Watersports Podcasts

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:57:00 +0000

Watersports Podcasts

UKSA's Watersports Podcasts cover topics and issues of interest to recreational watersports users introducing you to experts from UKSA and outside organisations we work with. Our aim is to provide interesting and stimulating content of interest to beginners and experts, giving you an insight into making watersports your career, from experts in the watersports industry.

Zap Cat Racing

We talk to Jez Barnes, Zap cat Racing Swimmer about his passion for Zpa Cat Racing. Jez gives a frank and interesting introduction the the sport and what it involves, whilst highlighting some of the risks they have to manage.

Getting Started in Sailing/Becoming an Instructor

In this show we talk to Simon Davies, UKSA Director of Coaching on how to get started with dinghy sailing. We also talk about becoming a dinghy instructor

Is Stand up paddle Boarding really a watersport?

In this episode we talk to UKSA's Simon Davies about Paddleboarding, and Simon makes some bold predictions that paddleboarding is the up an coming watersport set to take beaches by storm this summer.

Kayaking, an interview with World Kayak Surf champion

Twice World Kayak Surf champion Tim Thomas talks to us about becoming a World Kayak Surf Champion, how he got into the sport, and runs us through some of the latest kit on the market for beginners looking to take up surf kayaking, and surf fishing! Our Thanks to Johnson Outdoors for setting this interview up with Tim. We arent sure we'd recommend going after Shark or Conger in a Kayak, but Tim assures us people do.

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Episodes in archive include:

Andy Gratwick Head of BKSA Training interview

Get into windsurfing

Get into Kitesurfing

Diploma in Sport and Recreation

Working in an Overseas Venue

Careers in watersports

noreply@blogger.com (Ciaran) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Could I really become a
watersports instructor?

The watersports industry has seen dramatic changes over the past decade, moving from being a specialist sector, with relatively small independent operators to one in which only one of the big three companies in the sector, Mark Warner, remains independent. The other two, Neilson and Sunsail, are owned by Thomas Cook and Tui respectively, household name companies that have invested heavily in this rapidly-growing sector.

One result of this is a huge demand for watersports instructors, with the industry also offering valid and rewarding long-term career paths. “Watersports employers have a desperate need for keen and enthusiastic people, with the right qualifications and attitude,” says Cally Logsdon, UKSA Careers Consultant. “The number of students we can supply here does not match demand at all.”

It’s possible to work in watersports in a wide variety of stunning locations around the world. Most positions are in the Med, but there are a growing number of centres opening in Red Sea, Caribbean and Indian Ocean resorts. Equally, for those who prefer – or need – to be closer to home, there are opportunities throughout the UK.

Progressing in a watersports career

There are many opportunities for well-qualified instructors to further their careers, both directly within the watersports sphere and in other related areas. After two or three seasons with a company there’s a clear path into being a head of a windsurfing or dinghy sailing department. With a couple more years of experience you can be looking at a waterfront manager’s position, and then resort manager – many started as watersports instructors. Another option is to work in the company’s head office – a high proportion of senior staff at all watersports operators first joined the company as instructors.

Matt Maher, waterfront recruitment manager for Mark Warner, says: “People who have worked for us for four or five seasons, have gone on to do a wide variety of jobs. Several have become waterfront managers, one went on to work at Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the Caribbean, another works for the RYA, and a number have become managers of UK watersports centres.”

There are numerous such centres throughout Britain, both in coastal areas and inland on rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Local education authorities that offer year-round employment and pay experienced, well-qualified staff on a teachers’ pay scale run many of these centres.

Another option for those with a year or two of instructing experience is to make use of their instructor qualifications working on superyachts – vessels of up to 100 metres that are loaded with a lavish selection of expensive toys for guests to use. This will often be a role combined as a deckhand, so you’ll also need STCW95 certification, but the pay is much better than at a watersports resort, with deckhands earning upwards of $2,000 or $3000 per month, all found. “Watersports instructors are used because they communicate effectively, present themselves well, and know what safety and risk assessment is all about, so they are very, very welcome on these yachts,” says Cally Logsdon, UKSA’s Careers Consultant.

