im sorry but this is just a blatant excuse to get more money out of IKO instructors!


Now to achieve renual of your iko license you must sit an online education course to gain 6 CEP's

now for $10us i can learn kiteboarding signs and earn myself 1 CEP

"What does it mean when a kiteboarder coming towards the shore pats their head with one hand? If you have no clue, then this is the course for you! Learn the basic set of International Kiteboarding Signs used by kiteboarders all over the world, so that you can communicate quickly and effectively with others in a common language. Whether up close or at a distance, you’ll be able to get your point across clearly with these signs."


i think any instructor that doesnt already know that patting your head means land my kite probably shouldnt be teaching anyone how to kitesurf!

Pretty much is just an excuse for IKO to get another $90 from us at renual. i wish there was another widely accepted kitesurfing instructing qual because i think we need the competition to keep these guys in check. But for now i will just have to sit my 5 min online assesment and really learn how to teach

Yep - Whole system is a crap, Their courses are good (like the teaching children one), but REQUIRING instructors to do it isn't on... There's so much abuse of the system going on anyway, it just sucks that you need it to get recognition around here...

Wow ^^^^ that sounds a bit harsh and righteous.

Is IKO really in any position of authority in Australia?
Anywhere?
have they invested in any country to get their systems approved and accepted by any National standards Associations or gov regulatory authority?
NO!
IKO is a Dom Rep based retirement fund for a few priveleged and shrewd kiters, wake up you don't need IKO cert to teach others to kitesurf safely, its not rocket science its just kite flying ffs

The course is out of date - instructor traing in 5 days, 3 of mind numbing and pointless theory and then 2 of observed box ticking without any real hands on teaching - what a joke.
Compare it to any other sport trainer or teacher accreditation
The whole system is rorted all the time, but if you pay them the right money and make sure the right boxes get ticked and bribe students and friends to say nice things about you then you get to be declared a level 2 hero blah blah blah
IKO = Intense Kiter Opportunist, ching ching!

Kitehard said...

Hey Ben,

I don't like the CEP system either, but you only have yourself to blame, because every 10 cards you issue is worth 1 CEP if I am not mistaken. So the only reason you don't have enough CEP's to renew, is because you haven't been certifying with the IKO Kiteboarder card and getting your feedback forms done.

This is plain laziness on your behalf, and now you cry poor because you haven't been doing the right thing all along. If you had done the righty, you'd have your CEP's and renewal would be stuff all. The school that you work for I'm pretty sure even supplies you with the online credits and the cards so all you have to do is fill them out as per IKO policy.

Seeing as you haven't filled out any cards or online feedbacks, now you can buy some additional training from one of the many education modules to build up your points. You picked one of the easiest to tell the forum. I'm sure there are plenty of other where you couuld learn something valauble.

I'm not a big fan but to come out here openly bleating about something and only feeding half the story is poor form.

Cheers,

KH

yeh definatly a bit harsh darren. I did not know that every 10 cards i used gave me a cep. ive got plenty of time left in my rego so thats the way i would go. I was trying to get across that i thought the CEP where pointless courses that really wont teach you anything and designed for nothing more than getting more money out of us instructors.

wtf !!!! not rocket science, did you have a bad holiday in the Dom rep or have you just bought a kite from cash converters, either way open your eyes[}:)]

happy1 said...

Wow ^^^^ that sounds a bit harsh and righteous.

Is IKO really in any position of authority in Australia?
Anywhere?
have they invested in any country to get their systems approved and accepted by any National standards Associations or gov regulatory authority?
NO!
IKO is a Dom Rep based retirement fund for a few priveleged and shrewd kiters, wake up you don't need IKO cert to teach others to kitesurf safely, its not rocket science its just kite flying ffs

The course is out of date - instructor traing in 5 days, 3 of mind numbing and pointless theory and then 2 of observed box ticking without any real hands on teaching - what a joke.
Compare it to any other sport trainer or teacher accreditation
The whole system is rorted all the time, but if you pay them the right money and make sure the right boxes get ticked and bribe students and friends to say nice things about you then you get to be declared a level 2 hero blah blah blah
IKO = Intense Kiter Opportunist, ching ching!

the walks said...

wtf !!!! not rocket science, did you have a bad holiday in the Dom rep or have you just bought a kite from cash converters, either way open your eyes[}:)]

My eyes have been open for a while to the cash business that IKO is! Kitesurfing is simple to teach or learn and I've helped several people to learn over the last several years.
At first I would try to teach them with a smaller kitesurfing kite then I read a good idea - teach them on a small trainer kite.
Well the results were incredibly different my friends would borrow mine or buy one of those trainer kites and once they could fly that thing well we would see them learn to kitesurf after a couple of hrs help from me with the big proper sized kitesurf kite.
The only things I had to teach them was rigging and the safety stuff like relaunching and rescuing themselves if they got stuck with a kite they could not get back up.
Later they might need some help with technique we would just have a chat before or after a session
Its not rocket science!

I just did my course in Brisbane. And failed due to 2 reasons:

I failed because apparently I didn't do the rider assesment brief (boost, ride toeside, stay upwind etc), which I did.

The only other reason given was because of negative comments made about me from a 17 year old girl that got roped into being the dummy student by her boyfriend, and told me she didn't even want to be there.

Now, I have to do extra hours. But wait...... IKO says it can be with any level 2 instructor. Within 10 minutes of my house, there are 3 level 2 instructors. But no, the examiner said I MUST do the hours with Padi all the way down in Brisbane. This goes totally against what IKO stands for.

All up, I spent $1700 do to the IKO course..................

Oppinon: I feel that I do need to get the IKO qualifications and I will do the hours, but I think it's the biggest load of s#@t I've ever come accross in kiting.

