Kevin Pritchard wins the race against kitesurfers at Baja, Mexico. Fantastic winds came blowing down the Sea of Cortez for the big Lord of the Wind Showdown at Los Barriles. The competition was to take some fast kiters against some fast windsurfers and have an all out duel for $3500 in cash! It was a three mile upwind and downwind course, and the fastest man, woman, or child could take a stab at winning the purse.
KP on Infinity 8,5 and iSonic 133 (Pic: Pritchard windsurfing).
During the pre race riders meeting, there was already a preheated battle when the organizers were talking about dividing up the prize money into the different classes. The overall winner would take $2000 and the winnner of the division that didn’t win, being kiteboards or windsurfing, would get $1000.The kiteboards spoke up and said nope, we want to take all the money and beat down the windsurfers.
PRITCHARD VS. KITEBOARDERS
So, it was off to the water to settle the score. At the start of the race, the kiteboarders opened up with all the confidence in the world, with John Hieneken out in front. Kevin Pritchard was the windsurfers ace card and had a reasonably safe start but gave up some distance. As the kites battled against the windsurfers, inch by inch, the crafty Pritchard started turning up the speed. With a bit of an extra drive from the earlier riders meeting, Pritchard was holding down his board and sail as best he could to prove to the world, who still could make it around a course faster. And who made it to the top first, non other than Kevin Pritchard, flying his new Ezzy two cam Infinity sails, mounted to his Isonic 133 Slalom board.
KP wins the race against the kitesurfers (Pic: Pritchard windsurfing).
Knowing that the kites could make up some time on the downwind, Pritchard put the hammer down and went flying off the wind. It was three miles down wind to the finish. At the end Pritchard claimed victory over some of the worlds best kiteboarders by around a minute faster. In fact the first kiteboarder pumped his fist going across the line in stoke for his victory, not even being able to see Pritchard, cause he was so far out in front!
Super satisfied after the race (Pic: Pritchard windsurfing).
“This was a memorable victory. The kiters were so confident that they were going to win, it put a fire under me. I really was just down in Baja to hang out with my brother and his family and do some windsurfing. When they started talking it up, I was like ok, lets do this. I went, got my 8.5 two cam sail, and my big slalom board and put it down. The wind was perfect, and they must feel pretty bad getting beaten by not even a race sail! It was great, the whole beach was cheering for me, and I think they had heard enough of the kiteboarders talking it up. Even some of the kiters were stoked to see the windsurf still hold the edge! It was really fun in the end, especially since the windsurfing took the victory. I felt like it was a victory for all windsurfers, not just for myself. It felt great!” said Kevin Pritchard after his victory.
© Pritchard windsurfing 2011, Lord of the Wind 2011
You can watch the event as well on Epicsessions.tv. They are streaming the action live from Baja, Mexico. Time zone: UTC – 7 hrs.
glad to see you windsurfers win a race, it’s true we kiters get a big head and need to get slapped down now and again but please dont hate us.
peace
I did windsurfing from 10 to 30 years old. Stopped for it became boring. At 34 started kite on my snowboard with our long winters and lot of snow. Then went to try kitesurf and it got me hooked. I can ride from 12 to 30 kt on my 12m, it really is great for our gusty winds here. It also jumps way better with smooth landings. Kitesurf is more convenient and performs better and it is much smoother on your body. I have knee injuries which made my last years of windsurf painful. A lot of kitesurfers are ex… Read more »
Very well done, KP! Windsurf, kite or surf, it’s all good as long as the people are good. But such attitudes as that of the kiters not willing to divide the prize among categories, or of the second to arrive that raised his fist in sign of victory not being able to see the real winner up ahead, definitely deserve what they received. My best water friends happen to be among kiters, but not in such league. Everyone deserves respect. No one is entitled to feel superior for any reason. Sadly not many kiters reckon that, don’t know the reason… Read more »
I remember about 15 years ago when Kevin came down to Cabrillo Beach and entered one of our Sunday Bell-Buoy races, and he was back on the beach before the next best racer even made it upwind to the buoy! Fast then and still fast now – Congrats Kevin!! Hopefully you are still in Baja and are racing in the La Ventana Classic which starts today?
Windsurf, Kite, or Surf – it’s all good – that’s what real watermen think!
🙂 be happy guys 🙂 combine the elements be better on and off the water 🙂 congrats for Kevin 🙂 and that case should be a good motivation for all wind and kite surfers 🙂