There are also lots of opportunities for people with bright ideas of their own to start their own business in the industry. A former UKSA instructor, for instance, has a company that provides watersports facilities and instructors to five star hotels in the Middle East.

Yachting is another area towards which a lot of watersports instructors gravitate. “Many of our watersports instructors move into yachting,” says Kat Oliver, recruitment manager for Sunsail, “and we can sponsor people to get the qualifications to become flotilla skippers, for example.” A number of former UKSA watersports instructors now work on some of the UK’s largest and most successful racing yachts, including TP52s, based in the Solent in the summer and in the Caribbean for the winter.”
With recruitment being a challenge for watersports operators, they are keen to retain good staff – there’s more scope than ever for year-round employment, with centres in the Caribbean and Egypt, as well as at their ski resorts. In addition, they offer training for their staff. Mark Warner’s Performance Pathway scheme, for instance, is open to all staff and will put suitable candidates through their senior instructor qualification.

Equally, the very qualities that good watersports instructors develop – presentation skills, risk assessment, people management, and service skills mean they arein demand in other industries. “Some instructors end up working for former clients, who see their skills in action when on holiday with us and then recruit them for their own organisations,” says Maher.

Who is it for?

With the right training you don’t need to already be an expert watersports wizard to become an instructor – all that’s needed is enthusiasm and determination. “Our students come from an amazing variety of backgrounds,” says Logsdon. “They range from the most underprivileged of backgrounds, often sponsored by organisations such as the Princes Trust, right through to those who’ve been to the best schools in the country.”
“We also have more mature students who often come from a corporate background, and are seeking a lifestyle change, or looking for more meaningful work. If they’re fit, healthy and able to get on with younger peers, there’s nothing to prevent people in their 30s, 40s and 50s becoming instructors. In fact, once they’ve gained a little experience they often move up the management ranks faster than their younger colleagues.”

“Watersports is also often an excellent career path for those who have specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, which mean they may not have been successful in a formal academic sense. However, their verbal communication skills are often very good, they typically get on well with others and are accustomed to solving problems – all of which are vital skills for instructors.”

Getting started in a watersports career

Employers look for people with a passion for their sports, and who are outgoing and have initiative, but who are also able to work in a team. “We look for a whole host of qualities,” says Kat Oliver. “These include good customer service skills, possibly gained from previous employment, and a hard-working and happy disposition.”
The three key attributes needed are the right qualifications, a real enjoyment of the sport, and to recognise that hard work will be needed, according to Simon Davies, UKSA’s Director of Coaching. “To work at a watersports centre in the UK or overseas you need qualifications that are recognised by the RYA,” he says. “A real enjoyment of watersports is vital, otherwise it’s not possible to teach with enthusiasm. In addition, becoming a good instructor requires a lot of hard work, coaching and effort, to develop good delivery and to make it interesting both for yourself and the people you’re teaching.”

Ideally Sunsail looks for candidates who already have six months of instructing experience. After initial instructor training Davies recommends UKSA’s Professional Instructor Development programme, especially for those who are under 18, who can struggle to find work overseas without proven instructing experience. This is a key time for all new instructors to consolidate their skills “We notice a huge difference in people as they progress through their training and first season as an instructor,” says Maher of Mark Warner. “At the start they are often nervous and apprehensive, by the end of the training they’re starting to become used to public speaking and their confidence is soaring, and towards the end of their first season they can be almost unrecognisable.”
“The more qualified you are the better,” says Maher, “and it will help you progress faster through the company.” As a minimum to work as an assistant instructor candidates need the RYA First Aid and Powerboat Level 2 tickets, as well as dinghy sailing basic skills or windsurfing intermediate (non planing) certificates. However, there are relatively few positions at this level and a full RYA instructor’s qualification will result in a wider range of work opportunities, as well as better pay.

