IKO kiteboarding instructor

[jocol]

Hey,

I want to do the IKO kitesurf instructor course and I have some doubts. Maybe you can help me.

Based on what I found, it seems that first I need to do the IKO Assistant Training Course - which is already around 550 USD and with this course I cannot teach.
Only then I can take the IKO Instructor Level 1, more 800 USD.
And to teach I also need to have a valid First Aid Certificate course.

Is this correct? Or are they flexible and I can take straight away the IKO Instructor course?

Also, whats the minimum required level of kiting? Are they also flexible with this?
I am very independent kiter but when it comes to more advanced stuff I am only doing small jumps. Not doing jump transitions or other advanced tricks yet.

And finally, are these courses/certificates valid forever? Or they expire? Do you need to maintain certain hours of teaching per year?
Asking this because I am not planning to teach this year. Only next year

Cheers!

[Toby]

Never heard you need an assistant course before. You want to be instructor, not assistant, right?

Maybe things changed over the past ,ears and you need it. Just email them and ask.

O think basic level riding is ok. But why not do it next year when you progressed ? Since you won't use it this year...

[jocol]

Based on what I have been seeing online, it seems you first need to do the Assistance course so then you can do the Instructor course

example: https://www.ikointl.com/iko-kite-School ... 956&iso=ES

[Toby]

Based on what I have been seeing online, it seems you first need to do the Assistance course so then you can do the Instructor course

example: https://www.ikointl.com/iko-kite-School ... 956&iso=ES

Sounds like a ripoff.

BUT, on the other hand, there are some really bad instructors out there...so in the name of safety, if they teach the right things, it's a good step.

[Blackened]

It's bullshit. Just another certificate in the line to get more out of you. The creators must not have been making enough to retire.

[jocol]

Yes thats what I thought. it just looks like more bullshit to get money.
But it is required: https://www.ikointl.com/course/instructor

[Exal]

A buddy did it 2020 and it was assistant and then instructor, 4 or 5 days each and you can do them back to back. He was pretty stoked and is working his first season now.

To the kiting level, he told me that there was one guy who could barely kite upwind and was doing the assistant and more people who weren't turbo advanced were doing the instructor.

[Boston kiter]

i have thought of teaching as a side hustle, but the thought of getting sued just isn't worth it for me.

[Havre]

I’m not sure what you get for being an assistant other than it preparing you for the main course?

Either way. 10 days in total isn’t a lot to become an instructor I think. Seen so many crap instructors around so if more days means they learn more than fine for me.

[Trent hink]

That's the point of IKO and PASA.

If you pass their certification, they have negotiated available insurance.

I took the IKO instructor course in 2010, but I have since decided that I prefer not to work when it's windy.

i have thought of teaching as a side hustle, but the thought of getting sued just isn't worth it for me.