Author: Marica Moda

How IKO Instructors Can Convert Their Certification with OPES (Organization for Sports Education) Recognized by CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee).

Guide to Converting IKO Kitesurf Instructor Certification to OPES/CONI Certification - Sailing Instructor, discipline DV005 - Kiteboarding, according to the requirements of the National Sports Qualifications System SNaQ.
IKO assists you in navigating the steps to obtain the dual certification IKO - OPES/CONI and pursue the profession of Kitesurf Instructor in Italy.

Why obtain the dual certification IKO - OPES/CONI?

The conversion opportunity is open to all certified kitesurf instructors, whether Italian or foreign, working in Italy. Its aim is to improve the quality of sports education and ensure greater professionalism and economic fairness in the world of kitesurfing.
This dual certification ensures that kitesurf instructors have the necessary skills to teach effectively and safely, offering the opportunity for regular employment within sports associations and/or kitesurf schools, and ensuring stable income and associated labor rights.

CONI, OPES, and IKO together in Promoting Sports in Italy.

The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) is the national body responsible for the promotion and organization of Olympic sports.

OPES (Organization for Sports Education) is a sports promotion organization recognized by CONI. It collaborates closely with CONI and international organizations like IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) to promote physical education and sports in Italy.

OPES is committed to converting IKO Kitesurf Instructor certifications to OPES/CONI certifications and recognizes the teaching provided by IKO as of a high standard. Thus, OPES enables the conversion of instructors' diplomas issued by IKO Examiners into OPES/CONI diplomas.
This collaboration is essential to ensure a professional and safe sports system for all.

Towards a Safer and Professional Sports Future: Optimism and Collaboration between IKO - OPES/CONI.

The goal is to improve the quality and safety of sports education in Italy, building a more solid and professional future for the kitesurfing world in Italy, in compliance with local regulations.

Thanks to the collaboration between IKO and OPES/CONI, the procedure for converting the IKO certification to OPES/CONI certification is straightforward, affordable, and can be carried out by all IKO Instructors wishing to work in kitesurf schools in Italy that are part of the same association.

Do you want to become an IKO Instructor and work in Italy? Here's how your IKO certification will be converted into an OPES/CONI certification.

The procedure to obtain the dual certification is as follows:

• At the end of the IKO course ITC (Instructor Training Course), the organizer will compile a form with the data of instructor candidates who have successfully completed the course, qualifying as IKO Kitesurf Instructors Level 1.
• The form will be countersigned by the course's responsible IKO Examiner.
• The form will be sent to the OPES central membership office, which will issue the certifications at a cost of €25.00 per diploma.
• All candidates who successfully complete the IKO Instructor Course - ITC L1 will receive the National Diploma as Kitesurf Instructor OPES/CONI - Sailing Instructor, discipline DV005 - Kiteboarding, according to the requirements of the National Sports Qualifications System SNaQ.

If you are already an IKO Instructor, Italian or foreign, and want to work in Italy, here are the steps to follow.

For already certified IKO Instructors who want to work in Italy, it is possible to directly request the conversion of their IKO Kitesurf Instructor certification from OPES/CONI, obtaining the National Diploma as Kitesurf Instructor OPES/CONI - Sailing Instructor, discipline DV005 - Kiteboarding, according to the requirements of the National Sports Qualifications System SNaQ.

The procedure requires filling out a form, paying an annual fee to OPES/CONI, and submitting the necessary documentation. Once the conversion is completed, the OPES/CONI certification will be issued.

The steps to follow are:

• Fill out the conversion application form downloadable from the IKO/OPES website. You can find the request form here: OPES/IKO Conversion.
• Attach your IKO Kitesurf Instructor certification to the email.
• Attach the receipt of payment of the annual fee paid to OPES/CONI, currently €15.00: payment to be made by bank transfer to O.P.E.S. - Organizzazione Per l’Educazione allo Sport - Via Salvatore Quasimodo, 129 – 00144 ROME.
  • Cod IBAN: IT11L0538703208000001088781 – BIC/SWIFT: BPMOIT22XXX
  • Banca Popolare dell’Emilia Romagna
  • Specify in the reason for payment: "conversion IKO/OPES name and surname".
• Send all documentation to the following email address:
  • [email protected] 
• OPES/CONI will issue the new certification.

