1. Stein Erik Gabrielsen
Email: kitesurfacademy1@gmail.com
Website: http://vikingkitesurfacademy.com
Skype: kitesurfacademy
Summary and Strengths
Passionate about quality surf instruction. Well versed in instructor certification programs and
measureable skill levels for kite surfing and other water sports instruction. An enthusiastic
instructor committed safety, sustainable coaching, and professional customer satisfaction through
goal attainment. Maintains an excellent technical knowledge of gear and performs repairs on
kites, boards, bars, and other water sports equipment. Quick to adapt to different
cultures/locations and adapts well to a changing weather environments.
Education and Qualifications
Eastern Michigan University
Majors: Psychology and Statistical Analysis of Probability
September 1979 - 1981
Western Michigan University
Major: Flight Technology Engineering
September 1981 - 1982
Professional Air Sports Examiner (PASA Examiner) Kite Surfing http://www.pasakiteboarding.org
Certified Examiner (Instructor Trainer) since 2002
United States Coast Guard Licensed Captain of Power and Sail 1988 – 1998
25-Ton Ocean Masters Ticket (Retired)
US Windsurfing Certified Instructor http://www.ussailing.org/education/
Professional Ski Instructors of America Certified Snowboard Instructor
https://www.thesnowpros.org
Entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer
Kite Surf Academy 2000 – Present
http://vikingkitesurfacademy.com
 Manage and develop instructional programs inclusive of private, group, and instructor
training courses
 Maintain a perfect safety record for all students taught over 15 years
 Liaison with Town Board and County for beach access and safety protocols
 Directly responsible for all academy inventory and perform regular maintenance on
equipment
 Writer for local newspaper to promote surfing sports and surf tourism
 Create, maintain, and oversee all electronic social media sites
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2.  Create, assess and implement all marketing and strategic operations
 Offer advice to clients regarding equipment based on ability levels and wind conditions
 Created new swim instructional progression
 Modified progression to teach Autistic children
 Wrote proposal for Red Cross and YMCA to add new progression
 Wrote proposal for SIMA Surf Industries Manufacturing Association for sponsorship
 Wrote proposal for ACA American Camping Association to add surfing to swim program
Experience
Door County Kayak Tours, Door County, WI, U.S.A. Summer 2015
 Guided tours and instructed courses for stand up paddling and kayaking
 Ensured an efficient operation for all business functions
 Managed the reservations center
 Ensured that the various locations are tidy and well maintained
Cometa Copal, Playa Copal Costa Rica November 2014 - May 2015
 Created, implemented and taught new kiteboarding instructional and safety protocol
methods allowing safe instruction in high winds up to 40 knots
 Achieved financial sustainability through continual internal and external assessments
 Created advanced instructional camps for experienced kite surfers who had not
continued to progress for several years
 Marketed and sold 80% of instruction outside the school’s existing marketing
infrastructure
 Trained instructors on new techniques, safety protocols and marketing strategies
Blue Dream Kiteboarding Resort, Bahia Salinas, Costa Rica 2012
 Oversaw daily operations for rentals and lessons
 Provided Instruction for beginners intermediate and advanced clients
 Improved instructional protocols and safety
 Created more revenue with new techniques which allow safe lessons in higher winds
Tilawa Water Sports, Costa Rica 1996/1997 2010/2011
 Invented new catamaran windsurf trainer board to separate balance from sailing skills
 Improved marketing and sales for hotel and water sports center
Windsurfing Incorporated, South Padre, Texas 2004/2009
 Managed retail store and rentals
 Provided instruction for all levels of clients
Kitty Hawk Kites Rodanthe, North Carolina 2001/2002/2009
 Collaborated in the writing of the PASA instructors manual
 Contributed to negotiations with the insurance carrier for PASA
 Improved the instructional protocols which allowed for teaching in higher winds
F-10 Kite Hotel Cabarete, Dominican Republic 2008/2009
 Managed rental equipment
 Supervised and provided instruction for all levels of clients
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3.  Promoted and marketed the hotel and school
Surf and Kite Club LLC, Captiva, Florida 2008
 Assessed the school location and determined it to be unsafe for instruction – closed the
school
Montauk Kiteboarding, Montauk, New York 2006
 Marketed and designed private instruction for VIP client
Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda BVI 2005/2006
 Maximized all levels of kite surf instruction for the clients
Cabana Bobs Beach Service, Lido Beach, Florida 1983 – 1991, 2000/2001/2002
 Managed beach concession rentals and lessons
 Marketed and provided Instruction
 Maintained safety for the business and resorts
Fish Creek Kite Company, Fish Creek Wisconsin 2000 – 2014
 Marketed and promoted kites and kiteboarding
 Increased retail sales
 Sold instruction for all levels of kiteboarding on water and snow
American Windsurfing Magazine, Maui Hawaii 1999/2000
 Instructional Editor
 Created new instructional guidelines
 Managed advertising campaigns
Catsurfer Windsurfing, Newport Beach California 1997 – 2006
 Designed new training boards
 Wrote new instructional programs
Tropical Water Sports, Key West Florida 1995/96
 Managed beach concession rentals for catamarans windsurfers kayaks and chairs
 Provided instruction for all water sports
Maui Windsurf Company, Maui Hawaii 1994/95
 Provided instruction for all levels of clients
 Trained with the top riders and instructors in the world
Vail Ski School, Vail Colorado 1992/1993/1994
 Promoted from Group lessons to Private Snowboarding Instruction
 Trained with the top riders and instructors in the world
Door County Windsurf, Ephraim Wisconsin 1993
 Improved the instructional progression for the school
 Revamped instruction for all levels of clients
Hatteras Parasailing, Cape Hatteras North Carolina 1993
 Skippered safe operations as captain for parasailing
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4. Cheeca Lodge, Islamorada Florida 1991/1992
 Operated safe and exciting charters as Catamaran Captain
Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key Florida 1990
 Managed catamaran charter business and captained the boat
 marketed and sold cruises
Stiletto Charters, Fish Creek Wisconsin 1989/1990
 Catamaran Captain: Marketed and sold cruises
 Responsible for public relations and entertainment
 Regularly performed boat maintenance
Stiletto Catamaran, Factory Venice Florida 1988/1989/1990/1991
 Performed Salvage and restoration for wrecked boats
 Marketed and sold boats
 Trained new boat owners
Wyonegonic Camps, Denmark Maine 1987/1988
 Water sports Director
 Spearheaded new water-ski and windsurf instructional progressions
 Trained lifeguards and instructors during pre-camp
Club Med, Paradise Island / Bahamas Saint Lucia BWI / Ixtapa Mexico 1986/1987
 Windsurfing sailing instructor and circus trapeze artist
 Trained new instructors
 Entertained the guests
 Hosted meals
 Performed in the theatre
Affiliations and Additional Information
 World Record BASE jumping team 1984
 Musician – pianist and singer
 B1 level Norwegian speaker and A1 level Spanish speaker
 Stunt man and trapeze artist 1981 - 1987
 Functional knowledge of Microsoft operating systems
 Travelled extensively throughout North America, Central America the Caribbean and
Northern Europe
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