Parasailing

Parasailing, also known as parascending, is an activity where individuals are harnessed to a modified parachute canopy that is designed to ascend into the air when towed behind a motor vehicle on land, or a recreational boat over water. Commercial parasailing operations can be found worldwide, with customized powerboats that can accommodate numerous passenger observers and up to three airborne parasailors at a time, wearing specially designed Body Harness w/ Tow Bar and/or seated in a Customized Gondola.

While parasailing is primarily enjoyed both as a recreational and commercial activity, it should not be confused with other similar sports such as paragliding, paraskiing, or parakiting. These activities are typically operated in different environments, such as open fields and mountain ranges.

In Europe, land-based parasailing has evolved into a competitive sport. In these competitions, the parasail is towed to a specific height behind a vehicle, 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.