It should be noted that the OPES/CONI equivalence applies only to IKO Instructors with a valid certificate. If the IKO certificate has expired, the OPES/CONI equivalence will not be valid, but you can attend an IRC course (Kitesurf Instructor Reinstatement Course) for reinstatement.

The agreement, in force since 2020, has an annual duration and is tacitly renewed in the following years.

The national contact person for OPES/CONI for maintaining relations with IKO is Andrea Frateiacci.

Some Italian IKO Centers offer certification conversion to their instructor candidates.

To facilitate instructor candidates, some Italian IKO Centers offer to cover the cost of converting the IKO - OPES/CONI certification for their candidates, including it in the cost of the professional ITC course (Instructor Training Course). 

To ensure that the certification conversion is included, contact directly the IKO Center where you will attend the professional instructor course (ITC - Instructor Training Course). 

Joint Commitment.

This collaboration represents a significant step towards a safer, more professional, and fairer sports future for kitesurfing in Italy. 

This joint commitment to excellence in sports education reflects the determination to promote high standards in the sector, ensuring a professional and safe environment for all kitesurfing enthusiasts in Italy. 

Author: Marica Moda 

Helping Impoverished Communities Thrive 

IKO recently launched the philanthropic program "IKO Giving Back."

It aims to have an immediate and long-term impact on a humanitarian level and on the planet.

There are three objectives:

• Sponsoring participants in IKO Professional Courses
• Creating partnerships with nonprofit organizations
• Promoting environmental protection

Starting with kitesurfing, IKO is committed to making a concrete contribution in laying the foundation for the sustainable growth of the sport and protecting the beautiful places where we practice it.

The IKO wants to create a virtuous circle and positive impact on the community, especially the most disadvantaged communities, in the spots where IKO Centers are located.

In addition, the IKO wishes to share and promote a broad-based positive and constructive attitude among kiters, instructors, kitesurfing schools, IKO community members, and all beach users.

Global activities

With the Giving Back Program, the IKO wants to be globally active, taking advantage of its presence in more than 60 countries worldwide with almost 400 IKO Centers.

Its widespread presence and the choice to donate 1% of annual sales enables it to make socially and environmentally lasting changes.

Helping people with economic difficulties in various parts of the world and protecting the nature around us are essential aspects that IKO wants to achieve by creating partnerships with IKO Centers and nonprofit organizations.

1. IKO Professional Courses Sponsorship

Sponsoring members means having a real impact on people and providing training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

The idea of using kitesurfing not only as a sport but as a tool to improve the living conditions of underprivileged kiters prompted IKO to start this project.

Working with IKO Centers worldwide, the aim is to sponsor low-income kiters.

Helping members struggling in the kitesurfing community allows them to attend an IKO Professional Course, receive free training to become IKO Certified Assistants and Instructors, and build a professional future, breaking the cycle of poverty.

Introducing some IKO-sponsored instructors

Carlos Antonio De La Cruz Romero

Cabarete, Dominican Republic

"I grew up and spent my whole life in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. I have always loved going to the beach. The first time I tried kitesurfing was with a 4-line kite in a school at a hotel on the beach, where the manager allowed me to kitesurf. So I started learning with friends and wanted to become an instructor.

Becoming an IKO instructor changed my life: my hobby became my job. Now I earn more money and can give a better life to my son. Becoming an instructor has always been my dream since I started kitesurfing".

Marcos Antonia Capellán

Cabarete, Dominican Republic

"I'm 19 years old and live with my family in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. In my spare time, I enjoy outdoor activities and sports. I became a kitesurf instructor because I want to share my knowledge and great passion for kitesurfing.

I have greatly improved my teaching techniques by taking the IKO Instructor Course, which will allow me to apply abroad".

