What people must understand about 'reputable' schools is that the reputation is that of the owner of the operation which has been built over many years. At the end of the day the shop/school owner isn't instructing you. If they did then there would be no complaints. It's the different personalities/individuals who work for them who are responsible.

When someone slags off a school or lesson experience then this could include a number of factors.

Student isn't learning as fast as they would like due to their inability to pick things up or slow learning ability. Therefore they feel hard done by.

Instructor is a young backpacker who has just started working for a school and doesn't have the same passion/drive as the owner of the school and this reflects in their lessons. There are great backpacker instructors, but there are far more numptys also.

Student doesn't listen or thinks that because they have read forum posts, magazines and watched a beginner DVD they know more than the instructor that has been teaching for 5 years.

Instructor has been employed by school but not actively watched or critiqued by school owner. Instructor then just works because the school needs someone to complete the lessons for the money to roll in therefore school just keeps using instructor as they are reliable and get the job done.

As for $750 or the price of lessons. Schools only work for a few months of the year, also subtract the days when there is no wind during those few months, also take into acount that schools can only work when there is a seabreeze (12pm-6pm) so lessons are priced accordingly. One thing that is worrying though and really S&*Ts me is that most people who are coming through are older guys who can afford lessons. Young kids are priced out of the sport due to the cost of lessons. I support and give lessons for 50% of the lesson price. I strongly encourage young people to get into the sport and have no problem giving them the discount to achieve this.

There are more reasons of course..

LHB said...

Having all stores regulate the industry by not selling kites to learners works pretty well for the dive industry so perhaps we can learn from that.

I disagree with teaching people though, I paid for lesson from one of these reputable schools and it was well average to say the least. Alot of schools have good kiters but average instructors. Good kiters dont always make good teachers. For every good school like AKS theres another 3 **** ones! The industry as a whole should put some more time into developing better teaching methods that all schools follow. Regulated by waksa or some other body that has no financial interest but goes in to Audit the schools.

Another thing would be not to charge so much. $750 to learn to fly a kite is quite alot of money.

Cant afford lessons?? But dont mind paying 3K for a full setup and maybe another 2K in 12 months for a different sized kite.
Whinge whinge bloody whinge they say cant afford lessons cant afford to kite.

eppo said...

LHB said...

Having all stores regulate the industry by not selling kites to learners works pretty well for the dive industry so perhaps we can learn from that.

I disagree with teaching people though, I paid for lesson from one of these reputable schools and it was well average to say the least. Alot of schools have good kiters but average instructors. Good kiters dont always make good teachers. For every good school like AKS theres another 3 **** ones! The industry as a whole should put some more time into developing better teaching methods that all schools follow. Regulated by waksa or some other body that has no financial interest but goes in to Audit the schools.

Another thing would be not to charge so much. $750 to learn to fly a kite is quite alot of money.

Yeh some regulation would be ideal. How is the dive industry regulated? I am fortunate in that I actually teach for a living, that helped me a lot with my brother. I also talked to a shop first about what they teach and how. Was good actually as there were a few things I had to try out myself before showing him.

early days i suppose, can only get better right?

It's been suggested before and it's not a popular idea, but I think having to do a course and get a license in order to kite in WA would resolve a lot of the issues. Yes it's a pain in the arse for guys who can already kite and are responsible, but it would also reduce numbers and ensure noobs would at least have some idea of what not to do, what rules exist etc. Health & safety is hugely important to a lot of companies & councils and all it will take is one cute little kid getting seriously injured then it's sayonara kitesurfing.

RPM said...


Interesting way to put it Blueprint

But the point I was trying to make is that the owner isn't at the beach everyday watching their instructors. This is a fact. Most stay at their shops. Sure they have conveyed their requirements to the instructor and have to trust them in the way the lessons go as per the standards set but sometimes there will occasional unhappy punters, same with all types of business. All instructors have different communication skills, personalities and experience. Some good, some not so good. Kite instructor turnover is quite high increasing the chance of having someone who doesn't put in the standard required on a daily basis. Also students sometimes complain with valid points or issues, some with not (ie had a bad lesson due to getting dragged or not picking things up)



People have a false expectation that they will be up and riding after 3 lessons. Some do for sure but the reality is majority don't. Is this the instructors fault or the students learning ability? We can only give core individual skills and the rest is based on practice and time on the water learning in your own time.

You can be the best communicator and have great teaching skills, but if the student isn't responsive and won't adjust then it sometimes results in disappointment hence complaints to justify themselves.

Did you have an experience blueprint with your instructor?? Or did it all go well and you were riding after 3 lessons??

My experience in kitesurfing has nothing to do with my comment, just a bit of a pet hate from life in general and I don't disagree with any of your points I guess I'm just pointing out that as we've seen recently (the right of reply threads) here everyone has a story and communication is the key. As students we can't expect something for nothing, you get back what you put in but that goes both ways and extends to the teacher and owners also, time spent with your employee generally reflects in their performance.

Hey been kiting for 11 years and I do that trying to do a backroll loop on purpose! At least it was an accident. I reckon I gave myself a 'enama' the other day. Damn did I hit the water hard!

StinkyPete said...

cant afford lessons cant afford to kite.

+ 1
Biggest problem with lessons is that you dont know how good they are going to be until you have done them.
Choose carefully.

Zed said...

It's been suggested before and it's not a popular idea, but I think having to do a course and get a license in order to kite in WA would resolve a lot of the issues. Yes it's a pain in the arse for guys who can already kite and are responsible, but it would also reduce numbers and ensure noobs would at least have some idea of what not to do, what rules exist etc. Health & safety is hugely important to a lot of companies & councils and all it will take is one cute little kid getting seriously injured then it's sayonara kitesurfing.

+1

Something tied in with WAKSA perhaps? Then the insurance aspect would definitely be covered too.
Some sort of visible tag like the WAKSA one? I guess we'll be told "how does it get policed" - which is fair comment but surely something's got to change..
It's obvious many people new to the sport have no idea how quickly things can go wrong. It's also obvious a minority out there do not even care - give it a go for a while, f#$% up, move on, leave the carnage behind.
Perhaps governing body/dealers/schools and those with years of experience can put their collective ideas together to help keep a brilliant sport 'future proof'
I hope it's not, ignore now, cry later...

Hm,

no schooling will ever reduce injuries and fatal incidents.

This country is becoming the most regulated in the world!

It is just about blame, pointing fingers and insurance claims...

FFS from when is changing a bulb a job for an electrician? And soon it might become like this...

Or I'm just ignorant and is already happening?

juicerider said...

dbabicwa said...

Hm,

no schooling will ever reduce injuries and fatal incidents.

This country is becoming the most regulated in the world!

It is just about blame, pointing fingers and insurance claims...

FFS from when is changing a bulb a job for an electrician? And soon it might become like this...

Or I'm just ignorant and is already happening?

Good point, however it has happened, Australia is already a Nanny state, with an over regulated blame culture taking over from personal responsibility. Lets not let this happen in kitesurfing any more than it is already.

There are too many incidents and too many idiots kitesurfing not to have some form of restriction and/or license in place.