtonu DC, kde sme mali pár posledných teplých letných dní na pozeranie pamiatok a oddych pred štartom novej sezóny.

sezóna 2011

Ďakujeme hlavne našej rodine, klubu ŠKP, stredisku SŠŠR MV SR , sponzorom, kamarátom a veľa iným ľuďom za podporu počas celej sezóny 2011!

Danka:

• poradie v celkovom hodnotení Svetového pohára: 2. miesto (SP Tacen: 2. miesto; SP LArgentiere: 4. miesto; SP Markkleeberg: 12. miesto; SP Praha: 6. miesto)
• poradie v svetovom rankingu: 5. miesto
• Majstrovstvá sveta: 8. miesto - individuálne; 1. miesto hliadky

Maťko:

• 3. miesto na majstrovstvách sveta v C1m
• víťaz svetového pohára vo Francúzsku
• 2. miesto v celkovom hodnotení SP
• majstri sveta v hliadkach
• A v neposlednom rade je ďalej v bojoch o miesto na OH!
• Gratulujem! :*

Scott:

• poradie v svetovom rankingu: 22. miesto v K1m
• budúci rok má šancu zabojovať o miestenku na OH!

Slalom Confluence: Beňušová (SVK) and Mann (USA)

In Bratislava at the World Championship we made an interview about our life with Scott:

Source: http://www.canoeslalom2011.com/news/slalom-confluence-benusova-svk-and-mann-usa

Bratislava, Slovakia – In retrospect, the marriage of Dana Benusova (SVK) and Scott Mann (USA) could seem as if it were pre-destined.

Look closely at photos in the family photo albums, you can find one or the other in each others pictures from the time they were youngsters first competing in the junior canoe slalom ranks in 2000, both in K1. Though they knew of each other since 2001, it wasn’t until one day in 2007 they officially met. Scott was working his way up a course just goofing around trying some things, floundering and flipping. “It was hilarious,” Dana said.

Laughter led to conversation, Dana speaks good English while Scott admits to trying but usually butchering Slovak. Conversation turned into a three-year intercontinental courtship that escalated to marriage last October.

The Mann’s note they aren’t pioneering new ground. Among the trendsetters in intercontinental marriages is that of five-time World Champion Richard Fox, then paddling for the UK, and Olympic bronze medalist Myriam Jerusalmi (FRA). Their union created a new generation of paddler as their daughter Jessica Fox just entered the senior ranks of K1 and C1 for Australia, where her father is the National Performance Director for Australian Canoeing.
Dana explains that courtships on the slalom shouldn’t be that surprising. Athletes spend six months every year traveling and competing at the same events, so it’s pretty natural for relationships to blossom, although most tend to be among athletes from the same country.

The Mann’s joke about the happy coincidence of fringe benefits their marriage brings to their slalom careers. Scott’s been able to train more here in Bratislava, his wife’s hometown, in the leadup to these World Championships. Afterward, the tables will turn when Dana will benefit from being able to train at Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI), Scott’s home course in the US, which will be the host site of the 2014 World Championships.
As if paddling weren’t enough of a common bond, the Mann’s share yet another interest off the course. Both have academic backgrounds in, somehwat ironically, international relations. Dana already has her master’s degree while Scott is working on finishing his master’s at George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Thankfully, the couple have no need to put into practice Scott’s studies in conflict resolution.