Parasailing

Parasailing, also known as parascending, is an activity which involves being attached to a modified parachute canopy that lifts into the air when towed behind a boat or vehicle. 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 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.