Alpha-male Obama turns kitesurfer
BRITAIN: After leaving the White House Barack Obama pledged to fight for social justice and to help to lead the resistance to President Trump.
The first challenge of his new life as a private citizen, however, was rather more exotic – learning how to kitesurf with Sir Richard Branson in the aquamarine waters off the tycoon’s holiday hideaway in the British Virgin Islands.
Obama and his wife, Michelle, spent about a week as guests of Branson on the billionaire’s two private Caribbean retreats – the islands of Necker and Moskito.
‘‘One of the first stories Barack told me when he and Michelle arrived was how, just before he became president, he had been surfing on a dangerous break in Hawaii,’’ Branson said. ‘‘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’.’’
The story led to Branson suggesting that Obama, now free of the constraints of a sitting president, accept a friendly challenge. So could the ex-president learn the sport of kitesurfing – a cross between surfing and paragliding – before Branson learnt to foilboard, in which a board fitted with a hydrofoil lifts that rider above the surface of the water?
The two men – both it would seem competitive, alpha-male types – agreed to the contest. Obama, 55, began by learning to fly a kite on the white sands of Necker ‘‘for two days solid’’. It was as if the former president were ‘‘going back to being a child again’’, Branson, 66, said. Then came the promised duel.
‘‘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,’’ Branson wrote in a blog. ‘‘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.’’
He added: ‘‘After all he has done for the world, I couldn’t begrudge him his well-deserved win.’’
Obama had promised his wife he would take her on a ‘‘very nice vacation’’ after they left the White House. And it appeared they were able to switch off.
They were seen strolling around in flipflops; Michelle Obama, who is 53, wore a fedora, her hair in pigtails, while he wore shades and a baseball cap backwards.
During his holiday he did take time to condemn the immigration restrictions imposed by Trump, saying through a spokesman that he ‘‘fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion’’.
Branson now wants to take Obama on a 20-kilometre trip by kiteboard from Necker to Anegada Island. His Virgin brand is a sponsor of international kitesurfing competitions. – The Times