Andrè Americo Zivane

Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique 

"I was born in a poor fishing village in the Bazaruto archipelago in Mozambique and was orphaned at six. I kitesurfed for the first time in 2015 thanks to a tourist; immediately, I knew that kitesurfing would become my life.

I have been teaching kiting for more than five years, and in the summer of 2022, I will be traveling to Italy to attend an Instructor Training Course (ITC) at the IKO Center Kite's Angels. I dream of becoming an IKO Instructor to perfect myself and to be able to give the best to those who want to approach this sport through safer and more disciplined teaching".

André's feedback after the course:

"I want to thank Kite's Angels Beach and IKO  for their generous help that allowed me to realize my dream of becoming an IKO Instructor.

I learned a lot during the Assistant, First Aid, and Instructor courses, and everything was interesting.

Learning how to practice this beautiful sport in the best and safest way was fantastic.

I have had the best time of my life as a person and professional.

I want to thank Examiner Max Piona. He was very professional, and his explanations allowed me to understand and do everything. He also gave me some life advice, so I now have a very open mind with a lot of professional knowledge. In addition, the IKO manuals were helpful during all the courses.

Now that I'm an IKO Instructor, I dream of opening a kitesurfing school in my country, Mozambique, especially where I live, in Vilankulo.

I would love for other young guys with the same dream to become IKO Instructors and for me to put into practice the knowledge I have had the opportunity to learn during the IKO Courses."

Unity is strength:

IKO, Kite's Angels Beach, and the Dr. Christopher Giorgio Spitti (on a humanitarian mission to Mozambique for "Médecins Sans Frontières" and "Fratelli Senza Frontiere ONLUS") have joined forces to create this sponsorship.

Dr. Christopher Giorgio Spitti, who launched the "PHC-Philanthropic Humanitarian Consortium" project, covered the travel costs.

"Fratelli Senza Frontiere ONLUS", in the person of Luana Spitti, took care of the paperwork at the Italian Embassy in Mozambique, obtaining a special permit and covering the expenses for the extended visa.

Lorenzo Leoni, the owner of the IKO Center Kite's Angels Beach in Italy, covered the costs of the ATC and ITC Professional Courses.

IKO covered the costs of registration fees for the ATC and ITC Professional Courses.

Apply to attend a sponsored IKO Professional Course, or tell us who would deserve it

IKO has chosen to sponsor some kiteboarders experiencing financial difficulty.

If you have the characteristics listed below or know someone who does, please write to [email protected].

Tell us your story and send us two reference letters from an IKO Examiner, an Assistant Trainer, an IKO Center owner, a local association, or a nonprofit organization.

You can become an IKO Assistant and Instructor and change your life.

You must:

• Be an experienced kiter
• Be highly motivated
• Live near a kitesurfing spot in a country with a GDP (PPP) per capita of less than US$ 10,000
• Want to work as an IKO Instructor or Assistant after finishing the Professional Course.
•  

Please, help us to give back!

Please also write to us if you know someone who has these characteristics and thinks they deserve to be sponsored.

We will be happy to evaluate your application or that of the person recommended.

2. Nonprofit collaborations

The IKO believes that teamwork makes a difference and that we can leave a positive impact together. That’s why it has decided to support the best nonprofit projects.

Please, help us give back!

Nominate your nonprofit association or an association you know by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Tell us about the project you would like the IKO to support.

We will evaluate all projects and choose those that can have the most significant and lasting positive impact.

An example of collaboration: InspireDR+IKO

"Swim to survive" is a community-based program that teaches children to swim.

The community of Cabarete lives by the sea and near water sports, yet 80% of the population cannot swim. For this reason, InspireDR, in cooperation with IKOIntl, organized the free "Swim to survive" program, where low-income children could learn to swim and develop comfort in the water.

The IKO was involved in sponsoring fifty children from Cabarete to learn to swim, showing them the importance of maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, and helping to lower the number of drowning cases.

InspireDR's feedback:

"The program has begun. Twenty-one children became familiar with the water for seven weeks and learned basic buoyancy and swimming techniques.

