What happened to them- Matt Pritchard

28/03/2022

PWA World Champion in 2004 and 2005 in the Super X discipline, also crowned in freestyle in 2002 and among the best windsurfers in the world, the American Matt Pritchard retired from the sport in 2008. Now 48 years old and more passionate than ever, he answers the questions of Windsurfjournal.com in the section "What happened to them".

Windsurfjournal.com: In a few lines, can you tell us about your life since you stopped your professional windsurfing career?
Matt Pritchard: I stopped competing in 2008. In 2009 I broke both my ankles riding motocross. It forced me to reset and rebuild life, which in many ways was a good thing I think. We had our first child as well, so the game of life changed quickly. It was all part of the plan to have kids and get into family life. I never lost the passion for windsurfing. I continued teaching private lessons and doing clinics at places I enjoyed going. I did the Aloha Classic in 2013 just for fun and had some great heats, finished 11th I think it was, almost in the top 10! Fast forward some years and I’m still doing the same thing as well as some real estate development.

WJ: What memories do you have of all those years?
MP: I have amazing memories of those years. Met great people and made a lot of friends. I think back to my first years on tour at 18 years old learning how to travel the world by myself. It was an adventure. When my brother joined me that is when the fun and work really began. We were on a mission to succeed and trained every day. We traveled all over getting to see the world and live our dreams. I think of the intensity we were operating at and what a challenge it was and getting to reap the rewards of it with some world titles. A standout memory was in 2002, my brother won the wave and race titles, so if I won the freestyle title it was a Pritchard Sweep. Talk about a pressure situation. There were 4 of us that had the potential to win, Nik Baker, Robby Swift, Ricardo Campello and Tonky Frans- It all happened in Bonaire and that was a memory I will never forget. I won the freestyle world title in 2002, that was a long time coming and it finally happened. In 2004 and 2005 I won the Supercross titles and missed winning the title in 2006 by an inch or so……

WJ: Are you still interested in professional windsurfing and how do you look at the sport today?
MP: Yes absolutely! I follow all the contests, I know most of the guys and I am still involved with Gaastra and Tabou helping to manage the team. I have been really impressed with the level these guys have taken the sport in the last 10 years. Really cool to see the new moves and how equipment has improved. I’m on the water a lot, mostly teaching people and when the conditions are good, not too big or small I get out and ride the waves with the goal of not getting hurt!