Water ski instructor

[Tim M]

Does anyone know what formal qualifications you need to have to be a water-ski instructor? I was told this morning that you had to have an "RYA water ski instructor" qualification, which I found odd as I'd never heard of it. Having checked there is indeed no RYA qualification.

Any ideas?

[simmons0]

There is a 'ski boat drivers qualification' but as far as i can work out its not mandatory in the UK.

Little bit of info here http://www.wmwaterski.com/The-Club/B...ng-License.htm

[Tim M]

I should point out this is to drive skiers and wake boarders commercially. It was my insurance company who mentioned RYA Ski Instructor.

[Doug Stormforce]

Tim

The ticket you are after is the BWS (British Water Ski) SBDA (Ski Boat Drivers Award). We are their centre for this area and run it alongside the RYA Level 2 or for those who can already drive as a short extra endorsement.

Its fairly staright forward and requires you joining the BWS

[Tim M]

I assume that covers you for both skiing and wakeboarding?

[Doug Stormforce]

Originally Posted by Tim M

I assume that covers you for both skiing and wakeboarding?

Correct

[Lugnut]

Wow, you guys have gov certification requirements for EVERYTHING?!

[Doug Stormforce]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Wow, you guys have gov certification requirements for EVERYTHING?!

Lugnut

Much of this stuff is voluntary. As a general rule if its commercial then you need a cert, if its leisure then its up to you, however some lakes and harbours have their own local regs.

[K&S]

You will also require the BWSF water ski / board instructor ticket to instruct
SBDA is only for the driver.

You need / supposed to have a driver and instructor in the boat ( Athough im aware of centres that only use an instructor )

Did mine at Nottingham many moons ago not sure if they are still on the go at the National site.

[K&S]

The confusion with the RYA is probably a result of very old information -
At one time the RYA had some sort of connection.
Not sure of the exact History im sure someone with more grey hair than me could tell us.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by K&S

The confusion with the RYA is probably a result of very old information -
At one time the RYA had some sort of connection.
Not sure of the exact History im sure someone with more grey hair than me could tell us.

or an insurance company just making it up as they go along

[Tim M]

I know of other charter companies that offer wake boarding and skiing and they only have a skipper on board (presumably qualified for skiing) with the customers. Do you need an instructor even if the people know what they're doing?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Wow, you guys have gov certification requirements for EVERYTHING?!

Correct, lots of rules and regulations, thats how a soggy little country on the edge of North West Europe came to run an empire that covered a quarter of the world

Pete

[K&S]

If people can ski/ board and there is no instruction then you can regard it as a tow which you only need to have your SBDA.

Guidlines state a qualified driver and spotter to man the tow boat.

Might be worth calling the BWSF and getting the up to date guidelines

Water skiing also comes into the scope of AALA - if its under 18's

[K&S]

Might be worth mentioning that most skiers / boarders looking for just a tow will prefer a tournament boat ( Mastercraft / Nautic ) rather than a rib

Also waterskiing is very weather / wave dependant - essential to be factored into any business plan.

How do i know ...... well lol

[K&S]

Originally Posted by Polwart

or an insurance company just making it up as they go along

Just dug out my first powerboat log book - front cover has a fletcher (gto?) on the front
(Those were the days no big fenders round your boat on level 2 lol)

At some point ( <1990 / 1995 ) RYA did a sports boat driver award
They also had an involvment with the BCU & PADI - RLSS not been involved with them myself so not exactlt sure of the retationship
Think BWSF, PADI & BCU all now carry out their own training

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Correct, lots of rules and regulations, thats how a soggy little country on the edge of North West Europe came to run an empire that covered a quarter of the world

Pete

LoL! I see no reason to twist your nose, so I'll leave that one alone.

[Doug Stormforce]

I have not got grey hair but I do remember the olden days of Level 3 and 4.

Back in the late eighties / early nineties after RYA Level 2 you could go down various different routes.

There was 5 different Level 3 certs, namely
BWSF Si Boat Driver
BSAC Diver Cox'n
RYA Club Rescue
BCU Canoe Umpire
RLSS Intermedaite Boat Handling

Three of these then led onto their respective Level 4 certificates

BWSF Adavnced Driver
RYA Fleet Rescue
RLSS Rescue Cox

The majority of people followed down the RYA route as back then most powerboat courses were for people who were dinghy/windsurf instructors.

IN the early nineties BSAC decided then would prefer to run their own scheme, principally because back then RYA recognistion was site specific and every site had to be inspected, where as BSAC clubs wanted the freedom to dive/powerboat at different venues.

In the mean time the BWSF became the BWS by loosing the Federation part of their name and decieded to re write their training scheme, they now have a SBDA (which started this thread) which is broadly speaking Level 2 with some towing and recovery of skiers, they also have 2 higher certs for competeition drivers

Im not sure what happend to the BCU ticket but I think it had such low numbers it did not make sense. Kayaks and canoes can access so many water streches that powerboats can not get into.

The RLSS tickets Tim G could proabbally tell you more about.

IN 1996 when the RYA updated the powerboat scheme they decided to amalgamate the old Level 3 and 4 into one course (now known as the safetyboat) and add an advanced ticket. This was manily due to the number of people now taking the level 2 as they wanted to drive powerbaots but had no intrest in fleet rescue/safetyboating. It was an appropriate time to brand their courses RYA only.