Bio

Age 11- Painful heel problem drives Benn from soccer to kayaking.
             Benn switches from kayak to canoe.
Age 12- Benn goes to national development camp and meets future coach Cathy Hearn.
Age 13- Learns what it's like to paddle a boat with no leaks.
             Attends first national team trials wearing plaid skirt and tank top.

             Drinks 8oz bottle of maple syrup for 5 bucks.
Age 14- Places second at junior national team trials.

             Meets all qualifying standards to be on junior team except age. Too young.

             Qualifies for and races in senior trials.

             Tosses string of firecrackers into crowd of racers at exact wrong/right time depending on your

             perspective.
Age 15- Wins junior trials. Places 4th at junior world championships. Races in his first world cup race

             with the senior team.    

             Wore spiked purple mowhawk in junior worlds parade.
Age 16- Wins junior pre-world championship race. Places 4th at senior team trials.

             Races in his first senior worlds.

             Misses enough school to fail, but, has friends in high places. This trend continues through     

             high school.
Age 17- First boat on both junior and senior teams.
Age 18- No more junior races. Frustrated by senior results internationally.
              Learns to compete. Has normal hair for most of the year.
Age 19- Designs his own boat. places 3rd in world cup. Makes Olympic team.

              New hair cut and color.