10 topics you can expect to learn at an IKO 5 Day Assistant Instructor Course

Everything in kiteboarding is about step-by-step progression: from the first hours on the beach playing with a trainer kite to first runs on the water. But just because a rider is now independent doesn’t mean that the progression stops. IKO Assistant Instructor and Instructor Courses help kiters take the next step: going from being taught to being the teacher. And there’s so much more to learn than just that. Read on to see the ten topics you can expect to learn at an IKO Assistant Instructor Training Course Plus (AITC-Plus).

1.How to Be Safe

Kiteboarding is a high impact, extreme sport and sometimes things can get rough! Learn how to self-launch, self-land, and self-rescue for those times when an awesome aerial trick goes wrong and you have to pack it up and get yourself to shore!

2.How to Shred Even Better

The Assistant Instructor Training Course Plus offers students an entire afternoon to improve their riding skills and reach IKO Level 4 which is necessary for anyone who wants to take the Instructor Training Course.

3.How to Read the Elements

Wind, water, waves, and flat water make for great kiteboarding sessions, but learning to read the wind, tides and predict the weather will kick your kiteboarding up to a whole other level.

4.The Ins and Outs of Kite Flying

As riders we often take for granted that we launch our kites and on a windy enough day it stays in the sky, but knowing how or why kites fly the way they do is one step towards becoming a better rider. Knowing the aerodynamics of your equipment could be the missing step towards knowing how to boost higher or get out of tricky would-be kitemares.

5.How to Avoid Traffic Jams on the Water

It’s happened to all of us. Stoked to arrive at our spot and get our ride on, we get there and see it’s a bit more crowded than usual. Determined to get our waterlust satiated we head into the fray and come face to face with a few traffic jams. Right of way rules are important for all riders at home and when exploring new spots and helps to keep riders untangled and riding free.

6.How to Speak The Universal Language of Kiteboarding

One of the best parts of kiteboarding is packing up and exploring different spots in different countries but communicating can be tough especially if you haven’t studied the language. Universal kiteboarding signs helps kiters communicate with one another around the world making the prep for your next kite safari a tiny bit easier!

7.All About The Gear

If you’ve ever wondered about the differences between kite types, brands, and what’s better for what style, then the IKO course is for you. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds of equipment helps you make better choices about what kind of gear you want to buy for yourself!

8.How to be a Kite Doctor

Once you get your gear, accidents and wear-and-tear can happen resulting in rips, broken lines, jammed pumps, or cracked boards and repairs can be expensive. The IKO Assistant Course Training Course Plus will teach you how to make basic repairs to your kite, bar, pump and board so little snags won’t keep you from quality time on the water!

9.Spot organization

Each kite spot, like the ocean, has its own ebb and flow. There are specific places where riders don’t kite, where schools send their students off, and where people love to practice their tricks. Learn more about the hows and whys of maintaining that flow safely and efficiently.

10.How to Assist Instructors in Teaching Students

So you’re ready to take your passion for kiteboarding from hobby to something more. You’ll learn how to be an Assistant Instructor and even get real-life, hands-on practice during your course.

If after seeing this list you’re ready to become a better, safer rider and turn your love of kiteboarding into a job, join an IKO Assistant Instructor Course Plus now!