Interview of Nayra Alonso
Using a profile method, can you describe yourself on a physical and a psychological point of view?
- NAME: Nayra Alonso
- DOB.:13-01-79
- HEIGHT: 165 cm.
- WEIGHT: 56 kg.
- VIRTUES: passionate.
- DEFECT: too passionate sometimes!
- HOBBIES: other sports as surfing, tennis, gym, etc. reading and to be with my friends.
- HOME: Gran Canaria.
- SPONSORS: Fanatic, Severne, Rip Curl, VW, B3 Tarifa and PJT Team.
What makes you better than the average?
I am not better than anyone. I am myself, just that. I am perseverant and I like to work hard and feel happy with what I do.
What does windsurf brought you?
It brought me happiness, the life and experiences I dreamed of, and it brought into my life the best persons I know, and luckily he became my boyfriend.
Do you think owing something to this sport ?
Yes, I owe to this sport all what I am now. I owe this sport my happiness everyday and I owe this sport the person I share my life with.
Do you consider creating your own brand?
No. I don't think I am a good businessperson in that way. I work hard, but I am not adventurous enough to launch a whole new brand. But who know what future will bring us.
For you, when did windsurf stopped being a simple leisure to become a real passion?
The very first time I spent a day in the water with a windsurf equipment.
Do you think it's hard to become a professional windsurfer? And why?
There are a lot of different ways to be a professional windsurfer. Some people do competitions, some people just do travel stories, some people are just crazy and push the sport into another level out of the competition. It is difficult in all of the areas, but as anything in life I think that if you know what you want, you work hard and you like and love what you do, most of the times you get to where you want to go.
Competitions' organization isn't very good, what's your opinion regarding this?
Well, if you mean bout the PWA, It is very difficult to run this kind of organizations. It is easy to see things from outside and have a personal opinion about how things should be done. But things are really complicate when you have to do the best for loads of different groups. There is the sailors side that want more events, in better places, with more prize money, (and we have freestyle sailors, wave sailors, racers, super X sailors, everyone wants more in their way). Then you have the organizers point of view, looking for the most profitable event possible. You also have the public, who likes more some disciplines than others. You also have the sponsors, who also want to get the most from their invest, they want coverage, they want public, they want big names in the competitions, etc. you have also the industry point of view, etc.. Also PWA has to look to protect the rights from the sailors and do the best for their future. so it is not easy to do all this and keep everybody happy. I think they are working hard, and trying their best, and hopefully everything is going much better and will get much better.
In soccer, seasons are overloaded, is it the case in windsurf?
Well, if you do all the disciplines you have a pretty hard season. But most of the people is doing one or two disciplines only, so normally is ok. But for a windsurfer the competitions is only one part of the job. You have articles to do, pictures to take, reports to write, tests to do, etc. we are not as overloaded as the soccer players, but we are not as well paid neither!
Will windsurf came back to his golden age or will it stay a summer sport?
I think windsurfing is in an inflexion point. The sport has been changing in the last years with the new inputs from the young freestylers and the new school wave sailors. It is getting closer and more accessible to younger people and the equipment for kids is now more available and adapted for them. I think windsurfing is starting a new era and we will see the results in a very short time, I think.
What wish would you have to improve windsurf?
I wish we could have more wave events. I wish we got a Tour sponsor soon that allow us to have a bigger tour and show how amazing this sport can be.Also I wish I could see more girls been able to compete and have better sponsors to afford to go and travel the world sailing in better places and improving their level.
What would be the best innovation in windsurf equipment?
Smaller and lighter production stuff for girls. If we do some maths, there is no wonder why girls cannot ride as good, or move as quick. we are sailing with stuff that is normally supposed to be for a person at least ten kilos heavier.
Freestyle session, write whatever you want.
I want to thank all my sponsors for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to live my dream, they are the best!!!!!And I would like just to say: Be happy, enjoy your sailing, and go for you dreams, whatever they are.
Internet Website:www.nayrae4.com
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