Whatever you do between August 21-24, don't take the Channel Tunnel or an airplane between London and Paris or Bruges; take the ferry! You may just see one of the weirdest things ever as Sir Richard Branson will kiteboard across the English Channel to celebrate his 60th birthday and ostensibly to draw attention to one of his newer pet projects, the annual British Virgin Islands Kite Jam.

Although the next Kite Jam, which brings deep-pocketed tourists to his Branson's Necker Island, won't happen until late February 2011, the English Channel crossing is just around the corner. What exact day it will be (between August 21-24, still) will be determined by the weather. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-08-19T10:36:24-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/17/83017/1295

If you’re looking to participate—or just watch—some extreme sports in an extreme location, you’ll be happy to know that this year’s Hua Hin Kiteboarding World Cup 2010 is taking place this week in Thailand. Things run through March 20, so if you’ve got a lot of cash handy you still have time to book a flight and head out to see the kiteboarding action in person.

The InterContinental Hua Hin Resort just opened, so organizers planned this year’s event to take advantage of the new hotel smell and swanky accommodations. It doesn’t hurt that there’s also plenty of wind and waves to keep the boards flying on and above the water. Thermal winds keep the action at a pretty constant pace, and of course it’s tropical warm out as well. ]]> kjb 2010-03-17T12:30:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/12/8/111614/683

Come 2010, not only will you be able to stay at Virgin Group head honcho Richard Branson's private Swiss ski lodge, but you'll also be able to go kite surfing alongside his silver foxness at the British Virgin Islands KiteJam.

From March 1-5 the BVIs, including Branson's luxury hideaway Necker Island, will be filled with kite boarding enthusiasts, celebrities, and pro kiteboarders including German Kristin Boese and American Gretta Kruesi. It'll be five days of inter-island events including flat water freestyle, waves, sliders and racing, and of course some after-hours partying. No word on whether or not Branson will walk on water however, or if he'll strap a nude supermodel to his back again. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-12-08T12:59:40-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/19/23330/7028

Draping himself with naked ladies is all in a day's work for Virgin founder Richard Branson. For a photoshoot on Necker Island, his private paradise in -- where else? -- the British Virgin Islands, Branson posed kite surfing while draped with model Denni Parkinson. What's amazing is that he still seems to be focused on the surfing bit.

In another photo in the series, Branson appears in a white buttondown in the forest while Parkinson stands behind him au naturale. She also happens to be the photographer's girlfriend, according to the Daily Mail, but the British tabs aren't giving Richard a free pass on this, even though he claims his children were watching from the shore. In the same week, Branson also reportedly clashed with Virgin-sponsored Formula 1 driver Jenson Button over his paying too much attention to Button's girlfriend, Japanese-Argentine underwear model Jessica Michibata. No wonder Branson's next trip was to a surprise birthday party for his dad in Scotland -- nothing untoward-looking about that.

We were unable to figure out exactly why Branson is posing with a naked girl, but the lesson here is clear: Do your nudist outdoor activities with your significant other, not away from him or her. Branson oughta British Naturism, a club for people who like being outdoors in the altogether with activities like a paddleboat trip in Norfolk, a July 4 fun run and of course several beach days. Imagine a crowd of seacombers wearing a Virgin towel and a smile...

Related Stories:
· Er, Richard Branson... you won't go very fast with that naked model round your Necker! [Daily Mail]
· Branson, Brawn and Babes [Telegraph.co.uk]
· Richard Branson Jets In To Scotland For Dad's Birthday Surprise [Sunday Mail]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Daily Mail]]]> egw 2009-04-20T08:46:41-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/19/16524/2411

Attention extreme sports enthusiats: Kite surfing is not one of the things the National Hurricane Center considers "Preparations to protect life and property."

A guy in Fort Lauderdale had to find that out the hard way after he was snatched up by a wind gust, slammed to the ground, dragged over a busy highway and thrown into a wall. He's in critical condition at a local hospital, though he did manage to survive the ordeal. Uh... congrats?

Related Stories:
· Caught On Tape: Wind Blows Kite Surfer Into Building [WFOR]
· Kite Surfer Injury: Blame the Media? [Sun Sentinel]
· Fort Lauderdale Kite Surfing School [Official Site]
· Catching a Wave--with a Kite [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-19T17:00:13-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/