the best kitesurfing jobs?

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qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
22 May 2006 8:02pm
Who has the best job tailored for kitesurfing? Who has the most flexibility to finish work at 12knot+ O'clock? and get out whenever the winds up?

greenleader
greenleader
QLD
5283 posts
QLD, 5283 posts
22 May 2006 8:10pm
i've heard that sewing machine repairman is tailored perfectly for maximum hours on the water!
GreenPat
GreenPat
QLD
4114 posts
QLD, 4114 posts
22 May 2006 8:16pm
Johnny Howard's Kitesurfing Team!
qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
22 May 2006 8:18pm
Ok then with the exception of those on the dole and business owners and kite groms that only have to worry about transport/school...

who else gets to say...the winds up im not going to work now to their boss? or to do list?

vishy
vishy
WA
451 posts
WA, 451 posts
22 May 2006 6:23pm
That REAL kiteboarding in USA looks sick
greenleader
greenleader
QLD
5283 posts
QLD, 5283 posts
22 May 2006 8:36pm
strippers
Eye of the storm
Eye of the storm
QLD
131 posts
QLD, 131 posts
22 May 2006 8:51pm
teaching, lots of holidays (at least 12 weeks) and finish at 3.
azza
azza
1338 posts
1338 posts
22 May 2006 6:51pm
Hairy arsed sailors that spend six cold wet months at sea... and kite all season.
timetohang
timetohang
42 posts
42 posts
22 May 2006 6:55pm
Self employed plumber on new housing.
Summer start at 5am finished at 10 or 11 am rest of day for kiting.
Winter start at 7.30am finish at 1 or 2 pm and then kiting if wind is good.
qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
22 May 2006 9:00pm
timetohang that sounds like a perfect combination... you are still able to do full time hours and kite!!! and...you probably get good $$$ for callouts on weekends
timetohang
timetohang
42 posts
42 posts
22 May 2006 7:04pm
Nah! Don't touch maintenance jobs. New housing only as it is easy fast work and no hassels which are associated with callouts.
Lots of money in call outs but interfears with kiting lifestyle.
azza
azza
1338 posts
1338 posts
22 May 2006 7:24pm
quote:
Originally posted by timetohang

... hassels which are associated with callouts.
...



like poo in old pipes, and shifting concrete
GreenPat
GreenPat
QLD
4114 posts
QLD, 4114 posts
22 May 2006 10:23pm
quote:
Originally posted by azza
like poo in old pipes, and shifting concrete


That sounds like really sh1t work!

In the meantime I'll just stick to my job as international man of mystery... No good for kiting though.
Rhys McClintock
Rhys McClintock
NSW
995 posts
NSW, 995 posts
23 May 2006 4:39am
School and Kiting instructor
im the highest paid out of all my friends 2 lol, its awesome
paul.j
paul.j
QLD
3382 posts
QLD, 3382 posts
23 May 2006 5:27am
Trust me Rhys its not always fun watching your mates kite around all day whilist your teaching first timers.
By the time lessons are finished its usually dropping out or something happens to stop you getting out on the water.
Having said that its not all that bad i guess. Could have a worse job in a office/factory or something.

Cheers Angie

Coral Sea
Coral Sea
QLD
476 posts
QLD, 476 posts
23 May 2006 6:19am
Coral reef biologists have it pretty good.

Lots of trips to the Great Barrier Reef and NQ islands, diving and snorkelling all day, knock off at 4pm and kite till dark in rock steady 25 knot tradewinds.

and then there is always the groups of nubile american college girls...." oh Dr Andy, is it possible for us to snorkel topless today (giggle giggle)while we do our fish research project?"

really a **** job, but someone has to do it.....
ellery
ellery
VIC
187 posts
VIC, 187 posts
23 May 2006 6:32am
Investors get a lot of time off! Sure it takes a bit of dedication to get everything set up, but once you've got it worked out you can live the lifestyle!

cheers
James
tezza49er
tezza49er
NT
97 posts
NT, 97 posts
23 May 2006 6:04am
Mike...kiting in slip ports is not too hard on the 76..especially with a 2 piece board in your suitcase. Don't imagine there would be much time left after 5 sectors in the maggot.
azza
azza
1338 posts
1338 posts
23 May 2006 5:12am
quote:
Originally posted by ellery

Investors get a lot of time off! Sure it takes a bit of dedication to get everything set up, but once you've got it worked out you can live the lifestyle!

cheers
James



something in those words for everyone, bravo!
qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
23 May 2006 7:21am
tezza i can't kite in slip ports anymore i lost my job my airline went belly up...I still have my ID90 staff travel...we really should organise a trip for any other kiter that has staff travel. Maybe some quick trips to Mackay/Cairns this time of year.

