President Obama Enjoys Kitesurfing With Richard Branson, Inspires Memes

by Hillary Luehring-JonesFebruary 8, 2017, 5:06 pmNews, News Feed >

President Obama was seen effortlessly kitesurfing while on vacation in the British Virgin Islands.

OBAMA KITESURFS ON VACATION WITH RICHARD BRANSON

Obama seems to be enjoying his time off after eight years as president, celebrating with a long vacation with Michelle and Sasha, as well as Virgin Group founder Richard Branson. The president was seen rocking a backwards hat aside Michelle in jean shorts on the beach.

Now photos and video have emerged of Obama kitesurfing with a huge smile on his face. Apparently Branson made a bet with the president about who could hang on longer. The 55-year-old is a clear natural.

“Barack and I both fell many times, but we kept trying again and again and made progress over the days,” Branson wrote on his website. “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. 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.”

This should be unsurprising, as the former president grew up in Hawaii and already knew how to surf. Video of Obama bodysurfing also emerged in 2008.

“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,” 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.’ For the next eight years he didn’t have the chance to surf, enjoy water sports or do many of the things he loved.”

Of course the internet made multiple memes about Obama’s kitesurfing adventure, with many asserting that Obama is the only person happy that Obama is no longer in the White House. Others joke that Obama is like an ex one has that posts adventurous photos to make you jealous of his new life.