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D a t e o f B i r t h : 30.10.1985
H o m e t o w n ( C o u n t r y ) : Slovakia
L o c a l P l a y s p o t : Cunovo slalom course
F a v o r i t e R i v e r : Zambezi
F a v o r i t e M o v e : Mc nasty and Phoenix monkey
B e s t a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s : 3th place at European Championships 2008, overall winner of Euro cup for 3 times
W e b s i t e : www.vajdafreestyle.com , www.peter-csonka.blogspot.com , www.adidas-sickline.com |
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S p o n s o r s :     
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BIO:
My father was a really good sportsman. He played basketball and volleyball and he wanted me to play volleyball, too. I did that for five years, but it wasn’t my sport and I wasn’t good at it. I liked freestyle sports much better. However, my father was really conservative. He is a doctor. He worked as emergency doctor for a ski resort and he is a very good skier, so he taught me how to ski but I hated it. At the age of 13, I learned snowboarding and I loved that sport. We lived in a small town with great mountains and perfect conditions. Then we moved to Bratislava. There were no mountains so I had to quit snowboarding and find something else. I didn’t know what to do and I was very sad that I didn’t have a sport. A bit later I workedas a part time worker at a water course. I saw the rafting guys and wanted to try it. They needed one more person, so I tried rafting and joined the women’s team. We weren’t any good - at each contest we came in last. But we did it just for fun and were on the water every single day. At the water course I met Peter (Csonka) and fell in love with him. I was almost 18 back then. That’s when I discovered freestyle kayaking. But I was scared. In a raft you are on the top of the water, in a kayak you are inside – and in the beginning mostly under - the water. I tried to learn how to roll and for me it was really difficult. Then I started training on the water course with Peter. It took me about two years before I could go down without a single roll and without swimming. I then decided to try freestyle and learned some basic tricks. I also started traveling with the guys to competitions. I just watched. I loved the contests because of the great atmosphere. And I realized that this is what I wanted to do. But it seemed extremely difficult. First I practiced the cartwheel. I trained very hard. I was on the water every single day with Peter. In the winter we trained in the gym. Today, I am in my third freestyle season. If I hadn’t met Peter, I would not be nearly as good. He is such a talented athlete and he is a great coach. It is only because of him that I became so good in this sport. I really enjoy training and traveling with him. Of course, we also have our arguments from time to time, but only kayak related. I am very stubborn and sometimes I don’t want to listen or I don’t want to do what he wants me to do. I’m a woman. Sometimes I just I have a bad day and he gets angry with me. But I still see it as a big advantage that I can train with my boyfriend. Just like Peter, I also have ambitious goals. I want to become a great freestyle kayaker and win European and World Championships. Never before have I been so good in a sport and now I want to give my best and achieve as much as I can. I would like to gain a bit more experience with whitewater, creeking, and playboating, but I am a little bit scared on the river. And we don’t have much time. This is the first season in which I have my own creek boat and I would love to go to Norway. But I don’t know if we will have the time this year. Time is a big issue. My priority is freestyle and it determines our schedule. But sometimes you need a break from freestyle, because you get bored. Then you must go out on a river, see some beautiful scenery or jump a waterfall. When I am out on the river I’m a bit scared, but with Peter around I am much calmer, because I know I can rely on him. In the past I was just seen as Peter’s girlfriend, but now that I have good results people start realizing that I am a good kayaker myself. They know us as a couple, but they also know me as an individual. I love the sport, because of its freestyle nature. Everyone can do it. It’s all about having fun. To me, other sports are boring. I really enjoy training. When I’m in the water, I forget about my problems. It relieves my stress. I know that I have to train, but I also love what I’m doing. I’m not always good, but I always have a good time. Today, I cannot imagine a life without kayaking. I’d go crazy at home. Strengths I am ambitious. When I start doing something that I like, I am focused and want to finish it. Weaknesses I don’t have the perseverance to stick to my training. I always need someone to push me.
 
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