Some children did not want to enter the pool on the first day, but day after day, they felt more comfortable in the water.”

“It was a fun and active group with the first twenty-one children, the new #superswimmers of Cabarete, certified.” -InspireDR

“Thanks to the support of IKOIntl and our instructors, these children will have a safer future. Teaching a child to swim can make the difference between life and death in the event of a water accident. Moreover, swimming is a sport that is fun and healthy." -InspireDR

3. Environmental Management

Every year, 14 million tons of waste end up in our seas; we don’t want to and cannot stand by and watch.

With this initiative, the IKO wants to raise awareness and urge everyone to take action to protect our seas and beaches.

We can make a difference by reducing or eliminating the use of disposable products and actively collaborating in cleaning our seas and beaches.

Coastal cleaning

All candidates attending the IKO Assistant and Instructor Courses participate in beach cleaning.

Removing litter from beaches protects marine life, teaches the importance of sustainable tourism, and sets a good example.

Cleaning the seas

Together we can remove waste from the sea, protect the marine ecosystem, and take care of the place where we kitesurf.

Take care of your spot, too, and become a role model.

Together we're stronger!

Write to [email protected] and participate in the IKO Giving Back program.

Together we can grow and improve because together, we are stronger. Giving back helps everyone to grow and progress.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO). The IKO was founded in 2001 by Frédéric Bené and Eric Beaudonnat and became the leading kiteboarding organization, specialized in kiteboarding education, promoting safe practices and enhancing the highest standards for the industry over the last 20 years. The IKO is in constant development but the goal remains the same - the safe and sustainable growth of kitesurfing. IKO co-founder Frédéric Bené looks back in this interview at the organization’s origins and explains his vision for the future.

Photo: IKO Co-Founder Frédéric Bené, Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, 2003
 

Why did you and Eric Beaudonnat start the IKO?

We started the first training courses for distributors, shops and schools in 1999 in the Dominican Republic with WIPIKA, the first brand of inflatable kites. The feedback we received from people who took the courses was so encouraging that in 2000, schools working with other brands from around the world asked us to run some training courses to train their school team.

At that time, the market was booming and safety was important to sustain the growth of the sport. We also envisioned the future of the sport where kiters and instructors would travel, learn and teach anywhere. So we came up with the ambitious idea to support the kite community worldwide with a progressive training program independent from any brand and for all levels. The name International Kiteboarding Organization IKO was created in 2001.

We were super motivated as we had the unique opportunity to contribute to the development of this new fantastic sport. At the same time, we were excited about founding a global network where students, kiters, instructors and schools would all benefit.

It’s motivating to work for an organization in a sport that you’re passionate about and at the same time make a positive impact on people's lives.

Those early years were so exciting. We started to learn with a 2-line kite and a board that wouldn’t let you go upwind, only downwind, but the sensation of riding on the water with just a little bar in your hands was an adrenaline rush.

Then brands quickly started to develop products that performed better and were safer and the release of the 100% depowered kite in 2004 opened even further the sport to more people.

The kite evolved from 2-line to 4-line, from low to high aspect ratio, different shapes and sizes.

You could see every style of riding - some kiters were using wakeboards with 2-line kites to push harder at the beginning. With the 4-line arrival, the era of new extreme aerial and technical tricks started. What a surprise when the young Argentine rider Martin Vari did a handlepass at the Cabarete world tour event, the crowd was delirious.

Photo: IKO Co-Founder Eric Beaudonnat, Cabarete, Dominican Republic, 2000
 

What challenges did the IKO face over the years?

Gaining recognition from the community

We quickly realized that to achieve our objective we would have to develop a strong, quality international program that would greatly help at the same time students, instructors and schools so we could gradually gain recognition from the international kite community.

There were already some national organizations or federations providing kitesurf training in the US, UK, Germany, Australia, Italy and France.

Our first intention was to work with these organizations within international standards but we quickly realized we could work directly with schools on any continent. We collected feedback from each of our members tirelessly to build the best teaching and learning tools and we updated the training content regularly. We gained awareness of our members gradually as our program was getting more and more solid year after year. It was a nice reward for our hard work.

