Windsurfers beat Kitesurfers at Lord of the Wind, Baja
Baja, Mexico- Fantastic winds came blowing down the Sea of Cortez for the
big Lord of the Wind Showdown. The competition was to take the fastest
kiters in the world against the fastest windsurfers in the world 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.
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. So it was off to the water to settle the
score.
At the start of the race, the kiteboards 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 Slalom board. 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 the young Pritchard, cause he was so far out in front!
“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 slalom board and put it down. The wind was perfect, and
they must feel pretty bad getting beat 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!” – Kevin Pritchard