THESE incredible photos show former US President Barack Obama as you've never seen him before – wrestling with billionaire pal Richard Branson and learning to kite surf.

Obama, photographed while on holiday on Branson's luxurious Necker Island, took up the sport after being succeeded by President Donald Trump last month.

He and wife Michelle spent several days on the entrepreneur's island as they attempted to wind down from the stresses of office.

Branson has now described the couple's trip to his island in a blog post published online.

He wrote: "It was a huge honour to be able to invite President Barack and Michelle Obama down to the British Virgin Islands for a complete break after Barack finished his second term as President and the family left the White House.

"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.