Are you hesitating to become a kitesurfing instructor? We explain it all in this article 🔥
If you want to travel and get paid at the same time (we’ll tell you about the salary a bit below), kitesurfing is a great compromise. Kitesurfing can take you all over the world in all seasons. All you have to do is look at the wind seasons, apply and set off to teach in dream destinations 🪁☀️🌴
Steps to become kitesurfing instructor ⤵️
Table of contents
Options to become kitesurfing instructor
Get your IKO or VDWS
There are organizations all over the world that offer you the chance to become an instructor after a few weeks of intensive kitesurfing training. The 2 best known are the International Kitesurfing Organistaion (IKO) and the International training association for water sports (VDWS).
Having only passed the IKO instructor diploma, I’ll explain the process here.
Become a kite instructor with IKO
Prerequisites for graduating with IKO 🤓
Before registering for your diploma, make sure you meet all the course prerequisites. You need to have an advanced kitesurfing level – level 4 according to IKO. This level requires you to be able to:
– do a jump,
– a jump with a grab,
– a transition jump,
– a jibe,
– recover a board and a kiteboarder in distress.
📍 Where to get your diploma & how long will it take?
If you fill in all these boxes, you can then register for your certification. Go to the IKO website, where you’ll find all the centers offering training courses. You’ll find training courses all over the world.
Choose your destination and sign up for 10 intensive days. Before you can become an IKO instructor, you’ll need to complete your Assistant Kiteboarder Course (ATC). The assistant course is often followed by the level 1 kitesurf instructor course. Register for the 2 modules 👌🏻
The IKO test process
✍🏼 IKO Written test
Okay, you’re in! Now let me explain how it works 🤓
You’re going to have quite a bit of e-learning training before you get to the face-to-face training. You’ll have subjects like:
– kite theory of flight,
– aerodynamics,
– weather,
– safety rules,
– priorities…
You’ll have to read up and pass the assistant’s exam.
It’s a final multiple-choice exam, and you have to get a mark above 80%. But don’t panic! If you study and practice in every module, you should be all set.
🏄🏻♂️ IKO Practical test
Perfect! You’ve celebrated your first diploma! 🥳 Now it’s down to practice with 10 intensive days at the center of your choice (hopefully with a bit of wind during your training period 🤞🏼).
The 1st week will be assistant training and the second will be instructor training. You’ll be in a group of around ten people, often from the 4 corners of the world. 🌎
👉🏻 1st week; the IKO assistant diploma
The daily schedule is divided into 2 weeks. The first week will be devoted to assistant courses. In brief:
– Morning: theory classes.
You’ll review all the subjects you’ve already seen in the e-learning courses. The best part of these courses is the interaction with the other people present and the exercises you’ll have to do and present. At the end of each day, you’ll have reports to prepare for the following day.
– Afternoon: practical classes.
This is when you’ll be assessed on your level of kiting and the prerequisites to be met. During the assistant course, you’ll learn to launch and land alone, do a self rescue (a technique that allows you to return to shore if you have a problem on the water), and repair kite gear.
👉🏻 2nd week; IKO Instructor diploma
During the instructor course:
– Morning: you’ll learn all about teaching techniques, communication principles, the instructor’s responsibility and lesson plans for a kiteboarding course.
After having seen the IKO standards and how to teach, every afternoon will be an opportunity for you to teach students in real-life conditions.
📖 Final exam
At the end of the 2 weeks, you still have to take the final exam, which will certify you as a Level 1 Kitesurfing Instructor. It’s a big exam, covering all the topics and exercises you’ve learned over the 2 weeks. Once again, don’t panic! There are no traps during this exam, and all you have to do is work a little every night to pass.
Job search
Congratulations, you’re finally a kitesurfing instructor 👏🏻 You’ll then receive a diploma certifying you as an instructor, and you’ll be insured by IKO for one year.
You’ll start out as a Level 1 instructor, then work your way up to Level 4. To do this, you’ll need to justify a certain number of hours on the IKO platform, and each year you’ll need to renew your membership (60 euros).
Don’t waste your time, apply directly on the IKO platform or visit the Facebook groups that offer kitesurf instructor jobs.
The salary of a kite instructor
When you’re a kite instructor, you’re usually paid by the hour. Your pay will depend on your years of experience. It can vary between 18 & 30 € per hour.
If you’d like more information, tips or if you’re looking for an experience in Portugal with our kiteschool Passaro Kitesurf, don’t hesitate to contact us! 🤙🏻