Dana Ivanovová
talented slovak climber, photographer, ski mountaineer
ABOUT DANA
I'm originally from Bratislava, and I got into climbing more or less by chance. Very quickly, though, it became a place where I could switch off my mind and focus only on the present moment. I think that's exactly why it has stayed such an important part of my life.
Besides climbing, I enjoy being active in general, spending time in nature, drinking good coffee, and sharing moments with people around whom I can truly be myself. Over the years, climbing has taught me a great deal of patience and shown me that something doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful.
My greatest climbing achievement probably isn't a particular route or a grade. Rather, it's all those moments when I managed not to give up, even when I didn't fully believe in myself.
SHOOT A QUESTION
- Proper warm-up or do you warm up by climbing? A thorough warm-up for my muscles, joints, and tendons, plus getting my body ready to perform.
- Coffee or matcha? Coffee. No hesitation.
- Climbing in silence or with music? I love hearing nothing but the forest, the wind, and the unique calm of the crags. That's the best climbing soundtrack.
- Pull-ups or hanging? Hanging. At least it looks like I'm relaxing.
- Favorite climbing snack? Anything that won't melt in my backpack. And, of course, coffee.
- Rope or bouldering? Lead, with both my heart and my head.
- Solo or with a crew? A small group of good people is the perfect combination.
- Static or dynamic? Static... unless going dynamic is the only option. 😀
5 QUESTIONS FOR DANA
1. What's the biggest climbing f**k-up you've ever had?
One winter in the High Tatras, my climbing partner broke his ice axe while we were traversing a ridge. He ripped off a chunk of rock, pulled out the protection, and fell straight onto the belay. During the descent, the screw on my second ice axe came loose, making it unusable. We had to spend the night in a snowstorm. By early morning, a sudden thaw turned the snow into rain, only for everything to freeze again afterwards—including us.
It was an incredibly demanding day that has stayed with me ever since. It reminds me that the mountains always have plans of their own.
2. If you could go climbing with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
I'd choose my partner, Petr. He's someone I trust completely—both in the way he moves and in the decisions he makes, on the wall and off it. Climbing with him feels natural, calm, and at the same time incredibly motivating.
3. What's your dream route?
I don't really have one. For me, climbing is often more about the feeling than the grade.
4. What's your favourite thing about being part of Team Rafiki?
It's not just about performance. It's about the community, the support, and being surrounded by people who climb simply because they genuinely love it. That's something quite rare these days.
5. What advice would you give to climbers of all levels?
Don't constantly compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own pace, their own setbacks, and their own small victories. Sometimes the biggest achievement is simply not giving up, even when things aren't going the way you hoped.
