29000 new kiters in 2018

[Toby]

I just saw this...IKO released some stats about new kiters trained thru IKO instructors...29.000 in 2018.

Anyone know how many have been IKO trained over the last years?

I wonder how many non IKO trained new kiters are out there...

[kiterocky]

No more empty beach already....in summer crowded..thanku ikoshit

[dewwy]

Would be interesting to know how many of the people that went through training continued to kite.

[sarc]

Got hit in the face by kite lines TWICE this year while riding. Gotta love having a bajillion beginners around. I think that kite schools that teach safety, right of way, placing your kite higher to zenith if you are upwind of someone and lower if you are downwind, and NOT FRIGGING WRAPPING YOUR KITE LINES AROUND OTHER RIDER'S FACE while they are riding are a myth. I ride deserted beaches when I can but riding alone has its own risks. No-win!!!

[SolarSet]

Yaeah but how many of these who completed training end up buying gear and actually committing to sport 5%?

[Toby]

I am also sure that only a part of them continues.
The question is, how big will that part be?

[kiterocky]

Already too big...people learn nothing during the course...do better and more expensive course less people better prepared...shit iko cheap standard ruin the sport and the spot

[jyka]

No worries about beaches being overcrowded, kiteboarding is a descending trend: viewtopic.php?t=2398625

[evan]

Are those fully trained kiters who went through a multiple day course and went kiting after that?

I say this because at the school I worked the majority went for a crash course just to tick off "kitesurfing" from their bucket list, never to touch a kite again. Only a handfull went for a complete course and even a smaller percentage popped up with their own gear after that.

[Toby]

Good question. I assume all that did an IKO course...no matter if 1, 2, 3 etc

So maybe they also have repeaters in it...who did 1, then 2, then 3...that might count each individually...