Kite INSURANCE
 

For everybody looking to get an insurance, IKO propose finally one affordable

Check this out at :

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

Insurance is a great idea for all riders and in my opinion should be mandatory. A nasty lawsuit could cripple kiteboarding in any given area or state.
I went thru my auto insurance carrier and got a $1,000,000 liability policy for about $400 yearly. This covers you for ALL liability, not just kiteboarding. Most importantly it is from a major US company not some overseas underwriter who may or may not cover you.

It is a well priced policy apparently with pretty good second party liability coverage limits. You can checkout IKO documents related to the policy at:

http://www.ikorg.com/insurance/pdfs/...nce_policy.pdf
http://www.ikointl.com/kb_insurance.php

That is an excellent premium rate even more so considering the 20% commission which I understand is paid to the instructor facilitating the sale. A while back I asked for more specifics about the insurance including some information on the claims/coverage experience in the USA. I assumed this could be sanitized to protect insureds and insurer confidentiality. Unfortunately, no information was provided despite the request being made in an ongoing dialog with IKO representatives. That was about two to three years ago, perhaps things have changed? I really would like to know more about the insurance and it's use/applicability and claims experience in the USA. It would be a great bargain if it can readily be used to cover likely claims in the USA. Unfortunately, it is hard to say at this point.

I have had contact with suedwestring in Germany and they want nothing to do with insuring U.S. kiters and instructors, I couldnt get any info on U.S. claims and the conversation was abruptly halted after asking that question. I do not think they pay claims in the US, never have and never will. If they have I would like to see it. If this is true, IKO should not be selling insurance in the U.S., it is confusing to a new kiter.

The instructor gets 10% which is 8.90, If you don't put in the instructors i.d.# in the affiliation code box, the IKO keeps the money.
IKO and PASA has stepped up the quest for easy to use instructor ratings.IKO's getting ready to try version # 3, I think.

Jay's insurance sounds like the best deal for now.

If you look under benefits :

* Available to ALL IKO kiteboarders

* Worldwide coverage (including USA /Canada)

* Excellent rates
* Third party liability, personal accident and salvage cover!
* Kiteboarding specific policy - designed by kiters for kiters
* No paperwork to send (easy online customer registration)

and then under : What does it cost

* Worldwide (inc USA and Canada): 68 Euros / 89 USD
* Worldwide (exc USA and Canada): 49 Euros / 65 USD



A brief description of cover can be found below, for the full policy details http://www.ikointl.com/insurance/pdf...nce_policy.pdf

Accident

* 30,000 Euros for disability
* 5,000 Euros for death
* 6,000 Euros for rescue


Personal Liability

* 1,000,000 Euros lump sum for bodily and property damages

as of today (feb 23 2008)

1.00 EUR = 1.48335 USD
Source : http://www.xe.com/ucc/

For Instruction this is a different story but we can get insured as a kiteboarder.

See Policy at http://www.ikointl.com/insurance/pdf...nce_policy.pdf

A lot of us are aware of the insurance, and I am an IKO instructor.
We just can't verify if they will, or have ever paid a claim in the U.S. and this is the issue.
Instructor insurance in the U.S. is another complicated issue.

So far the IKO insurance is the only one offering liability coverage at a very decent rate which most of riders can afford. wether or not they do cover entirely or partially , i guess nobody want to expericence it , but at least it makes thinsg easier to negociate with the authorities to prevent Bans on some public beach and maintain access when liability risks are an issue.

this is what saved the riding access to all individual kiters in Crandon.
The insurance is mandatory , but we can ride !

Now i can inform you that IKO did found an Insurance to cover Kitesurfing School and Instrcutors teaching in the USA/Canada.
I still want to confirm the contacts and insuracne Cies with IKO before releasing any name. but we did received several quotes at 40% off the price First Flight were charging so far as they had no concurrence yet.

As an IKO Examiner, i have been training over 30 Instrcutors in the past 2 years, and this was a bit an issue for all new instrcutors who wish to teach in all legal and covered ways.
PASA had a sort of exclusive agreement with First Flight group through Lloyds of london . why it took so much time before they recognized IKO instrcutors , i don't know, maybe somebody well engaged in PASA may know ?

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS NOW THAT ANY IKO INSTRUCTOR CAN TEACH COVERED AS WELL AS PASA INSTRUCTOR, SO nobody has excuses any more. when doing business , do it right , at least for the community around you.
If people give you money to teach them, it makes sense to pay back a bit to offer them coverage in return . it's a minimum investment which brings back credibility before them and mostly before authorities that you will have to deal with .

That is excellent news Chris!
Please give us info when you hear something.

Hi kite-for-life,

I was wondering since you're a IKO instructor if you could update my IKO card ? Or write me a new one after a lesson with you.



I need it to get the IKO insurance.

No problem Gui. If you're riding Saturday, I will be at East Beach.