Meet IKO's Newest Assistant Instructor & Learn the value of Assistant Instructors
01 Apr 2013
The passion for kiteboarding runs so strongly through kiteboarders’ veins that becoming an instructor is not only about career progression but is also about spreading the love of the sport making it available as a fun and safe activity to the main stream public. For avid kiteboarders such as Emmanuel Vasquez of the Dominican Republic, who will soon be IKO’s newest certified Assistant Instructor and kiteboard prodigy, combining the love of the sport with teaching it to others is a natural progression.
ABOUT EMMANUEL VASQUEZ
Emmanuel Vasquez has been kiteboarding since he was twelve years old. Having basically grown up kiteboarding, Emmanuel kiteboards with such excellent skill that it is second nature to him. When asked what he enjoys most about kiteboarding, he says, “The wind in my face is fantastic.”
HOW ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS HELP
Even though kiteboarding is classified as an extreme sport, it has now evolved so much that it has become a safe sport for the whole family. This is thanks to all the contributions of expertise from all those kiteboarding for many years like Emmanuel Vasquez. Assistant Instructors assist IKO Instructors by applying their expertise so that more recreational kiteboarding students can be taught at the same time with the safest and most effective instruction possible. For this reason, IKO’s Assistant Instructor Training Course (AITC) has become essential to kite centers and is extremely valuable for students.
The Assistant Instructor job entails being the right hand of the IKO Instructor and helping with landing and flying kites, being a positive influence and assisting with communicating proper theories and practical knowledge.
ABOUT THE ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COURSE (AITC)
The Assistant Instructor Training Course (AITC) is the first step to all IKO Instructor training paths, and it allows Candidates to get first-hand teaching experience in an IKO Affiliated Kite Center. This is a vital step for anyone intending to pursue a career as an IKO Instructor, and is the most valuable experience that a future Instructor can get.
The AITC Course is now in demand for new instructors just starting their careers, and is a prerequisite for all Candidates with intentions of taking ITCs. This AITC is a 3-day course for up to 4 Candidates at one time. After successful completion of the course, the IKO Assistant Instructor Trainer certifies these Candidates as IKO Assistant Instructors.
Emmanuel Vasquez chose the IKO to get certified because he says you, “learn the right way through IKO teaching methods.” He goes on to explain that even though he has kiteboarded many years, the AITC taught him important aspects to kiteboarding such as: “right of way rules; identifying safe and dangerous weather patterns; and dangers on the beach.”
ADVANTAGE TO KITE CENTERS TO HAVE ASSISTANTS
One of the great advantages of the AITC is that IKO Kite Centers can train their own Assistant Instructors provided they have Level 2 IKO Instructors. This process is simple and affordable. The IKO provides a specialized “Train an Assistant Instructor” online course for only $60 USD. Instructors receive the primer, “Assistant Instructor Training Guide.” After successfully completing the course, the Candidates are ready to train. Assistant Instructor Training Courses (AITC) are held by Assistant Instructor Trainers at an IKO Kite Center or by them independently.
With Assistant Instructors on staff, IKO Kite Centers can train more students simultaneously thereby increasing revenue to their Centers while still maintaining the IKO Safety Standards. Because Emmanuel Vasquez took the initiative to become an Assistant Instructor he has helped the IKO Kite Center he now works for to be able to train more students. Emmauel works at the Kite Club Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. To find IKO Training Courses including the AITC, see our training calendar.
ABOUT KITE CLUB CABARETE
Kite Club Cabarete describes its Center in this way, “The very first Kiteboarders to discover Cabarete stayed right in the house which is now Kite Club. We pride ourselves on our reputation as the most professional Kite School in Cabarete while maintaining an open and friendly atmosphere. You'll meet kiters that are complete beginners and world-class pros taking kitesurfing lessons, surfing the waves or just chilling out to watch the show that is KiteBeach Cabarete.”
KITE CLUB CABARETE IS IKO AFFILIATED
“Kite Club runs regular IKO Instructor Training Courses led by IKO Examiner and Training Master Jon Dodds. Take an IKO Instructor Training Courses or MFA First Aid Course, IKO Assistant Training Courses. To get more information on Kite Club, click HERE.
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR VASQUEZ RECOMMENDS
Emmanuel Vasquez recommends that any one wanting to teach kiteboarding or to learning just recreationally should go through IKO Training and get to the manual! He believes the IKO does the best job training Instructors.
NEXT FOR VASQUEZ
Emmanuel has recently taken part in an ITC to become an Assistant Instructor.
Vasquez will continue to stay with Kite Club in the Dominican Republic until he has perfected his skills as an Assistant Instructor. He desires to stay in Cabarete describing his kite location as, “A good, nice area with great scenery where the weather and temperature are good most of the time.”
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