Kevin Pritchard - From PWA champion to mast videographer

by Erik Simonson www.pressure-drop.us on 18 May 2011 The last time Kevin Pritchard competed at a sailing competition at Waddell Creek was 1997, and he was just reaching his prime. The following year he narrowly missed out on upsetting Bjorn Dunkerbeck for the overall world title after defeating Bjorn in the waves in the Canaries.

This year he returned not only as a master sailor still active in the PWA tour but also as a videographer with a unique and distinct style which is already turning heads and gaining recognition. Assisting the American Windsurfing Tour along with brother Matt whom has become the event's head judge and competition coordinator, Kevin's splitting his time between sailing and shooting and editing. His company, Maui Nerd Productions he founded with Johannes Nuemann, has made great strides in early existence and is setting a high bar when it comes to laying down some tape in a quick fashion with impact and style.

Some of Kevins handiwork:
Santa Cruz Classic day two from American Windsurfing Tour


Santa Cruz Classic day three from American Windsurfing Tour

Born and raised in Southern California, he and brother Matt began sailing in lat 80's at the Ponds in Palm Springs. A year later they entered there first contest at the Gorge in the 88' Pro AM. They immediately excelled in the big breeze and large ramps, and quickly got noticed by the media and sponsors, and would return to the Columbia River each Summer until 1993.

The brothers moved to Maui in 1994 and pursued the Pro Circuit. Between the two of them, they have accumulated 11 titles, 3 for Matt and 8 for Kevin, not that anyone is counting.

We got Kevin to slow down long enough to answer a few q's on his new endeavors, and learned the following:

Q: What are your inspirations?

A: I love Vimeo. You can watch and learn so much from that. For photos I have always checked out www.fredmiranda.com as they have a forum on there that I would put my photos on and they would slag them off so much that I had to improve. It was a good learning lesson for me.

Q: What was your first camera or video camera?

A: My first camera was the a Bell and Howell that my grandmother gave me. It took two shots for every one frame. So on a 24exp roll of film it would take 48 shots. I love it.

Q: Are you utilizing gopro?

A: I don't use it enough. The images from there are so very nice and it is an incredible tool.

Q: What was your training in visual arts??

A: Just watching loads of videos and web clips. I love a well product video project.

Q: When did you and Johannes first collaborate?

A: We first started collaborating in 2009 working on a small project for myself. It was fun and came out great. We only got it to this stage http://vimeo.com/9733236 but we were hoping to make a full length dvd.

Q: Current gear you are using?

A Now I am using the Canon 7d exclusively. I think it is an amazing camera. I just sold my Canon 1dMK4 and it was a beautiful camera but for video which I am doing more of now, I use the 7d and it works pretty good.

Q: How did you and Matt get involved with AWT?

A: Matt and I started talking to Sam Bittner in the early stages of the Pistol River Wave Bash last year. Matt has been helping out with the judging and running of the event while I have been helping out on the promotional side of the event.

Q: What's your feelings on seeing the old gang and hitting some mainland spots after all these years?

A: Oh it is so cool. It is like a family reunion. You know I have not been able to make it around the USA very much since 94. I have traveled all over Europe and now I can focus on doing some stuff in the USA. I am totally stoked.

Q: How much sailing do you get in these days vs strictly training days in the past?

A: I still sail pretty much every day it is good. I am working with Ezzy Sails now and we are testing and working all the time on them. It is working out pretty good. I love the sails and now can just focus on making the sails better and better.

Q: You are spitting out video from the event in rather rapid fashion, what's the key to getting shot, edited and posted in such an expeditious time frame?

A: Well, it is not that easy and the biggest problem is we don't get to go to any of the parties since we are working on the videos at night. Combine that with competing and doing the photos, Maui Nerd Productions is a one stop shop. Last year at the Pistol River Wave Bash, I did it on my own with help from my girlfriend. This year Johannes has come along and that has made my life so much easier. The key to making it all happen in a short amount of time is to make sure you shoot your shot you want and get it done in one shot. Don't keep shooting the same shot over and over. Get the shot, make it count and move on to the next shot.

Q: Toughest assignment thus far?

A: The toughest assignment so far as been producing a TV show on the PWA Event in Vietnam. We had to make 2 27 minute shows and have it come out looking pro. It was way over our heads but I think we pulled it off. It has been shown on ESPN Asia and in France with Canal +. So that was really cool, but just too much work for two guys to produce. We shot, logged, story boarded, scripted, edited, the whole thing with juts 2 people. It was crazy.

Q: Future projects and goals??

A: Well after the Vietnam show, we will now be working with the Red Bull Media house on a show for the upcoming event in Aruba. It will be the same sort of thing but we will have two more people working with us and also it will be edited at the RB Media house in Austria with Johannes. So that is pretty dang cool. I told my girlfriend it is like one dream after the next. Winning a bunch of World Titles then getting to work with Red Bull on some projects for filming. Talk about living the dream!!!

Thanks Kevin!

Erik Simonson website or photograph website
Maui Nerd American Windsurfing Tour website