Satisfying the pro training demand

Photo: IKO Examiner meeting, Cabarete, Dominican Republic, 2008

The demand accelerated quickly. During the early years, Eric was travelling the world and meeting new people from different countries, but one Examiner was not enough to run all the instructor trainings worldwide. Therefore, we  launched the Examiner program and started to train a few Examiners selected from the top certified instructors. From there, we could run courses simultaneously in different parts of the world. The Examiner job contributed to the success of the IKO.

Maintain standards and quality

Growing quickly is a challenge itself. To control quality, we set up a dedicated office team, created tools for trainers and members to help them follow safety standards, and established clear rules with sanctions. Since the beginning, we’ve strictly enforced sanctions and this has helped keep kiters and instructors safe.

What is the mission of the IKO and what has the IKO done to accomplish that mission?

Today, a large number of kiters become independent and look to improve their skills and also to experience adventures at new spots and destinations. As we want to continue to satisfy kiters whatever their level and the experience they look for, last year, we redefined and broadened our mission and now IKO is “Empowering the world to experience kiteboarding with confidence.”

In the earlier years, safety was our top priority because the risks of accidents were high. Many spots had few or no qualified instructors to teach appropriately and the kites were not 100% depowered. Safety is still the most important aspect and is the DNA of all of our trainings. However, we have trained today over 16,000 instructors worldwide, and over 350 affiliated IKO Centers follow our standards. This means you can learn with IKO and get confidence in almost any kite spot in the world.

Over the years, for the independent kiters who look to progress safely, our training program has been extended with the coach program available in all disciplines including the most recent ones - hydrofoil to wingfoil.

To realize our mission of spreading safety with knowledge for all, our training courses have been translated in 5 languages and an eLearning section is available in our App.

The IKO is now the largest kitesurfing organization in the world. How did it get to this point?

Photo: IKO Co-Founder Frédéric Bené with IKO Instructors, ilha do Guajiru, Brazil, 2016

This dream came true and I’m so proud of the IKO instructors, trainers and schools that contributed to certifying over 600,000 students so far. Behind the organization, there are dedicated professionals who run lessons, teach and share their passion daily so new people get involved in kitesurfing. By providing the right training, tools and services to the pros, we create together this synergy that built the largest kitesurfing organization.

Our successful recipe is that we stayed connected with the community, we listened to them from the beginning, we help them to evolve and reach a higher level of certification.

The IKO progressive training path is international and the most comprehensive training for kitesurfing. It’s logical that it would attract the largest numbers of kiters.

What’s next for the IKO and for the sport?

Photo: The IKO office team, Cabarete, Dominican Republic, 2021

The future is promising. The sport still evolves with the new disciplines like hydrofoil and wingfoil and the independent kiters explore more and more new disciplines and destinations. IKO aims to support this evolution in all aspects.

For the beginner, we are preparing a complete online course so they can save time and boost their progress like never before during his practical course with his qualified instructor. The course will be divided into three interactive videos corresponding to the first beginner levels.  The student will watch and learn step-by-step all they need to know with a virtual instructor who explains the techniques and does the demo. A smart way to learn quickly, anywhere and anytime.

Hydrofoil and wingfoil disciplines have become popular and we released some of the first online content and more is coming. We also updated the coach program so that kiters can book a lesson in these disciplines with a certified IKO Coach. All IKO instructors can become IKO Coach Level 1 and teach any Evolution Course discipline - freeride, freestyle, wave riding, hydrofoil and wingfoil.  In 2022, these Evolution Courses will be offered by more certified Coaches in different spots.

Kiters are also enjoying new destinations and experiences whatever the discipline.

For independent kiters who are eager to participate in downwinders, kite trips or boat trips, we are setting up IKO Adventures where qualified coaches will run trips recognized by IKO.

Our desire is to enrich the kite experience by offering all types of kite packages worldwide so that kiters of any level can book with a qualified IKO Coach or Instructor.

