Power Kite Forum

Kite landboarding lessons - legal issues

Houston AirHead - 26-8-2009 at 10:49 PM

Allot of people around where i live are very interested in my landboarding and have constantly been stopping to ask how they could get started and if i could teach them.

are there certain laws or codes about having the right certifications to give lessons or... could i get away with having them sign a waiver release of liability...
should they use their own gear can i share my gear ect..

ive been flying for one year basically 3-5 times a week steady. so yeah i am experienced.

any info would be great on this topic

kenny

acampbell - 27-8-2009 at 05:43 AM

There is no certification body for land boarding here in the US, that I know of. There is the PASA that certifies (and insures) instructors for kiteboarding (water) but last I checked, nothing from them for land. All my inquiries to them about the matter have gone un-answered.

Legally there is nothing stopping you, but risk management is up to you. As far as city or state parks, there may be local issues with teaching, insurance requirements, or conducting commerce without a permit. In New York, I was a certified (and insured) in-line skating instructor and taught classes in Central Park. I did not have a permit as a vendor, so I conducted the commerce part outside the park boundary before the classes. But I was friends with NYPD, Parks Dept. and Park management, so that was never a problem.

I can share with you a waiver I got from my insurance carrier (for JIBE) that is pretty good. The carrier claims that contrary to some opinion, a properly worded waiver is a useful tool in risk management. It cannot stop a suit or claim but can present a big obstacle to a plaintiff and mitigate litigation. But you will still be on your own legally.

PHREERIDER - 27-8-2009 at 06:25 AM

don't take $ for it ! you could be sued like any other professional

you can be the real time demo for them to sponge from and ask question about but they DO it themselves at their on risk.

you're just the guy at the park, offer "help" but DON"T instruct them to do anything.

IE ""you might try this....." let them do it all

or "watch me, this really helped me " do not touch what ever you do .

other wise they can watch

it 's a "see one, do one " kinda of transfer

i give "lessons" for free but most folks are not prepared for the commitment of time, $ and prolonged skilled development

if its a land thing they need to show with gear ALL OF IT . (send them to ANGUS,ELI ...who ever, for new gear purchase)

basically you become a "spotter" with experience ,

just be nice and remind them you are trying to catch a session and if they show a commitment you will see them again
then you have a session buddy not a "student"

Bladerunner - 27-8-2009 at 06:31 AM

Go Forth and spread the Gospel of Kite !

If you get in trouble claim to be an arcaholic :bigok:

Show them your Quiver and claim insanity !:smug:;-)

indigo_wolf - 27-8-2009 at 07:16 AM

Quote:
originally posted by acampbell
There is no certification body for land boarding here in the US, that I know of. There is the PASA that certifies (and insures) instructors for kiteboarding (water) but last I checked, nothing from them for land. All my inquiries to them about the matter have gone un-answered.


My understanding was that IKO ( www.ikointl.com/power.php ), although internationally based, offers instructor certification in the US for landboards through the "PowerKite" education track. The other two tracks are "KiteBoard", and "SnowKite"

I know of at least one instructor in NH that is certified through them, so his lessons are insured. They are still in the process of ramping up their programs in the US.

ATB,
Sam

furbowski - 27-8-2009 at 07:26 AM

link above didn't work.

here's a working one:

http://www.ikointl.com/power.php

acampbell - 27-8-2009 at 08:19 AM

Thanks Sam and Furbs. Good to know

furbowski - 27-8-2009 at 09:02 AM

sam is the expert, I just googled it.

thanks sam....

indigo_wolf - 27-8-2009 at 10:50 AM

Can you tell I had been up all night when I posted that and my fingers were actually in a different timezone? :smilegrin:

I ran across IKO when I was shopping for Landboard instructional material. Different things stick better in my head at times, sometimes DVDs, sometimes printed material (i.e. letting things marinade in my head during the train ride to and from work).

Expert? Dang it.... now I have to clean coffee off my LCD screen. More like fount of eclectic and obscure facts. Since I get so little air time, my learning curve looks like the Andes. :no:

I can tell it has been too long between sessions when my girlfriend starts giving me weather updates.... Oi

ATB,
Sam

furbowski - 27-8-2009 at 11:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf

Expert? Dang it.... now I have to clean coffee off my LCD screen. More like fount or eclectic and obscure facts.

Sam


LOL

sorry about that....

I don't ATB, or do any kind of wheels yet, and I am not sure when I will solvent enough to get into buying a decent board and my beaches are tiny and my sand is soft, so I'm stuck with static jumping...

...and you get to be the expert!

:mad:

ragden - 27-8-2009 at 12:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf
..
I can tell it has been too long between sessions when my girlfriend starts giving me weather updates.... Oi
...


And this made me almost spew on my screen... nice. :)

lynx69 - 10-9-2009 at 07:47 PM

good info guys. Like Kenny, I have lots of spectators and wantabes. But when they find out the cost of the gear, they disappear. I have the same concerns in the sue happy society we live in.:thumbup: