We are the only centre with an indoor lounge and chill area. Escape the sun or the occasional rain shower in comfort. Offering FREE tea and coffee. The music is piped outside to our beach infinity deck. The SERVICE CREW are trained and always at hand on the beach. There is a compressor for inflation. The centre will be teeming with experience and a little bit of youth for the 2011-12 season.
The 2011/12 crew consists of local and expat kiteboarders all IKO qualified. Below is a summary of those onboard, some facts and a little fiction.
Running things from the office and shop is the ever lovely MiYoung who has lived 16 years on Boracay and is part of the Islands original expat crew. MiYoung was Korea's 1st ever female IKO instructor. As well as running the shop she'll book you in with an instructor for lessons or arrange your storage.
MiYoung is partnered by Bulabog lagoon safety Nazi Glen who seems to do nothing much very efficiently except talk. If you want to know about the latest kites and boards talk to this guy. He'll also help to sort out any flying problems with your kite and is the training manager for the instructors. When desperate for money or attention he has been known to use his IKO qualification to teach.
Ben is Ocean Republic's head instructor and kite school king pin. Ben started with Ocean Republic in 2003 and is the longest serving member of the crew. IKO level 2 instructor with over 1000 students to his name, Ben has the gift of patience, which enables him to get anybody riding. Kite and board fixes is his sideline so any issues, then see the king pin. As a core instructor Ben also teaches in the low season on white beach.
Nono is the latest apprentice of head instructor Ben to be given a a slot on the team. 2 seasons of shadowing and assisting allowed him to breeze the IKO course. This will be Nono's 2nd season teaching at Ocean Republic and as a core member he'll also be teaching for us from Calypso Dive Centre in the low seasons. Nono is a super friendly youthful character that does take alot of stick from us older types.
Teaching for his 2nd season but still the butt of all jokes is school whipping boy Lenny "Whitey" Harvey who brings his old school book of tricks back to Boracay for a longer visit this year. Lenny "Casper" despite his allergies to Nivea, sun, rash guards, fruits, vegetables and air has decided that since he talks so much about kiteboarding he should probably do something about it. His only criticism by his IKO examiner was to give a little less information. I don't think there is a more enthusiastic kitesurfer on the Planet. Pictured left is Lenny with a tan. If nothing more its worth hanging out at Ocean just to hear the abuse to which he will be subjected.
New recruits for 2011-12 are
Isidro. Who can take lessons in French, English, Italian and Spanish
Eric. Teaching in French and English
Benjamin, Teaching in French and English
Oleg and Olgo teaching in Ukranian, Russian and English.
Madis. Teaching in Estonian and English and a little Russion if needs be. Look out for his upcoming videos.
On behalf of our 2011/12 team we hope to see you on the beach.
