Currently ranked fourth in the 2009 PWA Womens Wave Rankings, Nayra Alonso (Fanatic, Severne) tells us how she's been preparing for this years competition on the North Sea, and what she's been up to since the last leg of wave competition in the Canaries. And not to be out done by his other half, John Skye (RRD, Naish, MFC) also had a few things to add.

PWA: What have you guys been up to since we last saw you in the Canaries?

Alonso: I have been at home in Gran Canaria, enjoying some down time after the stress of the summer events. It was a pretty good August, with really strong wind and waves. I took part in the Vargas Windsurfing Festival. A fun event Marcos Perez organizes every year at the beach. But mainly, I have been worrying about my shoulder which has been injured for a while now. It has basically been over worked, but as it was such a good summer I kept sailing. I was in quite a lot of pain, but still sailing, and therefore it's got worse. Hopefully I will be a good girl for the next few weeks and will be back to my usual self in time for the Colgate World Cup Sylt.

Skye: As Nayra says, It's been pretty relaxing, mainly in Gran Canaria. I had a few days in the north of Fuerte to get some starboard tack wave sailing which was really fun. Back home in Gran Canaria we had some great conditions too. August used to be pretty average, but the last couple of years it's been pretty amazing. I also spent a week working for the PWA as the press officer during the Ala?ati, Turkey World Cup. It's nice to do something different now and then and I really enjoyed the week. It was extremely hard work but really satisfying - so good luck Paul!

Then last week I joined Jem Hall on one of his coaching clinics. It was a looping clinic so basically 10 guys throwing themselves over the front for a week. I must have done about 100 flat water loops! I've got quite a bruised arse now!

PWA: Sounds like an awesome summer. How are you preparations coming along for Sylt?

Alonso: I have sailed loads since the last contest, so I don't think there's much more I could do sailing wise right now. I am in the UK at the moment and I was hoping to have some rest from sailing to help my shoulder get better. But I also would like to get in the water a few times here to start getting use to the cold water.

Skye: I'm now in the UK hoping to get some good wind. We have so many different conditions here that we should be able to find something like Sylt, plus the water is a bit colder so we can get used to wearing a wetsuit again!