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Kristin
Virgin Active announced that Sir Richard Branson, who turns 60 years old July 18, 2010, will celebrate by kitesurfing the English channel in August. Branson will surf the channel in the company of his nephews, children and friends, and will become the oldest person to cross the channel. The crossing from Dungeness to the French coast is estimated to take up to six hours depending on conditions, and stretches 24.4 miles across one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
“Kitesurfing is one of my favorite sports. I absolutely love the amazing rush you get when going at high speeds, in high winds, with the most beautiful kite acting as your only guide. I know that kitesurfing across the channel will not be quite the same as kitesurfing in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean but I can’t think of anything I rather do, with my family and friends, to celebrate turning 60!
My wife swears I get more barking as I get older – this year I’ve almost crippled myself running 26.2 miles in my first marathon and now I’m putting my poor 60 year old bones through an arduous 24.4 miles, over water, hanging onto a giant kite! Joan could have a point! But as Holly, Sam and my nephews will be doing it with me – at least I can claim the whole family is barking and at the end of the day they are Joan’s children as well – so she’s 50% responsible! Thankfully Virgin Active has been fantastic in helping us prepare for the big day.”
Challenge sponsor Virgin Active UK, part of the global health club chain founded by Sir Richard ten years ago, has been advising Sir Richard and the team on their physical preparations for the crossing. Key requirements are well developed core strength and the ability to react to sudden changes in the environment caused by wind and waves. Virgin Active has compiled a training package for Branson and the team ahead of the crossing, which combines some of Virgin Active’s latest and most innovative equipment including;
“Kitesurfing is a hugely challenging sport physically, that places very different strains and stresses on the body, compared to traditional gym based exercise,” said Nick Hudson, Virgin Active’s national fitness manager. “So we have had Sir Richard and the team using some of our less traditional training tools and equipment.”
All of the team’s equipment and livery has been designed and kindly donated by Flexifoil International, the UK’s leading kitesurf and power kiting brand, with unparalleled experience over almost 40 years in premium quality land and water kite design and manufacturing. Branson will be undertaking the challenge on Flexifoil’s brand new Ion kite, the latest generation in a well established line of high performance kitesurf kites.
“We’re delighted to be supporting Richard and the team for this challenge,” said Tim Davis, UK head of brand and marketing at Virgin Active. “It’s an ideal event for our brand to be involved with and demonstrates our approach to challenging how the health club sector markets itself.”
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Sir Rich , You LUCKY guy !! if your looking for a pesant boy to help out with gear and Kiting . i would be willing to take the bullet for you … Aloha!!! Jody ….
Wow !! Fun life!! Waking up to a new kiteboarding , sailing , adventure, blue water, warm sunny beaches. aaaaah… if Sir Richard ever gets to Utah Mid Jan , stop off for some top of hill snowkiting, could even have some old farm dogs chase him across a field. things we do for fun.. gotta get back to work for i get fired… oh yea … I am at work…. still having fun though… keep smiling everyone. hope to see you on open fields or blue water , sandy beaches… aloha Jody