Barack Obama sits on a boat during a kitesurfing outing with British businessman Sir Richard Branson

Obama was not allowed to take part in any high adrenaline sports during his time as president

Branson says: ‘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 says: ‘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”’

‘We decided to set up a friendly challenge: could Barack learn to kitesurf before I learned to foilboard? We agreed to have a final day battle to see who could stay up the longest,’ Branson says

Obama practised kitesurfing off Necker island for two days solid

During the challenge, Branson managed to go for 50 metres on his foilboard

But Obama went more than 100 metres on his kiteboard …

… and won the challenge

Obama and Branson wrestle on a boat