SFT – Surf Foil World Tour circuit launches Downwind Parawing World Cup taking place for the first time in France from April 22โ26 at the World Wind 2026 in Leucate. This new type of sail proposes a new way of foiling, combining freedom, fluidity and thrills. By folding their light and maneuverable wings, athletes fully exploit the wind while foiling, and pave the way for new competition formats.
Parawinging is an emerging, high-performance watersport combining elements of kitefoiling and wingfoiling, specifically designed for downwinders and carving. Riders use a small, non-inflatable, single-skin fabric wing connected by short lines to a control bar to generate lift on a foilboard. It offers hands-free, high-speed, and efficient downwind riding with minimal gear, often allowing the wing to be “stashed” while riding swells.
Leucate-La Franqui, with its wind conditions and unique body of water, is an ideal terrain to reveal the full potential of this discipline of the future. A new competition that confirms the ability of the World Wind to anticipate the trends of sliding.
Key Aspects of Parawinging:
Gear & Setup: Uses a compact, lightweight, single-skin “parawing” (often paraglider-inspired) with a control bar. Unlike wingfoiling, it requires no pump.
Performance: Designed for downwind, foiling, and carving. It is particularly effective for generating power in light wind and enabling easy, consistent foiling.
Technique: Riders use the parawing to get on the foil, then can let the wing fly in a “neutral” position to focus on riding waves or swell, providing a “hands-free” feeling.
Advantages: Offers superior upwind capability compared to some other disciplines, portability due to the small, packable, non-inflatable design, and enhanced freedom while riding.
Challenges: It has a steeper learning curve than standard wingfoiling, is more technical, and the lines require caution.
There is a growing community of foiling athletes that are embracing the parawinging and claim it is the future of wing foiling.
There is no doubt parawinging is an excellent innovation for downwind enthusiasts chasing that never ending wave, and riders wanting to explore something new.
Check SFT Surf Foil World Tour page for more information.
