Impt.: Kiteboarding Business Questionnaire

[RickI]

I have been asked to prepare and circulate the questionnaire that has been reproduced below. The completed questionnaires are to serve as a basis for a panel discussion of kiteboarding training standardization and certification during Surf Expo next month. PASA is organizing the discussions however training is an important issue that effects all instructional groups as well as the industry as a whole. It would be great if you could forward a copy of this email and questionnaire on to others in the industry to be able to obtain as complete a consensus of opinion as possible.

The questionnaire is designed to collect the opinions of anyone in the kiteboarding industry. Your participation would be very much appreciated and ultimately should help the sustained growth of this sport.

Please cut and paste the questionnaire from below along with your responses into a Word or text file and email it back to me. I would like to receive the completed questionnaires by the first week in September 2002.

Please utilize the email address:

rick@nuttingengineers.com

to assure that mailbox overload does not interfere with the delivery of your email.

Thank you,
Rick Iossi

Kiteboarding Training Questionnaire
August 21, 2002

Kiteboarding is undergoing explosive growth throughout the USA and World. The kiteboarding industry is mobilizing to both facilitate this growth and benefit from this trend. It has been become apparent from accidents, incidents and access restrictions, that kiteboarding involves far more than flying a large toy kite. In some ways parallels the complexity and hazards of flying plane, particularly when things go wrong. In effect to kiteboard with assurance of acceptable levels safety, riders need to possess minimum knowledge and training. For the growing quantities of new kiteboarders to undertake this sport in a way to facilitate the growth of the industry and not to drag things through restrictions, public censure or other negative developments, adequate kiteboarding instruction is necessary. The substantial numbers of kiteboarders are already sufficiently great to reduce the tolerance of self-instructed accidents and incidents to unacceptable levels for the smooth expansion of the industry. More accessible, publicly recognized and accepted kiteboarding instruction is indicated that adheres to acceptable minimum standards, that is kiteboarding certification. Furthermore given the complexities and demands of proper instruction, qualified, insured instructors and schools are needed to promote safe kiteboarding practices to facilitate the advancement of new kiteboarders/consumers into the sport. The purpose of this questionnaire is to collect views regarding training standardization and certification from members of the kiteboarding industry. We all stand to benefit from proactive consideration and action in regard to kiteboarding training. We also stand to collectively lose if we do not effectively undertake this task. Your participation in this survey is sincerely appreciated.

Your Background

Name ___________________________________ Business Name: ______________________________________________

Address ______________________________________ City _________________________________ Date _____/_____/ 2002

State/Province _________________________________ Country ______________________________

Ph.# ________________________________________ Email _______________

I am in kiteboarding (check all that apply):

Instruction _____ Retailing _____ Distribution _____ Manufacturing _____ Association Leadership _____

Other (please specify): _________________________________________

I Kiteboard: Regularly ____ A couple of times a month _____ Rarely _____ Intend to in the future _____ Never _____

Have you received professional kiteboarding training: Yes _____ No _____ from which organization ________________

Are you a member of a kiteboarding association: Yes _____ No _____ Would you like to be: Yes _____ No _____

If you don't have an association would you be interested in helping to start one: Yes _____ No _____

General Questions

Do you strongly promote training and refer customers buying new kites to an instructor: Yes _____ No _____ N/A _____

Do you require proof of training prior to the sale of gear or require the buyer to take lessons: Yes _____ No _____ N/A _____

Is the above policy a good idea for the avoidance of problems and the growth of revenues: Yes _____ No _____

Is professional kiteboarding training of new riders necessary for the sustained growth of kiteboarding: Yes _____ No _____

Are there problems with inadequately trained kiteboarders threatening access and as a result revenues in your area: Yes _____ No _____

Are launch restrictions or bans contemplated in your area: Yes _____ No _____

Do you have launch restrictions or bans in your area: Yes _____ No _____

Is there an adequate quantity of good, effective instructors in your area: Yes _____ No _____

Do you believe that levels of training and qualification of instructors need improvement: Yes _____ No _____

Do you currently employ or intend to employ instructors in the next 6 months in your business: Yes _____ No _____ N/A _____

Is widely accepted and promoted kiteboarding certification important to minimizing problems and aiding the sustained growth of kiteboarding:
Yes _____ No _____

Would requiring proof of training prior to purchase of kites be worthwhile to promote:

a. safety and responsible kiteboarding thereby reducing threats to access and gear sales: Yes _____ No _____

b. return business and customer loyalty by avoiding abandonment of the sport by frustrated, self-instructed riders:
Yes _____ No _____

