I think insurance should be mandatory....
A licence depend on the location, some beaches in the future may require a license to be able to kite.
The cost of getting a licence (that last forever!) shoul not be more the 15-20US$.
An instructor should be able to value people in quite short time.
The test can be made even at home, and should be composed of question that involve some notion, therefore people will at least research about things.
Please see here the requirement to get an IKO Level 3 card, 99% of people that are already kiting should be able to get it in without swet.
The Instructor that make the test give them directly so there is not much organization to do it.
Independent Kiteboarder Program
Level Competences
J-3 Know the right of way rules.
Ride away from the shore and come back to the shore.
K-3 Edge on the heel and toe side to change the course.
Accelerate by edging down and moving the kite.
Stop by edging.
Be able to keep an edge.
L-3 Ride away from the shore and come back at starting point. Ride upwind.
Constantly ride upwind.
M-3 Recover the board without the leash, by body dragging upwind.
Ride a twin tip. Optional if it has been done before.
Switch of direction.
N-3 Know the theoretical approach to jumps.
Perform a small jump and land it.
Kiteboarder level 3
HERE read about insurance for kitesurfer....
The IKO is proud to present the first international insurance for kiteboarders and snow kiters. Kiteboarders can now apply for accident and liability insurance that will cover them all around the world, including the USA and Canada.
The same insurance applies for snow kiters (except in the USA and Canada).
To apply, Kiteboarders must go to their IKO affiliated center and present their IKO Kiteboarder Card. Kiteboarders and snow kiters who do not have an IKO Card can go to any IKO affiliated center and have their level certified by an IKO instructor.
The level required to apply for the insurance is level 3 J, meaning the kiteboarder is an independent kiteboarder and can ride away from the shore and come back. For snow kiters, the level required is 3 K.
For more information on the kiteboarder’s prerequisites, check the student’s certification standards on
http://www.ikorg.com.
There is no age limit for the accident coverage.
Annual Price of the insurance (local taxes to be applied)
89 US / 68 Euros including USA/Canada
65 US / 49 Euros excluding USA/Canada
Insured risks:
Accident insurance
30.000 EUR for disability, 5.000 EUR for death, 6.000 EUR for salvage costs.
Kiteboarders are insured in accidents caused by kiteboarding: on water or snow (snow kiting not insured in the USA), at the beach and carrying the board/kite on direct way from car to the beach and back.
Personal Liability
EUR 1.000.000 lump sum for bodily injury and property damages. General Liability of the cardholder through the ownership, possession and use of private kiteboard and kites.
Bye Jankie