And to enhance their journey, kite spot and destination information at a glance are being added to the App.

Hugues Scheers is the newest IKO Examiner. We met up with him to talk about his kitesurf career and his journey through the IKO pro training path.

How did you get into kitesurfing?

I got into kitesurfing because I was looking for a change in lifestyle. I found myself stuck in  the “daily grind”, living to work and forgetting to live. I decided to take a break so I packed up all my belongings and headed to the ocean to start living life for a while. Kitesurfing was just starting to boom in South Africa and this quickly became something I absolutely had to try for myself. It didn’t take long for the bug to bite. After my first flight with the kite my life would never be the same again. The act of harnessing the power of nature for one’s own enjoyment is a beautiful thing. I wanted as much of it as possible.

Tell us about your favorite kite spot or kite experience.

I have had the good fortune of being able to kite in many different spots around the globe and as much as I enjoyed almost all of them for their own specific reasons, to me Cape Town South Africa contains so many of my favorite spots, all for a variety of reasons. It is a fantastic place to be able to chase your heart's desires: big waves, consistent wind, flat spots, sunny skies, animal encounters, amazing views and friendly people. I may be biased as Cape Town will always be my “home” spot but I truly believe every kiter should experience what it has to offer.     

Why did you decide to pursue kitesurfing professionally?

I have always been someone who enjoys sharing knowledge and skill, especially when it comes to sport or physical activities. Growing up in South Africa we are very aware how sport has the ability to change people’s lives. Kitesurfing had just changed my life for the better and all I wanted to do was share this with as many people as possible. I was stoked to be a part of the community and simply wanted to spread the stoke as much as possible. Becoming an instructor to allow me to do this professionally was a natural progression I simply had to take up as I had found a way to travel the world and spread the stoke while enjoying myself.    

Why did you become an IKO Examiner?

I have been following the IKO training path since the start of my professional instructor career. I quickly realized that as the years went by I was now teaching more and more students and thereby changing more and more people’s lives. When I first started running IKO Assistant courses as an Assistant Trainer I noticed how I now share my passion with an exponential amount of people by training people who will go on to change people’s lives. Over the years I had the good fortune of meeting quite a few of the IKO Examiners and noticed the teamwork they put in together for sharing the passion of the sport and wanted to be part of it. I am now honored to be part of this team and get to fulfill the task of shaping the future instructors that will go on to make a positive impact in people’s lives.

How has this career affected your life?

My previous “career” was in the airborne geophysics industry and as much as I enjoyed the challenges and the progress I achieved within this career I was not passionate about it. At that time I didn’t mind simply living to work. Having a career in kitesurfing has allowed me to not only do what I enjoy but I get to work in something I am truly passionate about. It is said that when work is your passion it is no longer a job but a mission. For me it is a mission I take on with pleasure and a smile on my face, and what’s better than that?     

What advice would you give to your colleagues?

Always remember where you yourself have come from and how your actions of today will invariably in some way shape the future, your own as well as others. Be honest with yourself and have the ability to look inside and identify your own weaknesses, have the courage to admit to them and correct them. Remain humble, sympathetic and honest to anyone who looks up to you for guidance, it’s up to you to BE the hero they want. Last but not least, always keep smiling; it’s just as contagious as kitesurfing!

Author: Bradley Mackelden

So, you have completed your first few kitesurf lessons at your local IKO affiliated kite center. Already you find yourself spending numerous evenings trolling the internet for kitesurf equipment. Wanting to purchase your first setup, you come to the unforeseeable realisation that this will get expensive. Very expensive!!!

You are desperate to get kites of your own and turn to the second-hand market in the hope to find a better price. You soon realise that you have no idea what you are looking for, what's hot and what's not?

Well, that's where this article will come in handy! I am here to give you some guidance on buying used kitesurfing equipment so you can turn up to the beach with a decent setup that is safe and user friendly. Not something from the dinosaur ages that will likely lead to an unfavourable ending.

Why buy used?