I look forward to BUYING my level 2.

Andy

That's so tragic it's almost funny.

Andy would be an absolutely first-class instructor, certainly better than most IKO examiners. Skills, personality, and the ability to analyse technique count for a lot more than a rigid set procedure in my book.

Simon

I was a candidate on the course. It was very professionally ran, and certainly not "you pay the money and get the cert". 3 people failed on the course and a world of information I have learnt from it. Well worth the money. All these negative talks are totally untrue. The organiser did a fantastic job hosting the event with lunches almost every day and a free dinner! And the examiner was firm but I thoroughly enjoyed the course.

jamesy

the whole thing is ****ing stupid. I got taught by an instructor who hasnt done any IKO course.
And i've taught 4 mates my self and they've never had any incidents. and i'm only 18 with just experience to go by.

might be time to update the training manual dont think unhooked first time launch is a safe practice for students ...yes i am iko before you ask and still teaching

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE

IKO imo is a bit of a joke and i find it rediculous, constantly struggling to log in etc... but yer its good to have a certification saying yes you are a competent teacher and having that backing incase of accidents etc..

this reminds me i got to go log all my hours n shiz and get my stuff sorted..

Hayman said...


To become an IKO certified instructor; it isn’t how well you can ride, yourself. Its about how efficiently and safely you can teach someone else to kiteboard.

So, what is the minimum riding standard for IKO instructors, or can anyone do it as long as you can ride upwind and toeside? Sure you need to be able to teach and analyse but IMO you also should have experience and be able to kite at a decent level.

Do any schools teach at a more advanced level and does IKO have a qualification level for that? i.e. what if someone wanted to get an instuctor to run them through kite loops or unhooked moves? Going by what has been said above IKO doesn't cater for this???

I only recommend a few instructors locally as these are guys I know can teach (from feedback) and I absolutely know can ride well.

Based on Andyy's post the QLD course sounds dubious, it would be good to hear more on the cost and the obvious preferential recommendation of lvl2 shadowing....

The bi-annual bash the IKO thread is back again, how amazing.
IKO might not have all the answers yet, might even be a bit misguided at the moment, however in the absence of anything else that offers some sort of standardised teaching, the IKO (or something like it) has a real function in our sport.

The rules regarding continuing certification have been and probably still are open to manipulation, there are always a minority that seek the easy or even dishonest way.
The CEP's don't seem to be well researched and to have valued content and this would be the main reason they are attracting the criticism they are (as being not relevent and a cash grab, IMO).
Most people I have met that do the IKO instructors course are people with a passion about the sport and who want to earn a living while being involved in the sport, and most do their best to teach safely and professionally.
Andy failing is a weird one, especially being asked to demonstrate his riding ability??? (wtf).

Some people are good at teaching friends, however most that I see are not and they teach people their own unsafe practices and almost never cover essential safety stuff, that a good school or instructor never skimps on.
Flying a kite may not be rocket science happy1, but learning to kitesurf is not like learning to play lawn bowls either.
People need lessons to learn kitesurfing safely and for our sport to have a sustainable future, we need passionate instructors and the IKO or something like it(maybe an AKO - Australian Kite Organisation??

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Well said Kitepower. I agree. While not perfect, and apperently fairly oriented towards revenue at the mo, the IKO certification performs and important role here in Aus. there was a time not long ago when the IKO represented only a small percentage of instructors and schools and I can tell you there was alot of stories of lessons going wrong, people being hurt and newcomers to the sport turning away.

Standardising the basic training across the country (/world) is good. Eg - "always signal that your ready to launch"). This wasnt always the norm, but we take it for granted. Without a standardised instructor training course, the incidence of variation on some of these basics would rise.

Its testament to the benefits and success of widespread instructor standards, that the sport appears easy to teach. there are fewer accidents, and better outcomes for students, due to better training of instructors. The sport IS easy to teach - if you know how. Its also easy to put someone in danger, if you have little experience, knowledge or the wrong gear.

First class lessons dont happen by accident. A student is always going to get a better lesson from someone who has trained to give it, earned experience from mentors, and practised the skills of teaching.

Yes the IKO has systems in place that earn them money. Too much ???? not enough?? your opinion. But the fact is, the sport benefits from instructor training courses and the IKO is the only open system we have. Most schools will further train their instructors for their location and conditions and business procedures, but the IKO is an essential first step for any noob hoping to be employed by a stranger.

There has been alot of talk about an AKSIA (instructors association), for many years. At the end of the day, it would be re-inventing the wheel, with the benefit of reducing cost to instructors. So it would need to be a not-for-profit org, and would mimic the IKOs excellent systems.

Id like to see more return given by IKO - eg combine the coin earned from Australia, appoint an aussie rep who could liaise and assist the collective interests of IKO centres and instructors. They could also ensure IKO standards are being maintained or improved on. They could also educate government (councils, waterways, lifeguards, EPA etc) to kite specific issues.

Perhaps one day, if the IKO dont give more return to the Aussie industry, someone will be motivated to take a more local approach. its good the IKO don't get involved in commercial politics between schools, but i wish they did more to help the centres who support them. It is expensive to support the IKO, and once qualified, the benefits of maintaining membership dwindle fast.

rabble rabble. I reckon they IKO plays an important role, they have done for years and they do it well.

Heyman dude
From what I understand getting an actual reason for the non passing of the course was like getting blood from a stone at the time.
Something vague about an unfavourable comment from a 17 year old girl and non demonstration of riding skills.
Now it's lack of wind ??
Now that sounds like a good legit reason, pity it wasn't thrown up right at the time.
Personally I think it was global warming that did it .
Who can argue with that ?
Nobody ever said they were not prepared to do the shadowing hours.
It was more to do with being restricted into doing the hours at only one location and no other.