There have been a few internal changes at the IKO in the past few months. Former manager of the IKO, Sandrine Roussos has resumed her position at the IKO and has taken over management of the company. Sandrine joined the IKO in 2002 and was in charge of communications before managing the HQ in Cabarete.

IKO co-founders Eric Beaudonnat and Fred Bene created Starkites in 2005. The 2 companies are now independent from each other. Eric Beaudonnat, author of the IKO teaching concept and standards, will remain on board as a consultant to the IKO for all teaching contents. He will supervise the new team of training masters.
Among the changes that are in store for 2008, the IKO is going to continue updating its contents to offer the best possible quality, offer new training contents (new courses), create quality control procedures for affiliated schools, re-design its web site and more!

The IKO, International Kiteboarding Organization, provides teaching contents for instructors, quality and safety standards for both schools and instructors that are recognized and applied worldwide. Considered as an extreme sport, the IKO addresses the need for safe teaching. Founded in November 2001, it is the first and only organization operating at an international level and is recognized as the international governing body. More than 3000 instructors were qualified under the IKO label and there are over 120 affiliated schools worldwide.


For more information on the IKO, please visit