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Written by Matt Pritchard
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Sunday, 07 June 2009 |
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All the PWA boys left town the day before the first Maui Race Series event of the season….. I went down to support the freaks and watch the action. The wind was perfect, the sun was shining and everybody was pumped up for the racing action.
The morning session saw the age division categories go first- There is a class for everyone out there and it is good to see some beginners learning how to race. The Juniors are getting to be a big class. Connor Baxter, Kai Lenny, Zane Schwietzer, Bent Rodreiger as well as the little man Dennis battled the incredibly huge Jake Gomes who was fast, very fast.
Carla Aguera was showing the girls how to get it done- she is smooth and calm out there and makes it look easy.
Peter Beil showed the men’s 19 class that he was a force. All that testing for Neil Pryde is paying off for him. He dominated the class.
Phil McGain showed up 10 minutes before the start and looked to be out of form. I thought someone borrowed his gear or something- he was falling on his jybes and sailing around in mid pack most of the time….. he said he was saving it from the pro class in the afternoon.
Captain Greg Thomas, the Kanaha local had a crash after the finish line that left his knee in limbo- he was rushed off to the hospital in pain. Hopefully he is going to be ok-
The wind kept picking up and by the afternoon it was gusting to 30 knots. The boys were flying….. I took some video but have yet to learn to edit- that is Kev’s department. I saw a lot of people making a lot of mistakes out there- I don’t like to give unsolicited advice but sometimes can’t help myself. When Kev gets back from Costa Brava, we are going to re-do CHAMP CAMP on June 27 and 28th. So if any of you guys want to stop making mistakes, get signed up!
My leg was getting pretty tired from standing and sitting around all day- I sure was missing the racing action to say the least. I watched most of the pro races and saw McGain back to his old self where he dominated the class. It was a new perspective for me sitting on the beach- I learned a lot.
Keep an eye out on the blog- Let’s get KP fired up to get on top of that podium in Costa Brava- he has had some bad luck in the first two races! Time to turn it up- I also just noticed he is twittering or jittering whatever that is….. you can follow him around the world on the right side of the screen- Technology these days!
Till next time, enjoy the wind, sun and have lots of fun!
MP
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Saturday, 30 May 2009 |
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Last day to buy something from the Pritchard Pro Shop to get your entry into the Free Gaastara Poison. This is a big giveaway so make sure you get those last little video orders, how about the 2009 93 Futura?? We also got the Kode 94 on special right now so get buying and you might just get lucky!! 
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Friday, 29 May 2009 |
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Well I dont know if you guys ever go to www.pritchardimaging.com so i figured I will post the photos on here as well. Can you tell there is no wind here?? 
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Thursday, 28 May 2009 |
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Had a nice shoot with Jasmine today... Check out www.pritchardimaging.com
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Written by Matt Pritchard
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 |
Everyone on Maui is blaming me for the lack of wind and waves we have had for the past 3 months….. could it really be my fault? Are my broken legs really the reason the wind hasn’t blown in months? I don’t know but I have been counting the good days that I have missed since breaking both of my legs and I am still counting on my first hand- Seriously, I have not missed more than 5 good days!
Yes, I’m a little spoiled but you can ask just about anyone that has been here and they will tell you Maui has been TERRIBLE for windsurfing. I have never seen a year so bad!
For me, I’m in recovery mode. I have been putting in a lot of time on my Mac computer that I just love- (no, I’m not sponsored by them) and doing rehab on my legs. I spend a couple hours a day at Upcountry Fitness, pedaling on the stationary bike and keeping my body in tip top condition. I have just been released to start bearing weight on my left side and am basically learning how to walk all over again. That is pretty painful but it is one step closer to getting back on the water! I am still using crutches to assist me so I don’t’ walk the wrong way- you have to go through the proper motions and as you get that down, then you can lose the crutches so I’m told…. Make sense to me.
Now that the healing is done, the real work begins. You have to push but not too hard. You have to feel pain, but not too much. I don’t like to be a cry baby, so I push through and do what needs to be done. At the end of the day, my left leg is pretty sore. But I think it needs a good kick in the pants to bring it back to life!
Speaking of back to life, I went out boogie boarding the other day and that was pretty fun. I crawl in and out of the water- that is pretty funny. Once I’m out there, you can’t even tell I have broken legs. I can’t kick that hard but just being in the water is awesome. I caught a couple waves, did some belly spins and realized how much I missed windsurfing.
