Richard Branson: addicted to kitesurfing

Richard Branson is addicted to kitesurfing. The Virgin mogul is a frequent Guinness World Record beater, and his favorite spot is Necker Island.

"I learned to kitesurf on Necker twelve years ago. It was lethally dangerous. When you fell, you'd be dragged underwater 100 feet, and you prayed you didn't hit a reef," reveals Branson.

"I survived with not too many injuries, and it's been the best sport ever since. I will kitesurf if the wind's up, get half an hour away from Blackberries and iPhones, then come back completely refreshed, ready to go."

"There are very high-powered people - like Larry Page from Google and others - that kitesurf, and I think they do because they see it as therapeutic, as well as a lovely way to keep the body fit."

"If you're not doing sports, it's a great pity because life is so much better if you do sports. All you need is a kite and a board, and off you go. You need a sympathetic person to spend four or five hours teaching you, then you've got a lifetime of pleasure ahead. I 100 percent recommend it," concludes Richard Branson.

Top Stories

After a four-year wait for the perfect storm, one of the fiercest kitesurfing events in the world has been contested once again in the Netherlands.

Kiteboarding will make its Olympic debut in Paris 2024. Here is everything you must know about the event and the qualified athletes.

Legendary British kiteboarding brand Flexifoil is for sale.

In an electrifying display of kiteboarding prowess, 19-year-old Italian Andrea Principi has been crowned the champion of the prestigious Red Bull King of the Air competition, held in Cape Town, South Africa.