Parasailing

Parasailing, also known as parascending, is a water sport that involves a parafoil or modified parachute being towed behind a moving vehicle (usually a powerboat), so that the angle of attack at which the apparent wind flowing against the canopy will generate lift and carry passengers into the air. Commercial parasailing enterprises operate worldwide, and include customized powerboats that can seat numerous observers and up to three airborne parasailors at a time, wearing body harnasses and/or seated in a Customized Gondola.

Parasailing is primarily practiced as a recreational activity, and is distinct from similar sports such as paragliding, paraskiing, or parakiting, which typically operated in different environments like open fields and mountain ranges.

In Europe, land-based parasailing is a competitive sport. In these competitions, the parasail is towed to a specific height behind an automobile, and the driver and/or the parasailor releases the tow line to land in a specific target area. The first international competitions for land-based parasailing were held in the mid-1980s and have continued annually since then. These competitions have grown in both size and scope over the years, attracting more participants and spectators alike.