Would you like to see a directory of instructors with their respective qualifications on the Internet: Yes _____ No _____

In an introductory kiteboarding instructional sequence, say a Level I out of a two level certification system, which of the following subjects/skills do you feel should be taught: (please insert numbers from below)__________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the second level of certification, which of the following subjects/skills do you feel should be taught: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Know terminology and types of equipment and basic techniques.
2. Be able to explain the wind window and power distribution.
3. Be able to explain basic weather and water conditions.
4. Be able to explain the rules of the road
5. Know how to characterize a good, safe launch.
6. Know water and weather hazards and be able to discuss risk management.
7. Be able to properly setup and derig a two line kite system.
8. Be able to do both solo and assisted launch and landings.
9. Demonstrate use of kite leash
10. Demonstrate lofting awareness and preventative technique including gust, uplift and thermal lofting.
11. Be able to control kite and water relaunch kite.
12. Be able to waterstart.
13. Be able to bailout or use your kite to pull you in from offshore.
14. Must be able to stay upwind.
15. Must be able to evaluate the safest way and place to launch at a congested technical launch with downwind hazards and bystanders.
16. Must be able to explain weather and water hazards in detail and the means for avoiding them.
17. Must demonstrate proficiency at managing kite stall/luffing.
18. Must demonstrate four line inflatable power management in gusty conditions.
19. Must be able to explain kiter rescue techniques.
20. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency at managing local technical launches and conditions (i.e. high, gusty winds, high currents, boat traffic, heavy seas, etc.)
21. Must be able to trouble shoot and fix basic irregularities in gear.
Must be able to differentiate between kite designs and related techniques in order to avoid the wrong type of assistance(e.g. LEI inflatables require help when landing, Ram Airs will land solo, LEI launch at the edge of the wind window, Ram Airs may launch in the power zone, if assistance is given on landing Ram Airs it is different than that of LEIs,etc.)
23. Must be able to properly and competently assess, check, MAINTAIN and use the current variety of safety systems (snap shackles, quick releases, safety leash systems
Other: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are a kiteboarding instructor please fill out the following:

I hold an instructor certification from: IKO _____ KISS _____ PASA _____ Wipika _____ DSV/VDWS _____ Other (list)_____________________

Are you satisfied with the support you receive: Yes _____ No _____ If not, what improvements would you like: _______________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you be interested in obtaining an instructors certification? Yes _____ No _____ NA _____

Number of students trained _____ over _____ months, at the following locations _________________________________________

Other related certifications: First Aid _____ CPR _____ Captain _____ Scuba _____ Hang gliding _____ Paragliding _______

Skiing/snowboarding _____ Kayaking _____ Other (list) _________________________________________________________

Do you compete in kiteboarding competitions: Yes _____ No _____ Have you in the past: Yes _____ No _____

Maximum Student/Instr. ratio: _____ Do you Use Assistant Instructors: Yes _____ No _____

Typical intro. course duration : _____ hrs. Do you teach for various shops, if so how many: _____ Do you use a support craft Yes _____ No _____

Were you satisfied with the level of training in your course Yes _____ No _____ , If not, what else would you like to have had instructed;

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you teach about lofting in your courses and how to avoid it: Yes _____ No _____

Instructor Certification

What is a reasonable duration for an instructors course with 6 canidates or fewer and a single instr. trainer, (days): 3 _____ 4 _____ 5 _____ Other _____

What is a reasonable price for an instructors course (USD): _____

Would you prefer to attend a course in: your area _____, which is: __________________________________

or at a high wind destination _____, such as __________________________________________________

Do you think first aid and CPR training should be required before kiteboarding instructor training certification: Yes _____ No _____

Do you feel sufficient emphasis is placed upon intructor canidates having adequate teaching skills and broad knowledge of the sport as opposed to excellent riding skills:
Yes _____ No _____

Are there other important training issues that you feel should be discussed that were not presented in this questionnaire? If so, please describe them:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you,
Rick Iossi
















<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RickI on 2002-08-21 19:26 ]</font>

[RickI]

I am starting to receive responses, thanks! Questionnaires have come in from several countries with more apparently on the way. So, don't keep your opinions to yourself if you are in the industry, let us know! Your views are important as well as your actions.

As a possible benefit to participants in this survey, some of the information provided could be incorporated into an online directory of training centers and instructors worldwide, if interest warrants and the participants approve of this action.

Thanks!
Rick Iossi