Richard Branson vs Barack Obama - kiteboard and foilboard challenge

[Sunlei]

It was a huge honour to be able to invite President Barack and Michelle Obama down to the British Virgin Islands for a complete break after Barack finished his second term as President and the family left the White House.

One of the first stories Barack told me when he and Michelle arrived on Moskito Island was how, just before he became President, he had been surfing on a dangerous break in Hawaii. When he came in from an exhilarating session, the new head of his security team turned to him and said: “This will be the last time you surf for eight years.” For the next eight years he didn’t have the chance to surf, enjoy watersports or do many of the things he loved.

So it was tremendous to offer him the chance to learn to kitesurf. The sport has really taken off in the past decade and we have the perfect conditions and team to help anyone learn. I have also wanted to learn foilboard surfing. So we decided to set up a friendly challenge: could Barack learn to kitesurf before I learned to foilboard? We agreed to have a final day battle to see who could stay up the longest.

As you can see in the video, Barack and I both fell many times, but we kept trying again and again and made progress over the days. We were neck and neck until the last run on the last day, when I got up on the foilboard and screamed along for over 50 metres, three feet above the water. I was feeling very pleased with myself, only to look over and see Barack go 100 metres on his kiteboard! I had to doff my cap to him and celebrate his victory.

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/richard-vs-barack-kiteboard-and-foilboard-challenge

[LakeArenal]

1. Sigh... wish we (all of us) were there!

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

2. About time our side won something this week!

Thanks.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. He looks so relaxed. I'm thrilled that he's getting some much deserved R&R.

[IcyPeas]

4. be careful Mr. President

I didn't think his smile could get any bigger.