“Kevin Pritchard has 8 windsurfing world titles and also makes films about windsurfing. Being the subject of his latest sport short, “Take 1”, makes me one of the happiest pro windsurfers on and off the water.

When Kevin showed me the first edit, I got goosebumps (or as they say in Hawaii: chicken-skin). It was surreal to see one of windsurfing’s heroes making a short about me. Some of my earliest memories of watching windsurfing events involve seeing Kevin boost 50 feet in the air before rotating into a delayed forward rotation. Or, when I was 16 and competing as the youngest pro on my second year of the professional windsurfing tour, KP added yet another world title to his collection.

Being filmed by a legend has benefits beyond the cool factor. Windsurfing is one of the hardest sports to film, according to every filmmaker I have ever worked with. The first take is the only take. Each wave breaks differently than every other wave. Framing can’t be planned but must be improvised. The strong winds vibrate the camera and the long lens required to keep a tight frame on the windsurfer half a mile out to sea.

There is only one take for every shot. If that take is blown, the whole shot is gone.

When nothing is planned, having an 8x world champion behind the lens makes a difference. He can read me as I read the waves, anticipating my maneuvers. It’s like a dance to an unfamiliar song with a familiar partner.

KP doesn’t have to imagine what its like to jump 50 feet into the air or drop into a 50 foot wave at jaws. He has done all that and more. When I take a foot off my board during a back rotation, I know that he was the first one to do it, winning a world title off that jump in 2002.

And even with Kevin’s skill, shots still get missed. By some version of murphy’s law it seems that the best moves escape capture and must live forever as a memory. Making a short like this, even just 4 minutes in length, takes a few months of filming.

My favorite part of Kevin’s edit is that it feels really honest: the feeling it gives reminds me of what it is like to be on the water.”

Music: “Bullet Train” by Stephen Swartz Ft. Joni Fatora

(Part 1 of a series of videos by Kevin Pritchard)

Click on sail image for zoom view

Color Choices – Based on Head Color

Gold | Black

 The Legacy Series – an all new “stripped down” collection from Ezzy.

At the heart of the Legacy is the bare elements of David’s design philosophy.  The Legacy Sails deliver all the power, range and stability you have come to expect from Ezzy but with a twist.  We keep a utilitarian philosophy with the Legacy by removing all the extra features present on our premiere sails.
A high performance wave and freeride collection that delivers awesome performance for your more budget-minded customers.

Here is a review from Simon Bassett from 2XS in the UK

Ezzy Legacy 5.2 – 2013 Sail Test

I tested the  new Ezzy legacy last weekend in El Medano Tenerife – firstly is great to get back into a shorty and sail in air temperatures of 24c in full sunshine,  it ensured leaving the 3 degree UK air temp was no hardship.

The Ezzy 2013 Legacy is Ezzy’s  first take on price point orientated sail, though first impressions  I wouldn’t put it this category but knowing Dave Ezzy well it didn’t surprise me. He’s not a man to cut corners on performance and quality just to save a few dollars, he’s even been able to keep the look sharp with clean graphics for a cool looking sail. With a profile and dimensions appear to be similar to that of the Panther 3 / Tiger, you’d easily mistake the Legacy as a flagship model if you’re coming to Ezzy from some another brand.

With time on my hands I took the unusually task of reading the instructions before rigging on the recommended Ezzy RDM mast, rigging the sail using the wind setting dots on the leach of the sail as my guide I found it very easy to tune the downhaul even though the Legacy come with a pulley less D-ring. Popping on a boom and setting the outhaul to the recommended max for a super windy El Medano (4.2 – 4.5 weather) I noted admission of setting marks in the boom cut out area,and no built in mast pad. Looking closely there’s a new  lighter luff material and a difference in the amount of seaming in the sail, a little less batten reinforcement compared to the Elites and Tiger and no neoprene piece by the head cap.(You can buy the extra mast pad,pulleys for the Ezzy legacy if you want them )

On the water the vision through the Legacy  is incredible, the translucent see through nature gives a full 360 view of the water .I really liked the forward and solid centre of effort, no pulling or moving in the gusts -the sail is very stable and , if felt good to back on a 5 batton sail. Cost savings normally hit performance first yet I’m not only surprised but happy to report that Dave Ezzy has been able to produce the sail without effecting your performance on the water. The 5.2 legacy felt good wave riding, stable, smooth and easy to de power yet was spot on when you switched the power back on . So good was the performance, shut your eye’s and to would be fairly hard to decide if you’re on a Legacy or Tiger.

KP’s 360 air that helped seal the deal!

From Pritchard Windsurfing.com (words by Matt Pritchard)

Wow, what a day it was….. Some great action going on at Hookipa yesterday! Was pretty stoked to see my bro turn it up and do what he knows how to do. He had the toughest 2nd heat I have seen ever- kinda like a final in all reality. Jason Polakow decided to enter last minute and with no ranking he was just thrown in the mix and like what always has happened at Hookipa in the past, the local rippers end up going against the top seeds early on! There are too many great heats and great sailors to mention all of them so just keep your eye on the LIVE FEED coming from the AWT site.

For all of you guys that have ever taken a lesson or clinic with me and heard me tell you to get your weight more forward and front arm extended….. Here are couple pics that really stood out to me! One is of Kev and the other is of Levi. They are controlling the rail and utilizing SPEED to their advantage.

From American Windsurfing:

“Wow! What a day we had at Ho’okipa yesterday for Day 4 of the Maui Makani classic! The swell had dropped off but was still substantial enough to provide some logo to mast high sets. The wind pushed through by mid afternoon and most men had rigged 4.7 – 5.0 with the women choosing 3.7- 4.2. It was an emotional day for former world champ and Maui local Kevin Pritchard as he hammered through heat by heat and finally grabbed the title at Ho’okipa for the single elimination.”

Punta San Carlos AWT Cactus Cup from American Windsurfing Tour on Vimeo.

Check out more umi videos at umipictures.com

Maui Son: Graham Ezzy from umi pictures on Vimeo.

Michel owns and operates “Multigliss Sarl”.

Here is some footage of Michel and Jesse Brown enjoying a session at the Hatchery.