IKO Kiteboarding Organization

IKO Kiteboarding Organization

IKO Kiteboarding Organization

The International Kiteboarding Organization (I.K.O.) is the world’s largest kiteboarding community, with a worldwide organization of kiteboarding schools, instructors, and kiteboarders.  The IKO provides support for Instructors, Students and kiteboarding communities. The IKO Kiteboarding programs are designed to help you learn in a safe way while your IKO Instructor respects your rhythm and takes you through all the steps so you can reach your goals. The IKO Certification standards and training are recognized in over 40 countries worldwide. There is a worldwide network of affiliated schools and instructors. Each one has made a commitment to quality and safety. Every IKO School and Instructor became certified through hard work, dedication, training courses, qualification criteria and safety standards. You can recognize IKO Schools and instructors and products from their distinctive logos and trademarks. IKO schools, only use Current IKO Certified Instructors, and teach according to the safety standards. IKO Schools display certificates, flags, and issue IKO Kiteboarder Cards to every student. Only schools that meet the high standards can become IKO Affiliated Kiteboarding Schools.

SCHOOLS: Learning how to kiteboard in an IKO Affiliated Center assures safe and fast learning using quality tested methods that maneuver you safely off the beach and into the water! IKO affiliated centers have specific liability insurance coverage and you also can subscribe to the Kiteboarder’s insurance in your center of choice, or click here for more information.
INSTRUCTORS: Instructors are competent kiteboarders who have undergone Instructor Training Courses and learned the IKO teaching methodology. Kiteboard instructor training is intense, and includes communication, safety, lesson planning, rescues, and people skills. An IKO Instructor also commits to undergo ongoing training to stay current. There are different  levels of instructor from Assistant, Level 1, Level, 2, Level 2 Senior, etc.
STUDENTS: Students learn using the latest proven teaching techniques. the Student progresses through the IKO learning levels from Discovery, Intermediate until they “graduate” as Independent level kiteboarders. Students receive a structured lesson plan, that is easy to follow and can be tailored to the individual. Students can switch between instructors and schools with the standardized teaching system.
MEMBERS: Students can become an IKO member and get access to the IKO community website, news, maybe win a kite, get discounts on gear, and automatically receive one year’s kite rider liability/injury insurance for all your kiting activities. Membership is open to all kiteboarding students with their IKO kiteboarder Cert Card.
LEVELS: Listed below are the IKO Kiteboarder levels. These are a series of skills and tasks in the ideal sequence. The Skills chart allows students to gauge their progress and plan their training. They also help identify a student’s skill level, when transferring between schools, or when proving their level of competency. Every IKO Instructor gives the student a level at the end of every session. Every Student should receive their level listed on their Kiteboarder Card at the end of their training. The Skill Chart is also available on the IKO’s website, and in the IKO kiteboarder handbook, and Workbooks.
EDUCATION: IKO has an online education system that offers many courses to improve your knowledge in kiteboarding. Some courses are free to IKO members, and some courses can be taken for a fee. There are two Online education areas, one for the kiteboarding members, and one for the Pro-members (instructors). All levels of kiteboarder are encouraged to improve their knowledge, and continue their learning with the IKO’s Kiteboarder Online Education system.

PRODUCTS: IKO has a range of products to help kiteboarders, Instructional DVD’s and Kiteboarder Handbooks, and Manuals. The Progressions DVD Series is highly recommended. there are four levels; Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Professional.

 

IKO Hosts European Examiners Gathering

 

 

IKO is pleased to announce that during the week of June 10-14, 2013 in Tarifa, Spain, IKO Examiners located throughout Europe convened together for the first time to participate in an unprecedented “Think Tank”. Extraordinary ideas were born, including many that will advance IKO services and already excellent training programs.Continue reading

IKO Training Path

IKO Training Path

IKO offers the most up-to-date kiteboarding training courses with level progression. IKO has established a training path from entry-level recreational courses to pro courses that offer a range of instructor certifications.

IKO courses are performance based kiteboard programs. At the introductory level, practical knowledge and safety skills are the foundations established. More advanced concepts, kiteboard tricks and instructor training come in later courses when a kiteboarder has progressed through the training path gaining the necessary practical knowledge and experience.

Start your training path today!

IKO Training Path   www.actionsportsmaui.com

Click here for More Info about the IKO Skills Assessment Test

Click here for More Info about the IKO Skills List

Click here for More Info about the IKO Kiteboarder Card