How To Become A Kiteboard Instructor – And Why You Should

This article will teach you the steps on how to become a kiteboard instructor and tell you the main reasons why you should be a kiteboard instructor. Being an instructor, teacher, or coach are great ways to be able to travel long term and to work while you are traveling. Kiteboard instruction is even better than most because the pay is generally very good, you get to be in the sun on the water, and there is usually a high demand for great instructors. Here are the steps to becoming a kiteboard instructor and having a job at the tropical windy destinations you want to visit.

1. Know The Basics And Ride Well

You should be riding for AT LEAST 1 year if you ride often (every day) and more like 2 years for most people. The skills that you need to know well and be able to perform consistently to become a kiteboard instructor are; Ride upwind, ride toeside, jump and grab the board, self launch/land, body drag upwind, and be able to self rescue.

Kiteboard Instruction

2. Talk To A Kite School You Would Like To Teach At

See what they have to say about certifications. Their insurance usually requires their instructors to be certified by either IKO or PASA. See which organization they prefer and why. If they know you well they might even help you pay for the course in return for teaching with them for a season or two.

IKO Affiliation

PASA Kiteboard Certification

3. Pick An Organization And A Course

There are advantages and disadvantage to both organizations. IKO stands for International Kiteboarding Organization and is based out of the Dominican Republic. They have a worldwide network of schools and instructors and I had a great time and learned an incredible amount at my level 1 course with Cristophe Ribot at Miami Kiteboarding on Key Biscayne.

PASA stands for Professional Air Sports Association and is a domestic organization. PASA’s instructor course is a little bit cheaper than IKO and one of my good friends had a great experience getting certified with PASA through Kitty Hawk Kites in North Carolina.

Kiteboard student

4. Teach, Teach, Teach!

There is an incredible amount of information in your instructor course and you need to use what you learned to reinforce the teaching skills. You learn about instruction, communication, feedback, and much more that will not only help you teach kiteboarding but other sports as well. While you teach you also learn how to adjust for the student’s learning style and that is a skill that YOU need to continue to practice and develop. Teach at different schools seasonally so you see other teaching styles and what other instructors do right or wrong.

Kitesurfing In Jupiter

Not only does instructing kiteboarding allow you to travel and teach in exotic windy locations, it also makes you a better rider. You get a better understanding of how a kiter’s mechanics work and you get GREAT at the basics which make you better at kiting overall. Once you are certified, use your certification organization’s network to help find job opportunities around the country and around the world! Have fun and let us know what amazing places kiting has brought you to in the comments below!