Having all stores regulate the industry by not selling kites to learners works pretty well for the dive industry so perhaps we can learn from that.
I disagree with teaching people though, I paid for lesson from one of these reputable schools and it was well average to say the least. Alot of schools have good kiters but average instructors. Good kiters dont always make good teachers. For every good school like AKS theres another 3 **** ones! The industry as a whole should put some more time into developing better teaching methods that all schools follow. Regulated by waksa or some other body that has no financial interest but goes in to Audit the schools.
Another thing would be not to charge so much. $750 to learn to fly a kite is quite alot of money.
What people must understand about 'reputable' schools is that the reputation is that of the owner of the operation which has been built over many years. At the end of the day the shop/school owner isn't instructing you. If they did then there would be no complaints. It's the different personalities/individuals who work for them who are responsible.
When someone slags off a school or lesson experience then this could include a number of factors.
Student isn't learning as fast as they would like due to their inability to pick things up or slow learning ability. Therefore they feel hard done by.
Instructor is a young backpacker who has just started working for a school and doesn't have the same passion/drive as the owner of the school and this reflects in their lessons. There are great backpacker instructors, but there are far more numptys also.
Student doesn't listen or thinks that because they have read forum posts, magazines and watched a beginner DVD they know more than the instructor that has been teaching for 5 years.
Instructor has been employed by school but not actively watched or critiqued by school owner. Instructor then just works because the school needs someone to complete the lessons for the money to roll in therefore school just keeps using instructor as they are reliable and get the job done.
As for $750 or the price of lessons. Schools only work for a few months of the year, also subtract the days when there is no wind during those few months, also take into acount that schools can only work when there is a seabreeze (12pm-6pm) so lessons are priced accordingly. One thing that is worrying though and really S&*Ts me is that most people who are coming through are older guys who can afford lessons. Young kids are priced out of the sport due to the cost of lessons. I support and give lessons for 50% of the lesson price. I strongly encourage young people to get into the sport and have no problem giving them the discount to achieve this.
There are more reasons of course..
Interesting way to put it Blueprint
But the point I was trying to make is that the owner isn't at the beach everyday watching their instructors. This is a fact. Most stay at their shops. Sure they have conveyed their requirements to the instructor and have to trust them in the way the lessons go as per the standards set but sometimes there will occasional unhappy punters, same with all types of business. All instructors have different communication skills, personalities and experience. Some good, some not so good. Kite instructor turnover is quite high increasing the chance of having someone who doesn't put in the standard required on a daily basis. Also students sometimes complain with valid points or issues, some with not (ie had a bad lesson due to getting dragged or not picking things up)
People have a false expectation that they will be up and riding after 3 lessons. Some do for sure but the reality is majority don't. Is this the instructors fault or the students learning ability? We can only give core individual skills and the rest is based on practice and time on the water learning in your own time.
You can be the best communicator and have great teaching skills, but if the student isn't responsive and won't adjust then it sometimes results in disappointment hence complaints to justify themselves.
Did you have an experience blueprint with your instructor?? Or did it all go well and you were riding after 3 lessons??
I was up riding at the end of my second lesson, ex wakeboarder and surfer.
First accidental kiteloop whilst trying to backroll after 5 or 6 rides which nearly knocked me out.
I thought I was capable but probably needed that extra lesson. Took another six months riding every wind to gain reasonable kite control.
Arrogance is not an excuse to not get lessons!!
Hey been kiting for 11 years and I do that trying to do a backroll loop on purpose! At least it was an accident. I reckon I gave myself a 'enama' the other day. Damn did I hit the water hard!
There would be no problem with mate teaching mate in a secluded beach (just like with driving), if there was a compulsory exam and licensing before allowing them to kite on a popular beach. Until then lessons from a qualified instructor are essential.... and shop around for a good one.
I wish there had been qualified instructors when I started, it would have been so much quicker and easier.
If we are to go down the way of kite shops not selling to someone who hasn't done lessons, then we had better petition bunnings to stop selling electrical equipment, plumbing gear etc, as these are readily available for any clown to think they can do this work themselves. These trades take four years and a lot of work to obtain their licenses, yet any backyarder can go down and do it on the weekend and possibly kill themselves or another unsuspecting visitor from dodgy work.
The way around it is education, there will always be the bottom end of the gene pool trying to undertake something they can't, and don't have the common sense to rationally evaluate any given circumstance.
How many people go surfing without a lesson and end up stuck in a rip because they didnt know the conditions??
There are some places that are better for learning at, maybe push these places to the new, and the experienced who kite these areas be aware that this is primarily a Noob spot, and take the up with the downs.
If you buy a new kite, board, harness etc of AKS in a kit he gives 3 lessons as standard and im pretty sure he's not the only one.
If you can prove membership of say 2 years with aks WA SA etc they can throw the license in if it evey happens.
Untill then keep an eye up wind.
WIND WOT WIND
Hm,
no schooling will ever reduce injuries and fatal incidents.
This country is becoming the most regulated in the world!
It is just about blame, pointing fingers and insurance claims...
FFS from when is changing a bulb a job for an electrician? And soon it might become like this...
Or I'm just ignorant and is already happening?
