fair play branson!!!!!

[bathy1]

Video & Pictures: Richard Branson makes second attempt to kitesurf the Channel

 

60 years old and still pushing himself!!! bit of a legend in my books!

[5N1TCH]

Has anyone else noticed that Branson never completes any of these challenges on the first attempt? My theory is that this is to:

 

a) Get empathy from the public who think 'look at that Richard Branson, always picking himself up and dusting himself off before he has another go'

 

b) Generate extra headlines and therefore maximise publicity for his business empire

 

c) having to be rescued each time makes these endeavours appear far more hazardous and worthwile than they really are thereby generating extra kudos when he is successful

 

Cynicism aside, I wish Beardy well and hope he makes it this time

Edited August 25, 2010 by 5N1TCH
to add additional cynical observations

[smoo]

I reckon he would get lots of publicity if he took this passenger

http://media.egotastic.com/media/pictures/0904/denni-parkinson-nude-05.jpg

[tsp13]

The custom ions and protons they are using look very nice,

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs285.snc4/40605_151147261577945_100000480169845_426926_2595035_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs396.snc4/45894_151147291577942_100000480169845_426929_5815522_n.jpg

 

Found these pics on flexi's facebook

 

Log in | Facebook

[garc]

Naah. What a girl. We were out kiting all afternoon while he aborted his attempt.

[garc]

Naah. We were out kiting all afternoon while he aborted his attempt.

[xXRisingSunXx]

Damn I do love those Ions really nice graphics. Wonder if they will be sold to the public?

[g3legacy]

he looks like the classic noob down your local during summer. Great stuff

[Mad-Fly]

Bloody hell he,s not only crossing the channel but hes doing it on a flexifoil ion 4/5? not exactly a easy kite to hold onto over that sort of distance(not bashing ion kites i fly them to)good luck to him.

[Andy C]

What's the difference between an ION and any other SLE? higher bar pressure or what? Always thought of them as pretty forgiving kites although haven't flown them.

[Mad-Fly]

They do have reality high bar pressure compared to others not a problem for me as i don't know any different.And yes they do handle gusts well Its just the thought of hanging on to one for that kind of distance specially if the wind picked up a tad just thought their must be softer/less grunty flying kites to use that's all.

[Krazy Kiter]

really high bar pressure? sorry, but man up. they dont.

[tsp13]

I was just reading the comments on one of the pics and they had 50 of these kites made, don't think they had them all pumed up at once thought

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs208.ash2/47124_151604904865514_100000480169845_429101_95453_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs182.ash2/44535_151044591588212_100000480169845_426262_872267_n.jpg

[benbaron]

That looks cool all the same kites on the beach....

[Icatel]

Anyone know what spot that is..? water looks lovely and flat..

[russ_kent]

Lucky old beardy - why does this never happen to me?

 

Er, Richard Branson... you won't go very fast with that naked model round your Necker! | Mail Online

[5N1TCH]

I'm starting to go right off the dirty lucky old bugger!

[neenaw]

You've got to hand it to him. He's a pretty cool guy for a 60 year old!

[conor]

in my eyes anybody who is that successful must be ruthless and charming. I'm not saying he is any worse than other business people but he is probably really fucked in the head. still it is kinda cool that he has these interests, things spaceship 2 etc.

[5N1TCH]

Compared to some of his contemporaries he comes across as a nice bloke. Alan Sugar anyone?