Parawing foiling is a hybrid water sport that combines elements of wingfoiling and paragliding. Foiling athletes use a parawing (similar to a paragliding wing) while riding a hydrofoil board on water.
Parawings utilize a paraglider-style canopy and they don’t require inflation. This results in a very compact and lightweight setup. This design allows riders to easily pack the wing away while riding swells, providing a more pure and uninhibited foiling experience.
By using a small kite or wing, constructed similarly to those used by paragliders, power is captured from the wind. Like in kitesurfing, there are lines connecting the kite to the bar. Similar to wing foiling, the kite or wing doesn’t need to be as large due to the increased size of the board, which provides more buoyancy and less drag. Once a parawing foiler has tracked upwind to their desired destination, the parawing can be stowed away, allowing the rider to ride the swell for an extended period without needing additional power from a wing, kite, or paddle.
Parawings excel in downwind foiling, enabling riders to efficiently catch and ride waves for extended distances. They are particularly well-suited for riders who enjoy long, uninterrupted downwind runs. It’s a cross between wing foiling, prone foiling, downwind foiling, kite foiling, and paragliding.
Parawings are typically controlled with a bar, similar to kiteboarding, which offers precise control over the wing. However, mastering parawing handling requires a different set of skills compared to inflatable wings.
For those who enjoy downwind or SUP foiling, parawing foiling offers great benefits. First, instead of paddling upwind or relying on someone to drop them off, riders can harness wind power to travel upwind. With a traditional wingfoiling wing, you can’t easily pack it away into a small container, such as a specially designed waist pouch.
Another key advantage is that if a rider falls during the downwind journey, they will need that power again to get back on foil. If you’ve deflated your wing, you’re stuck. But with a parawing, you can simply take it out of your pouch, relaunch it, and voilà your power is back on.
For more info on parawing hydrofoiling visit https://parawingfoil.com/
