Anybody gone the IKO route and have the handbooks? We're planning a trip to Kite Beach in Maui where I could start my IKO journey and was thinking of grabbing the handbooks to see what it was all about beforehand. Anyone out there seen the books? Is it a waste of money until you're in the "system" or is there perhaps a gem or two of info in them that will make the $10 not a complete waste if I don't go IKO?

what is IKO?

IKO - International Kiteboarding Organization ( www.ikointl.com )

They have educational tracks for water, land (static & landboard) and snow.

If you pass their courses you are also eligible for individual insurance.

They are international, but just starting to make inroads in the US. Thought about some of their educational material last year. However, since they don't have a distribution channel set up through their US schools, you get absolutely pounded on shipping.

Short story: no insights on the quality of their materials MB.

A little while back I met one of their US instructors and he was very cool and he had a lot of good things to say about their teaching/certification methods.

There might be a way to get the materials through one of the US schools who might stock the materials.

MB: Would Kite Beach have the materials on hand, so that you could peruse them before buying?

ATB,
Sam