You guys have been great at keeping the site up and going! We have had tons of visitors and hits. Lots of people getting some great deals on gear…. And speaking of new stuff, there are 4 DAYS LEFT till the drawing for the free Gaastra Poison takes place- If you are thinking about buying, now is the time!!!!!
Thanks for all the great emails and words of encouragement! I just want to start walking and get myself back on the water…. It has been a while to say the least.
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Monday, 25 May 2009 |
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Matt and I have been talking and wanted to extend an offer to train up anyone who is interested in doing some racing lessons next weekend. We are offering our first of hopefully many Champ Camp's. It is a two day event that will cover training everything there is to know about racing, from what to do when you wake up the day of the race, starting, gybing, passing, and any other possible questions you guys want to come up with. Our idea is also for video analization on Sunday after a good round of on the water training and filming on Saturday. Matt is going to go out on the jet ski and do some start sequences, it should be tons of fun! Hopefully we will get some interest and some wind as well. If there is no wind you will get your money back.. So come out and get ready for your summertime races!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Friday, 22 May 2009 |
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Well I didnt win the event but I figured might as well get some cool shots while I am here. The place where the windsurfing event is here in Korea is right beside one of the biggest harbors in the world. It holds some amazingly big ships so JC and I were talking about this all week and we had an opportunity so we ran with it and went ship hunting.. It was pretty amazing how big those ships were.. and how much cargo they must put on one to make it sink that deep in the water. On one of the shots you can see the propeller.. pretty cool I think...Anyhow, I have been so into this twitter thing.. seems much easier to keep you guys updated easily.. anyhow, got to go catch a flight... back to maui.. cant wait!!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Wednesday, 20 May 2009 |
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Sitting in the rain in Korea at the moment. Have any of you guys used that Twitter thing?? Wondering if I should use that combined with my web site thing?? Would it be cool??
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Monday, 18 May 2009 |
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Well I had a better day today.. i got third in the last race of the day and that was great for me. I could have maybe charged a bit harder but still got into the race a bit more. Today we actually had really good wind and that made it alot easier for me. We were actually planing out of the gybes.. So that was fun :) Just got the end of the round from yesterday and one more round. Only a couple more days left and I hope to make some improvements once again.
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Sunday, 17 May 2009 |
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Man I hate excuses.. i tell you, I guess excuses just means you aren't winning. I am pretty down at the moment. I mean, I trained hard, I have been focused, and I just dont know what is going on.. In the first elimination, I made it to the final only to have the boom come out of my hand at the first mark and come last in that one, lucky for me there were a couple overearlies.. the next one, I just made the final but then stopped at the first mark, and then the next two races I couldn't even get to the final. In the last one I was in transfering position and then got rammed on the inside by Arnon and totally blew my race, then I got a second chance when Finian took down Bjorn and himself, and then I got passed by ross on the last leg. I dont know what my deal is.. We did race all day long, with no food breaks, just one afte the other.. Not sure if any other sport in the world races from 1130 to 6:30 with out a break for food.. I know I am just whining but just letting it out.. maybe I will feel a bit better.. I am still trying my hardest.. what else can i do.. I even had pretty good starts in some fo the races...
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Sunday, 17 May 2009 |
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Well we just havent had much luck with the wind this year.. First two days looked promising but nothing... Oh well. Check out my face looking at the food here in Korea.. pretty funny.. Anyhow, IT has given me pleanty of time to work on my new photography website. I am still working on it but this is i think what the blog will look like.. you never know really but once i figure it all out it might change a bit.. If you or any of your friends are looking for any shots, weddings, portraits, fun vacation photos on MAUI... let me know. I can even travel if you like.. I am good at that.. Anyhow. Check out my site and let me know what you think.. www.pritchardimaging.com .. as you can see there are some tweaks that I need to make but other than that I think it looks pretty good! Some fun shots on there for sure... Well another sunny day here in Korea.. Maybe we will get some thermal winds or something..
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Friday, 15 May 2009 |
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Well the weather here in Korea is not that great at the moment. I have been working on my web site a bit, I am trying to start a photo website to get more weddings and portraits so it is a great time for that.. other than that not too much to report. They had hamburgers for breakfast, I am not a real fan of the food here but it is a cultural expirience.. to say the least.
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Wednesday, 13 May 2009 |
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Seven with Kevin
Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose the saying goes- Most of the time we are used to seeing multi-time World Champion Kevin Pritchard on top of the box. After the first PWA slalom event of the season, the veteran racer finds himself sitting in 7th place- good for some, disastrous for Kevin.
I got a chance to sit down with my bro and find out what is going on…..
MP: The first event of the year you never know what to expect out there- do you think you were a little nervous or something?
KP: Yeah, I am always nervous. I just blew the starts in the final.. that was it. Everytime I didn't even give myself a chance. And that sucks.
MP: I know you have been focusing on the racing discipline more so this year than others, do you think you are having a head trip on the whole thing?
KP: I definitely was ready and confident enough to win. I know I can do it if I get the good starts. For Korea I am focused on winning. I am trying not to focus and get too uptight just to go there and have fun and go hard and win.
MP: We know it is not your equipment slowing you down, could you isolate the mistakes you made and what you would have done differently if you could start over?
KP: Yeah my stuff is working really good. The speed is still not the problem it is the starts. When you are on the 9.3 and just barely plaining you can not make any mistakes at the start. There is no room for error. When you have 25 knots and open ocean swell, you can mess up here and there and still get around guys and go down the first leg with clean air. In the light stuff there is none of that. You got to be on it.
MP: How was your speed out there compared to the rest of the guys? Was the flat water/gusty winds a disadvantage to your setup? Did the 6/3 rule have any affect on your performance?
KP: Yeah like I said., my speed was fine. I was fast, just not used to lake conditions that is for sure. This year they are also not calling off the races like they did last year. We were sitting there for like 5 seconds out of some of the jibes and not plaining, just pumping so that was something new.
MP: What equipment did you register for the year?
KP: I went with the 133, 111, and 86 Starboard Isonics, and the 9.3, 8.4, 7.6, and 6.7 Gaastra Vapors.
MP: Have you made any changes coming in to Korea?
KP: Only in the mind.. Only in the mind.. Just trying to be focused relax and go for the win!
MP: Thanks for the update- good luck in Korea, we are watching…..
KP: Yeah I will do my best!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Wednesday, 13 May 2009 |
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Just on the way to Korea...Cant wait to get there.. I will give you an update when i get there!!!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Sunday, 10 May 2009 |
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Well sorry to dissapoint you guys but it is over and I did really not as well as I excpected.. We are now off to Korea and I it is a new event and a new challenge.. Learn from the mistakes and attack for the next event!!!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Friday, 08 May 2009 |
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Well another day of sitting around in Austria... not too much to do except relax and take in the beautiful Austrian weather. Sunny, warm, beautiful day. Looks like there is going to be a nice sunset on the lake this evening. Tomorrow we have the skippers meeting at 8:00 am for some possible thunderstorm wind or something?? Who knows with this place. Could be windy. Could be nothing.. One thing is for sure they sure love this festival that is here. Lots of people showing up for the weekend. Hopefully we get to put on a nice show for them on the water!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Thursday, 07 May 2009 |
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No wind today but check out Matt's weekly special! 
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Wednesday, 06 May 2009 |
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We have been racing here in Austria and the wind has been pretty good for Austria... It is very tough racing out here. Not one person has made every final so the racing is really mixed up. I have been doing very below my expectations but that is racing I guess. Need to let it all hang out and get on it. I seem to have the speed but just cant put it together in the final. It has been super gusty and really had to make the right sail choice. I have mainly been on the 8.4 and my 133 and it has been going really fast. I have been using the R 16 48cm fin and it feels really fast. I just need to get a good start in the final and I will be there.. Need to get win.. anyhow I will give it my best that is for sure. I am going out there prepared and ready to do the best I can do.. I will keep you posted!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Sunday, 03 May 2009 |
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Well I made it to Austria with all my bags.. well all mine plus Jimmy's bags so that was cool. We had 11 bags, 10 windsurfing bags and one clothes bag and they all made it. I got a great rate on the excess baggage, only $900 bucks.. Not too bad.. I was happy because the people have really been getting charged a lot. Be careful if you are flying out of Maui with a lot of bags on United, they seem to be the worse ones at the moment. However it all really comes down to who you get at the check in... Austria is beautiful, sunny, not a breath of wind but looks promising for the next week. So here we go!!
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Written by Kevin Pritchard
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Saturday, 02 May 2009 |
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Ready or not, here we come, Austria bound for the first stage of the 2009 PWA World Tour. I have started my journey, Maui, LAX, New York, London, Vienna. Got all packed up yesterday and ready to rip it up in Austria. I got all my boards/sails/fins tuned up and am more prepared for this than I have been in a long time. I guess I got no excuses this year. I have put on 30 pounds of weight this year, and yeah I am a bit of a fatty but hey, maybe that will help me go fast. I have the Gaastra Vapors ready to rip, with my Starboard Isonic's... Should be an interesting year!
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