Azza...Getting that initial capital means not kiting for ages...I've often thought should I bite the bullet work out west at some mining town for a couple of years...save up a load of cash and come back and work in some cruisy flexible job

Being a Kiteshop owner or kitesurfing instructor is a bit crappy...I know they dont get much time to go kiting themselves..and it sucks coz you have to teach when the wind is good.
azza
azza
1338 posts
1338 posts
23 May 2006 5:38am
quote:
Originally posted by qfmike737



Azza...Getting that initial capital means not kiting for ages...I've often thought should I bite the bullet work out west at some mining town for a couple of years...save up a load of cash and come back and work in some cruisy flexible job




Yep, like about 900 days at sea over the next 5 years (1826 days). With some stable managed funds and precious metals for starters.

How long do you plan to live for, how long do you want to slave for, what else is there to live for? Answer those questions, gain your perspective, and go for your goal.
taterchip
taterchip
QLD
211 posts
QLD, 211 posts
23 May 2006 9:19am
i know a few council workers and energex guys that always seem to have the time to kite during the week...
qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
23 May 2006 9:26am
I've started doing contract work for a Fed Govt job. It's so flexible I just tell them when I want to work and if it's windy outside I just tell my superviser im going out to go kitesurfing. It's pretty stress free too but the money is absolute CRAP! I thank the God's each day I kite that I dont need a repair coz I wouldn't be able to afford it!

azza
azza
1338 posts
1338 posts
23 May 2006 7:48am
qfmike737,
I lived similarly for years, it's possible to become very self reliant if you're adventurous enough to try and do things for yourself... like your own repairs (cept' those medical ones)... you just have to accept that some things might look a bit dodgie (my kite and last car for example). In time you will develope an impressive range of skills and knowledge... something you wont get in most 9-5 jobs. There is a good risk of going feral, in such a life style, but that isn't always a bad thing either.
Ioz
Ioz
WA
495 posts
Ioz Ioz
WA, 495 posts
23 May 2006 8:14am
Kitchen design and sales seems to work for me. Organise all the appointments at the times I am available, can always change appointment times if need be and most of my work is done in my home based "design office". - ah the joys of the internet for instant communication.

Though you still need the conditions - I was ready to get into a session this Tuesday AM In Perth - it was supposed to be NW 20knt with 2m of swell and intead the wind is only around 10knts with rain.
stnkygoat
stnkygoat
NSW
230 posts
NSW, 230 posts
23 May 2006 10:55am
PhD - enough money to live on but not much more. So, if you give a **** about money its not a good deal, but if you don't, it's great.
qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
23 May 2006 11:46am
I am looking around for new careers. I have given up on the airline industry. I thought I would be able to use my travel benefits and slips to kite and also have a decent lifestyle...but 2 Belly up airlines later I am stuck in the same situation. I have considered staying with the Department of Foreign Affairs and trade contracting because I can apply for monthly postings interstate ie Perth/Cairns. Or oversease...ie...Fiji! but the money is just crap and so many of the other Fed Govt workers are sooo lazy and live very boring lives. Geez I dont know anyone else that doesn't know a lazy govt worker???? LOL

It seems like alot of the Tradies have it pretty good...start early and finish early!!!
890Falcon
890Falcon
NSW
383 posts
NSW, 383 posts
23 May 2006 12:37pm
I work for myself being a tradesman I always check the wind forecasts and schedule my work around the forecasts, does not always go to plan but am usually on the water by between 1.00 and 2.00 in the afternoon.

Living on the eastcoast it is usually the wind that lets you down may have to move over to the west coast you guys have the best wind and kiting locations in Aus.
richierich
richierich
NSW
226 posts
NSW, 226 posts
23 May 2006 1:53pm
ive just started casual school teaching and it is pretty cruisy so far. Need to make enough money to cover the holidays but the pay -to me- is really good (plus you can go on the dole during the holidays). If the forcast looks good for the day or you want to take a week off to travel you just go...no worries. Will be even better in the summer when you have a few more hours of daylight. Plus you don't have to work weekends for change...Beats the pants off of kite teaching i know from experience.
elizabethb
elizabethb
QLD
2081 posts
QLD, 2081 posts
23 May 2006 2:42pm
quote:
Originally posted by Eye of the storm

teaching, lots of holidays (at least 12 weeks) and finish at 3.



If you can get your lessons planned for the following day, and you're pretty organised, and can work around things, Teaching is the best job. It's literally an 8-3 job, but it is the only job where you have to do anything from 3 to 6 hours of preparation for the following day.

If you get into relief teaching, that's where the big money starts coming into affect, but you have to be prepared for all aspects of teaching, especially if you get a class where the teacher (which occurs quite often) hasn't given you an outline of the days events, and it's all up to you!

All in all. Well worth it! Especially when the seabreeze kicks in at 3 in summer , and the sun's gone at 7
qfmike737
qfmike737
QLD
398 posts
QLD, 398 posts
23 May 2006 4:44pm
One problem....with teaching..

I dont really like kids! The idea of doing relief freaks me...coz when I was a kiddy in school we were really ratty to the relief staff!

I've just put in an application to QML...They have a 7.30am start...I wonder if that does the trick!

Does anyone do Courier work? I was thinking couriers could start and finish early!
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