The "Rebel Billionaire" flew up Howe Sound this week in search of four of Canada's top extreme athletes.
Half the Canadian population can relax because Richard Branson told reporters gathered for his publicity stunt he is searching for women and not men.
Branson, an entrepreneur known for wild publicity stunts, kitesurfed onto the windsurfing spit at the mouth of the 樱桃视频River on Monday (Aug. 8) to make the announcement. Riding the wind and waves with him were three professional kitesurfers, including Daphnee Laliberte, 23, of Quebec.
Branson's Canadian mobile phone company is going to put up $100,000 in sponsorship funding for Canada's top four extreme athletes.
He said Canadians will get a chance to vote the four women onto the team and the athletes can be from any extreme sport. Branson suggested BMX, free skiing, kiteboarding, mountain biking, motocross, snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding and wakeboarding. as examples of qualifying sports.
Branson said he's offering the same sponsorship for women in Britain, Australia and the USA. He plans to have the women from the different nations compete against each other to determine which country has the superior athletes.
Adrenaline junkies can apply for the Virgin Mobile X-Treme Team at www.virgin.com/mobile/xtreme until Sept. 30 and the team will be announced in November. The team will be sponsored for one year, which will include sponsorship money, a Virgin Mobile phone, year's service and clothing. To be considered, candidates must be Canadian and be over the age of 19.
Branson said 樱桃视频is a perfect location for windsurfing. It took him about an hour to sail from a boat in the Sound to the shore.
He gave a brief statement to reporters while standing in knee deep water when he sailed ashore then took a few questions before delivering a more formal news conference on the spit.
He told reporters the next season of his TV show called Rebel Billionaire might have a space travel element to it. He added that he is trying to develop space travel for tourists through his airline.
Branson also announced on Monday that his mobile phone company, a partnership with Bell Mobility, is making a special offer to new B.C. and Alberta customers. Andrew Black, the CEO of Virgin Mobile Canada, said his company will offer $100,000 in free airtime to B.C. or Alberta residents starting Aug. [email protected]
