Hi guys!
I'm based in Perth and I want to become an IKO certified instructor.
Are there any schools here that offers instructor courses, or do I have to go to the east coast?
Also, what are the requirements needed to attend an instructor course? I don't have any certification, but I am a very experienced kitesurfer. If I need any certification to attend an instructor course, where do I get it?
Cheers and enjoy the good weather!
IF YOU ENJOY KITING DON'T BE AND INSTRUCTOR.....
NOTHING WORSE THAN STANDING ON A BEACH WHEN IT'S 20-25 KNOTS WATCHING YOUR MATES RIPPING IT UP AND YOU STUCK WITH MR NOOB...
Select to expand quoteNoBS said..
IF YOU ENJOY KITING DON'T BE AND INSTRUCTOR.....
NOTHING WORSE THAN STANDING ON A BEACH WHEN IT'S 20-25 KNOTS WATCHING YOUR MATES RIPPING IT UP AND YOU STUCK WITH MR NOOB...
Must say I have to agree,, you really have to think about why you want to become an instructor, if like i did you want to spend more time kitesurfing and live the lifestyle then think again, poor pay and having to work when it's windy... On the other hand if you really get a buzz out of teaching people and want to spend windy days watching others progress then sure why not our sport needs those kind of instructors, otherwise ditch your day job and find something that will work around the windy days, even waiting tables or bar work will give you more money than teaching kiting and free up the days for playing...
Id have to agree with the above, its bad enough teaching friends and family when you know your mates are out there trying to slay new born dragons haha!
Talk to Chris from Kite Republic in Snt Kilda, Victoria. Should be able to hook you up.
While I feel the pain of these guys above, I actually had a pretty awesome time during my years as an instructor. I got to travel to some of the best kite spots in the world, I worked with awesome crews of people and there was always somebody to party with. If you are instructing while travelling, youll earn better money than those working hospo, and you'll be on the beach all day. Sure, you will be wishing you were kiting all day every day rather than teaching, but a good boss will understand this need, and make sure you you get a 2 hour slot in most days to go out and play (check this with them before you commit to their school).
Plus you'll meet loads of hot girls, if you play your cards right you will also get hooked up with some amazing experiences if you show some initiative to your boss.
Now that Im back to working my proper job and paying a mortgage Im not that keen to instruct in my spare time (would rather kite), but it definitely provided me with the best years of my life when I was a young fulla.
Chris Sal is the guy to speak to, he is also a good boss, and has a great bunch of instructors at his school.
Firstly there is a glut of instructors, second the IKO is a blatant ripoff past the actual written instructors material.
Select to expand quoteRAL INN said..
Firstly there is a glut of instructors, second the IKO is a blatant ripoff past the actual written instructors material.
So what alternative do you suggest?
I don't think IKO is the problem really and even though the program is too short to get an instructor ready to teach straight after the course, I have to say that it covers all you need to know. Ideally, a new instructor should be shadowed by a senior instructor for a given period of time. Unfortunately I've seen too many school owners who couldn't be bother doing or even worst, getting them to teach for free without any shadowing....
In short I would say that the schools are the one to blame for not giving any sort of internal training. A responsible school owner should have a standard progression program in place instead of leaving their instructor the freedom to set up their own lessons.
I had the opportunity to teach for a couple of dodgy schools but also with a respectable and well established one here in Perth. Now I can say why there is so much difference in the cost as well.
The issue is mainly due to the fact that kitesurfing schools are not directly supervised by any sort of authority and currently there is no Australian approved course available to train kitesurfing instructors. I reckon the instructors should be assessed on their skills on a regular basis. I know a school who does it but unfortunately they are the only one in Perth. It shows how much the school owners care about the quality of their lessons......
Select to expand quoteLivit said..RAL INN said..
Firstly there is a glut of instructors, second the IKO is a blatant ripoff past the actual written instructors material.
So what alternative do you suggest?
I don't think IKO is the problem really and even though the program is too short to get an instructor ready to teach straight after the course, I have to say that it covers all you need to know. Ideally, a new instructor should be shadowed by a senior instructor for a given period of time. Unfortunately I've seen too many school owners who couldn't be bother doing or even worst, getting them to teach for free without any shadowing....
