BKSA Level 1 kitesurf instructor: start teaching on the water
The British Kitesports Level 1 Instructor Training Course: prerequisites, the 5-day course and what you can teach.
In this guide
- What it is: The British Kitesports (BKSA) entry-level award for teaching kitesurfing.
- What you need first: BKSA membership, 12 hours of shadow teaching, verified riding, RYA Powerboat Level 2 and an in-person first aid course.
- What you'll learn: The BKSA syllabus, plus foil and single-skin kites, extra safety, and the legal side of setting up a UK school.
- How long it takes: A 5-day course, then a post-course action plan.
- What's next: Level 2, Senior Instructor and beyond. Prefer land? Powerkite instructor.
Turn your riding into a job on the water. BKSA built one recognised instructor training route for kitesurfing in the UK, and this is the first step on it.
Prerequisites
- Valid British Kitesports membership.
- 12 hours of shadow teaching.
- Riding competency verified by a British Kitesports instructor.
- RYA Powerboat Level 2.
- A valid first aid certificate from at least a 1-day attended first aid course. Online courses aren't accepted.
After the course
- You get a completion certificate.
- Meet your post-course action plan and you're certified as a full instructor.
- You can then teach within a British Kitesports recognised school.
- Once registered, you can teach up to 4 students with two kites on the water.
- You can also teach intermediate skills: equipment tuning, technique, riding upwind, transitions and jumping.
The training is modular, so you can build up to the full award over time, with prior experience and qualifications counted.
Upcoming courses
- 5 to 9 April 2027: Easyriders, Poole.
- 12 to 16 April 2027: Northern Kites, Wallasey.
Source: Instructor Training – Water, British Kitesports, and Kitesurfing safety, RNLI, checked October 2026.
Governing body: British Kitesports Association (BKSA). It sets the UK safety standards and training awards for kiteboarding, so it's the official place to find out more. Many schools also use IKO courses.
Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.
The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.