For those who are serious about a career in watersports – rather than as a gap year job, for instance – it’s important to be qualified in a number of disciplines. “A variety of qualifications will definitely help with career progression,” says Logsdon. “You really need the three core disciplines of dinghy sailing, windsurfing and kayaking – with those you’re well on your way to being a really useful multi-activity instructor. Employers keep saying that there are not enough kitesurfing and waterskiing instructors, but I don’t think there’s any point having those additional qualifications unless you have the core three.”

What is the pay like?

Pay varies depending on location and your specific role. While those working overseas tend to be paid less, the positions are normally all-found, with flights, food, accommodation and clothing all paid for, so instructors’ disposable incomes are often relatively high. In addition, they also have free use of all the equipment during their time off and may enjoy a discounted rate on bar bills.

As an example, during the 2008 season Mark Warner is paying fully qualified instructors £90 per week net of tax. One third of this amount is retained and paid as a lump sum at the end of the season. In addition, instructors can earn more through commission gained when booking one-to-one tuition with clients – last year the company’s top RYA instructor earned an extra £2,500, while the top waterski instructor gained £3,500. Sunsail pays instructors £90 per week, plus up to a further £30 as an end of season bonus. A head of department, qualified as an RYA senior instructor in that discipline, will earn £110 per week at Mark Warner, while at Sunsail they will be on management pay scales.

The buzz of instructing

“You’re doing what you love doing and every day is different,” says Davies. “The people change and the wind and weather are never the same on two consecutive days. What you get back from your students is really great – there’s a fantastic buzz factor in seeing people achieve their goals, graduating from being timid on the first day to becoming confident and able in a short space of time.”

UKSA instructor training programmes

Watersports Extreme
The complete 22-week watersports instructor training in UK, Greece and Egypt.

Kick start
A 14-day introduction to sailing, windsurfing and kayaking.

Kite start
A one-week introduction to kitesurfing.

Core skills training
Improve your own ability within a sport before taking instructor training modules.

Waterski / Wakeboard Core Skills (1 week)
Dinghy Sailing Core Skills (3 weeks)
Windsurf Core Skills (3 weeks)
Kitesurf Core Skills (4 weeks)
Kayaking (2 weeks)
Diver Core Skills (1 week)

Instructor training

These programmes require either UKSA core skills training, or equivalent qualifications and experience.
Dinghy Sailing Instructor (6 days)
Windsurf Instructor (6 days)
Kitesurf Instructor (1 week)

Watersports prospectus form

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:41:00 +0000

Request a waterports prospectus

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Call us, and speak to a course advisor on +44 (0) 1983 203038

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Prospectus form thank you

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:48:00 +0000

Our prospectus'

Thanks for taking the time to contact us. The information you have requested will be sent to you shortly, and we will endeavour to contact you to provide further assistance.

If you have any immediate questions, please contact our course advisors on Tel: +44 (0)1983 203038

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UKSA Team

Watersports Career Articles: UKSA.org

Watersports Podcasts

Watersports Podcasts

Zap Cat Racing

Getting Started in Sailing/Becoming an Instructor

Is Stand up paddle Boarding really a watersport?

Kayaking, an interview with World Kayak Surf champion

Get back issues with your free subscription

Careers in watersports

Could I really become a
watersports instructor?

Progressing in a watersports career

Who is it for?

Getting started in a watersports career

What is the pay like?

The buzz of instructing

UKSA instructor training programmes

Instructor training

Other useful links UKSA Careers Service

Watersports prospectus form

Request a waterports prospectus

Prospectus form thank you

Our prospectus'

Watersports Career Articles: UKSA.org

Watersports Podcasts

Watersports Podcasts

Zap Cat Racing

Getting Started in Sailing/Becoming an Instructor

Is Stand up paddle Boarding really a watersport?

Kayaking, an interview with World Kayak Surf champion

Get back issues with your free subscription

Careers in watersports

Could I really become awatersports instructor?

Progressing in a watersports career

Who is it for?

Getting started in a watersports career

What is the pay like?

The buzz of instructing

UKSA instructor training programmes

Instructor training

Other useful links UKSA Careers Service

Watersports prospectus form

Request a waterports prospectus

Prospectus form thank you

Our prospectus'

Could I really become a
watersports instructor?