Parasailing?
Parasailing is a sightseeing type of activity that uses a round parachute style canopy. The passenger is attached to the canopy, then is towed aloft by a boat or other vehicle. There is very little input required by the passenger, as the boat driver decides where the flight will go. Paragliders can be launched in a similar fashion, but the tow is only used in lieu of an appropriate mountain launch. When the maximum altitude for the tow is reached, the pilot releases from the tow line and begins normal flight. Paraglider pilots in flat land areas routinely use towing to gain enough altitude to find sustaining thermal lift and try for cross country flights. At Discover Paragliding!, we use a sophisticated towing system as a teaching aide, allowing students to gain a significant altitude over the ground in preparation for higher mountain flights. We are the only school in the area to have this extra teaching tool. See our Towing Page for more information.