Save money

Most kitesurfers tend to have three kites in their quiver, at least one board, a harness, a bar or two and other necessary accessories such as a pump, wetsuit, leash, etc. Most new kites cost between $1000 to $2000 each. The total cost is soon going to exceed $5000 for a completely new set up.

You may be asking, why not just get one kite? Well, the answer is that one kite will restrict you to limited wind conditions. If you live in a country where the wind is consistently the same speed, this may be an option. However, if you live somewhere with everchanging wind speeds like the U.K. Having at least two kites is necessary.

Buying used equipment will save a lot of money. Instead of purchasing only one new kite, you may be able to get two or three used kites for the same price.

Save Equipment

When learning, you will inevitably crash the kites. Why spend thousands of dollars on new kites when you have a high chance of damaging them in your first few months of learning? If your kite control is excellent and you do not crash the kite, this may not apply to you. But if you are frequently crashing, is it worth risking all that cash?

Buying used gives peace of mind that if you crash the kite, it's not the end of the world. Once the kite control has improved, then you can think about buying new kites.

Used buyer's guide

Kites, what's hot?

A kite less than five years old

Kites have developed tremendously in the past five years. Modern kites are more user-friendly and manufactured from better quality materials.

Crispy canopy

A crispy canopy will still have a slightly stiff, waxy quality to it. A crisp canopy means that the kite has not seen much use. Bang for your buck!

Popular brand

Research what brands are the top brands in the market. They are popular for a reason! Get a kite from an established brand. It will likely perform well plus the resale value will be high.

Kites, what's not?

A kite more than five years old

Try to avoid buying a kite that's more than five years old. Some older kites are not very user friendly. A kite older than five years will likely have seen a high amount of use. You don't want to be paying for a saggy bag!

Tissue paper

I refer to a kite as being like tissue paper if it's had lots of use. The canopy of the kite will feel very soft, flimsy and old. This is a sign the kite has been heavily used. Always look at the kite in detail and feel the canopy when buying used.

Repairs

Check for pinpricks, which are tiny holes in the canopy of the kite. Also, check for any canopy repairs, patches etc. Ask the owner if the bladder has been repaired. Repairs are not the end of the world if they have been well repaired. If a repair has been professionally done, It will not put me off. If it has been repaired at home I will be more cautious.

Bonus tips

Valve connection

Make sure the valve connection matches your pump attachment.

Connection points

Ensure the connection points will be compatible with the bar you already have or are planning on buying.

Inspect the kite

Take your time to look thoroughly over the kite. Make sure there is no extra damage that has not already been pointed out to you.

Boards, what's hot?

A board suitable for your ability

Don't make the mistake of buying a shortboard. Buy something to aid your learning! A longer board will be easier to ride upwind and this will help when learning. For a mid-weight rider, look for something 140cm plus to start.

Flat rocker

Try to find a board with a mellow/flat rocker. When looking down the boards' edge, the rocker can be seen as the curved shape from nose to tail. It's best to have a flatter board for learning as it will get on the plane faster and ride upwind better.

Board with straps

Purchase a board with foot straps included. Some brands have different spacing between the foot strap inserts, therefore, not all straps are compatible with every board.

Boards, what's not?

Retro shape

Avoid a board with a drawn in nose and tail. Boards' of this shape can be difficult to ride upwind on.

Cracks and delamination

Certainly, avoid a board that has started to delaminate. Bubbles are a sign of delamination. It will only get worse! Superficial scratches and general wear and tear are fine but make sure it stops at this. Inspect the board to make sure there are no cracks in the deck.

Small fins

When learning, you should have large fins on your board. Large fins will offer increased grip and upwind performance. Small fins are great for advanced riders but not ideal for beginners.

Bar & lines, what's hot?

A bar less than two years old

In my opinion, the bar & lines are the most important piece of equipment. It's what connects the rider to the kite. And should something go wrong with the lines, it's likely to end badly. Modern bars will have the latest technology.

Up to date safety system

Make sure you use either a four-line re-ride safety system or a five-line safety system. Should you need to release the kite onto the safety, you need to be certain that it will release effectively and dump all the power.

