Full Course - Rider Package - 6 hours - $660
This is the basics of kite control and handling and is of course, 'one-on-one' with your own personal instructor flying the "real deal". You will be flying a latest model, full size power kite throughout the duration of the lessons. These lessons are two hours durations each to allow students to progress at a steady pace and get great value from their instructor. It's the perfect balance between knowledge cramming and physical ability.
Lessons are almost entirely "Hands on" and are conducted with a 1:1 student to instructor ratio. This lesson can also be purchased as a Gift Certificate.
What you will learn
In the first lesson you go over, wind effects, equipment terminology, and location selection criteria. Then it's on to equipment setup, basic aerodynamics, wind window theory, safety system use and reset, launching and landing both assisted and solo, flying the kite with the de-power loop (true 4-line de-power), water re-launching a crashed kite from the water, self rescue (theoretical and also practical), twisting and untwisting the lines whilst flying, body dragging down wind hooked into the harness using the power of the kite in a safe water environment.
At the end of this lesson, you are free to buy your own equipment and enter our Unlimited Free Lesson Plan for the remainder of your training, or buy your own gear and have the next one on one lesson for free.
Level 2 Lesson (Intermediate beginner) - 2hrs
The next step picks up where the first lesson finished and gets you straight in the water. It starts with additional body drag techniques such as Upwind body dragging (this is the skill to teach you to retrieve the board after a crash without a board leash), we incorporate one hand control at this point, releasing the bar in the water then retrieving the bar and re-launching from the water. We include a "practical self rescue scenario" and finally we set you up on a board and teach the theory of water start. We then progress to the practical water start on the board, diving the kite to enable getting on your feet and controlling speed and direction on the board, using the kite and good edging technique for control.
After having completed this lesson you should be skilled enough to rent equipment off us prior to taking the 3rd and final lesson. You may also purchase your own equipment to practice on, prior to taking the final lesson. This is not essential, but it will help you if you have some practice.
10% Theory, 50% land flying, 40% water flying. 100% Hands on!
Level 3 Lesson (Independent Beginner) - 2hrs
This final level covers the remaining topics to make you a totally independent rider.
What you will learn
If necessary, we re-cover water starting from the previous lesson, then move quickly on to staying on your feet, dealing with the excess power/speed conflict, riding upwind, holding a good edge on the board, controlling direction and basic jumps. We also cover changing direction, or transitions, more advanced aerodynamics and apparent wind. We also cover Priority Rules (the rules of the road) and selecting the right gear for you.
After having completed this lesson you should be competent and know what to do in the event of something going wrong. You should be able to choose a spot, rig, launch and ride away from the beach and ride back safely. We would be happy to offer you insurance at this point to cover you for personal accident and public liability. You will have completed the three levels of iko training in three intense lessons and you will receive your completed iko Kiteboarder Card enabling you to purchase insurance and hire gear from us or other overseas centres should you wish.
We would be happy to make a recommendation and hand you over to our dedicated retail manager to discuss your equipment requirements to ensure you get a good deal on the right gear for you. If you purchase gear from us as a package, you will be entitled to a special package rate. Please ask your instructor or our retail manager for details after your lessons.