In short I would say that the schools are the one to blame for not giving any sort of internal training. A responsible school owner should have a standard progression program in place instead of leaving their instructor the freedom to set up their own lessons.
I had the opportunity to teach for a couple of dodgy schools but also with a respectable and well established one here in Perth. Now I can say why there is so much difference in the cost as well.
The issue is mainly due to the fact that kitesurfing schools are not directly supervised by any sort of authority and currently there is no Australian approved course available to train kitesurfing instructors. I reckon the instructors should be assessed on their skills on a regular basis. I know a school who does it but unfortunately they are the only one in Perth. It shows how much the school owners care about the quality of their lessons......
I couldn't agree more, the iko assessment as it stands is useless, I've yet to meet anyone who failed to qualify as an instructor even though I've met many who really shouldn't be teaching....
Which is why all you need is experience, confidence, indemnity insurance, and an ABN and you *can* teach. Not me personally, but I've heard from others that so called "professional" instructor programs are a yodle man.
There ain't no stoppin you teach kids how to read and write. So why should there be anything or anyone telling you, you cannot teach kite surfing? The local schools do not own the beach anyway.... so I say go for it!
Local council might have something to say and without some form of qualification they might be a bit dubious to hand out permits
I did BKSA instructors ticket last year, the training was as I expected although I did learn a bit. With BKSA there is a good progression through levels of teaching the issue is no one in Perth follows the scheme.
I have also been teaching yacht sailing, dinghy sailing, power boating and an assortment of other outdoor activities and come complete with a degree in marine sports science. I agree the pay is crap, and particularly in Australia everyone wants to shut you down for not having permits or this and that and you do have to stand in the water for hours on end whilst everyone has fun. I like to give back to a sport that has given me so much enjoyment. This is why I did a year of service with WAKSA committee.
Well all of that plus I don't have a job at the moment and I physically can not survive on what centrelink provides.
The problem is these days you don't get judged on your merits or the job you do. All any employer wants is tickets. White cards, blue cards, fork lift, dogging, rigging, HR, HC, the list is end less, but when you are out of work all these tickets come with a cost. OK this is turning into a winge now... But I have paid $100,000 to get a commercial pilots licence with MECIR (if you know what that means) no work, I have a degree. I am a yacht master and instructor (no valid in Australia) I have skippered yachts all over the world, I have worked as a labourer, a butchers hand, a cocktail bar man, a waiter, done door to door sales, I have also been to Uni and have a degree. I am 31 with a fianc?? living in a small rental house with my Labrador can't afford a wedding. And dispute applying for an average of 5 jobs a day since Feb I still can't find a job. I lost out on one part time job to a retired 65 year old!!!
Even a kitesurfing instructor ticket cost around the $800 mark then the 20 hrs you have todo shadowing someone. Then realistically you can only work 4hrs a day when the SB is in. All that for $40ish p/h and so far in the last two moths I have taught for a grand total of 18 hours.
Ok rant over, don't judge me.....
PS any one got any work in Perth? I will do almost anything...
Wow Inthezone, it's really a shame that with all your qualifications you haven not been able to find work. Maybe it's time to hit the east coast to find something. With all your skills something is bound to happen for you. Keep your chin up dude...
I started a small school last year, have a couple of qualified (IKO and long term watermen) guys working with me. We all do part time, we all do other things. I too wanted to give something back to the industry, and live on the beach in the summer instead of the various other jobs that I do. I was in the music business, and I can tell you that being a kite instructor can be much better financially, plus you can travel around easily without lugging too much gear.I am also a builder, and the money is pretty good too, but it grinds away at your body year in and year out. In the summer all I want to be is at the beach instead of lifting beams and walls.
I for one would never hire someone who I didn't think was TOTALLY competent in the water and knew how to handle difficult situations. I went with IKO because they do have good lesson plans and a great method for teaching. I don't think it is money wasted, though dealing with them as a sister school might be another kettle of fish. We chose to get our own insurance etc.
One day there might be a unified body of certification that is global, non profit, and there to insure that safety standards are upheld at all costs, so that everyone is on the same page when it comes to how schools teach throughout the world. And people should be tested yearly on their skills if they are going to teach. Because the sport continues to evolve, and gear is always changing, it makes sense that an instructor is always up to date.