Adjustable bar

An adjustable bar is cool because it gives you the option to adjust the width depending on what size kite you are using. This means you can have one bar to cover several different sized kites.

Bars, what's not?

Fraying lines

Unwind all the lines and inspect for signs of wear. If they are heavily used or fraying, I suggest looking elsewhere.

Knots in the lines

Ensure there are no knots in the lines as these can create weak points and sometimes can be extremely difficult to remove.

Retro safety system

Avoid any safety system which is not a four-line re-ride system or five-line safety system.

I hope you have found this article beneficial? Why not print this off and take it with you as a guide when buying used equipment. It could save you a lot of money and a lot of stress.

One final note, stay in touch with your local IKO Center. Here at Be-Rad Watersports we are often refreshing our school kites and there can be some excellent deals to be had on used kites. We refresh our equipment every year so you can be sure to get a well maintained up to date kit.

Kiting is constantly growing and evolving. New disciplines emerge, equipment improves, spots get discovered and teaching techniques are enhanced. 

We recently updated the IKO Kitesurf Instructor Manual to include the latest knowledge and experience from our elite trainers worldwide. 

IKO Kitesurf Instructor Manual 7.0 Now Available

Concise Lesson Plans

Speed up the learning process and make lessons more enjoyable 

Emphasis on ‘Guided Discovery’

Students progress quickly with hands-on learning 

Focus on Students’ Mental States

Ensure students feel good and have fun while learning 

Improved Readability 

New graphics and easier to understand concepts 

If you’re an IKO certified instructor with active membership, get a copy of the new manual by logging in to your account.

The IKO recorded it’s first teaching hours when it was established in 2001. Ever since then we have developed into a large international organization and now we have reached the exciting milestone of 3 million teaching hours!

We are really happy to share this news with our continuously expanding community. We would like to thank all our members for choosing to learn kiteboarding with confidence by learning with us. A special thank you goes to our Instructors for providing their students with the opportunity to learn kiteboarding safely, and our IKO Centers for providing a safe, comfortable and enjoyable learning environment.

The IKO team is motivated and excited for the next 3 million teaching hours!

Hey you! 

We hope all is well. It has been quite a gusty year though we managed to harness the winds and make it another great year! As we look forward 2018 is going to be a huge year for the IKO Community. Already in 2017 we have all worked hard and accomplished a lot though there is no time to relax! A lot of seeds have been planted in the 2017 and they are going to flower in 2018!

In 2017 we have quite some highlights. We offered every school that qualifies free IKO affiliation, three new e-books + dozens of e-courses all free to IKO members, developed an app that is available on both google play + apple store and improved the Assistant course to better prepare candidates to become IKO Instructors! If you want to go in-depth on all minor/major updates of the IKO - visit the news section of the IKO website.

For 2018 we have lots of big updates that we believe will greatly benefit the IKO community across the board from current to future Students, Instructors, Centers and Partners. Currently all is secret though follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Email Subscription to be the first to know.

Happy New Years and We Wish You a Windy Year
IKO

Considering the situation in Tarifa where some new rules have been established, we would like to inform you that we are working closely with ANEK, AEKAT as well as with IFKO representatives in order to protect interests and position of IKO Instructors and Centers.

This is not the first time, new rules are affecting Kitesurfing activities in Tarifa. Currently, more than 180 IKO certified Instructors are working in Tarifa representing 80% of all certified instructors in Tarifa. Since 2001, IKO is leading pro training in the European Kitesurf mecca, helping the community to develop the sport safely through a comprehensive, reliable and safe program.

Yet, IKO certifications, as well as certifications from other organizations, are still not considered by local authorities in Tarifa. Nevertheless, in Northern European countries, authorities admit and positively rely on the IKO standards so the affiliated schools and certified instructors can work and teach legitimately.

Please be aware that we follow this case and study carefully the best route so IKO Instructors and Centers can continue working within the international and leading standards provided by IKO in Tarifa.