Richard Branson and former President Barack Obama competed in a friendly kitesurfing/foilboarding challenge while the Obamas were vacationing in the British Virgin Islands.
The trip was the first time Obama has been able to enjoy such water sports since becoming president eight years ago under the watchful eye of the Secret Service, Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, wrote in a blog post.
“For the next eight years he didn’t have the chance to surf, enjoy watersports or do many of the things he loved,” wrote Branson, who invited the Obamas to vacation at Mosikto Island after they left the White House for good in January. "So it was tremendous to offer him the chance to learn to kitesurf."
CNN described kitesurfing as riding on a surfboard while holding onto a kite.
Obama and Branson decided to turn the fun activity into a friendly competition, pitting Obama kitesurfing against Branson on a foilboard, which is a surfboard with a hydrofoil that lifts that board above the water.
After a couple of days learning their respective sports, the two had a final battle to see who could stay up the longest.
“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 meters, three feet above the water,” Branson wrote in his blog post. “I was feeling very pleased with myself, only to look over and see Barack go 100 meters on his kiteboard! I had to doff my cap to him and celebrate his victory.”