I honestly think that doing the IKO course is NOT a waste of money, there is plenty to learn if you are up for it. Good luck what ever you chose to do.
Select to expand quotetgcp said..Livit said..RAL INN said..
Firstly there is a glut of instructors, second the IKO is a blatant ripoff past the actual written instructors material.
So what alternative do you suggest?
I don't think IKO is the problem really and even though the program is too short to get an instructor ready to teach straight after the course, I have to say that it covers all you need to know. Ideally, a new instructor should be shadowed by a senior instructor for a given period of time. Unfortunately I've seen too many school owners who couldn't be bother doing or even worst, getting them to teach for free without any shadowing....
In short I would say that the schools are the one to blame for not giving any sort of internal training. A responsible school owner should have a standard progression program in place instead of leaving their instructor the freedom to set up their own lessons.
I had the opportunity to teach for a couple of dodgy schools but also with a respectable and well established one here in Perth. Now I can say why there is so much difference in the cost as well.
The issue is mainly due to the fact that kitesurfing schools are not directly supervised by any sort of authority and currently there is no Australian approved course available to train kitesurfing instructors. I reckon the instructors should be assessed on their skills on a regular basis. I know a school who does it but unfortunately they are the only one in Perth. It shows how much the school owners care about the quality of their lessons......
I couldn't agree more, the iko assessment as it stands is useless, I've yet to meet anyone who failed to qualify as an instructor even though I've met many who really shouldn't be teaching....
andy yates failed. hes pretty good at kitesurfing. i know heaps of people who have failed. ive failed nearly every iko instructor i know has failed something and had to do it again while being shadowed by a level 2 +
theres some things like public speaking that come with time. so theres some people like myself who arent the best at that but well be passed on it eventually.
i would like to meet someone who passed 100% on all there exams. have you even seen the theory? what the Coriolis effect? without useing google
If you passed it was mainly because you paid and added to the IKO coffers.
As I said IKO is a waste of time past their written course material. And the only benefit besides that material is to the establishments that run the courses.
There needs to be a non-profit association based qualification system put in place, and country based. ie: stuff the rest of the world; lets keep our money in Australia and not pay for 3-4 cliquey Euro kiters to live the high life in the Caribbean.
Select to expand quoteRAL INN said..
If you passed it was mainly because you paid and added to the IKO coffers.
As I said IKO is a waste of time past their written course material. And the only benefit besides that material is to the establishments that run the courses.
There needs to be a non-profit association based qualification system put in place, and country based. ie: stuff the rest of the world; lets keep our money in Australia and not pay for 3-4 cliquey Euro kiters to live the high life in the Caribbean.
Hence the question: what alternative do you suggest? Whinging is not one.....
Sell coffee's when it's cold and beers when it's hot and I'll buy every time.
I'll also pay $1 for high qualityl inflate plus launch.
Find another 10 clients and your on good money......
Gee, the dude wants to become a kite instructor and everyone tells him how stupid he is! Nice.
I taught snow skiing for several seasons in my 20's. I didn't make much money, but absolutely loved the teaching and the lifestyle.
Mate, if its what you want, go for it!
Best job for kiting would have to be Crane Driver. As soon as it gets over 30kts?? you go home.
Best job for kiteboarding is lawn mowing. Work when I want to work. Plus all the grass stops growing in the winter and all the wind is here.
Select to expand quoteLivit said..RAL INN said..
If you passed it was mainly because you paid and added to the IKO coffers.
As I said IKO is a waste of time past their written course material. And the only benefit besides that material is to the establishments that run the courses.
There needs to be a non-profit association based qualification system put in place, and country based. ie: stuff the rest of the world; lets keep our money in Australia and not pay for 3-4 cliquey Euro kiters to live the high life in the Caribbean.
Hence the question: what alternative do you suggest? Whinging is not one.....
and I say again "There needs to be a non-profit association based qualification system put in place, and country based."
The AKSA can do it, simply get the course material from IKO BKSA and KISS. then produce a common denominator.
Probably get some kind of Government funding to do it.
rest is up to all you kiters to work out.
