British kitesurfer and Red Bull athlete, Tom Bridge, has turned a cruise ship into the ultimate kitesurf playground, boosting from the 16th deck of Virgin Voyages’ ‘Resilient Lady’ – some 129ft high.
As the ship anchored off the Greek island of Delos, holidaymakers were left stunned as the Red Bull athlete attempted the jump. “It was probably the most terrifying thing I’ve done with a kite,” said Bridge. “We’d been on the ship to recce three times and had lots of looks over the edge. And every time we’ve gone ‘Oh God, it’s high, isn’t it?’
“Then, honestly, when I had the kite in my hands, and I put my feet in the straps, I didn’t look down. It was just ‘go’. It just carried me, and next minute we’re on the water.”
The ship was on its tour of the aquamarine waters of the Greek Islands, with Sailors and Crew enjoying the unique opportunity to witness the precision, skill and daring involved in the jump.
“It surprised me just how long I stayed in the air – I wasn’t expecting to go that far,” said Bridge, estimating he travelled downwind around 200-300 metres to land. “It was a brilliant experience; it feels amazing to have done it.”
Originally from Exmouth, 23-year-old Bridge has a longstanding family connection to kitesurfing, and to the founder of Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson. Well-known for his love of the sport, in 2013, Branson and hundreds of kitesurfers broke a Guinness World Record for the largest parade of kitesurfers to complete a one-mile course. This included Tom and his family; at just 12 years of age, Tom was the youngest rider on the attempt.
Speaking about the challenge, Branson said: “You’ve got to be both incredibly skilled, and have a lot of nerve to attempt such a boost – what an amazing achievement!
“I love kitesurfing at my home on Necker Island, so Tom successfully jumping from deck 16 of Resilient Lady is an epic achievement.”
Watch the video via Red Bull UK on Instagram and TikTok.
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