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Parasailing Canopy: an Essential Piece of Gear
from: Maxx Sports GuidesAnyone interested in learning about parasailing should first understand its most important component -- the parasailing canopy.
A parasailing canopy is an elliptical-shaped part of the parachute that opens and fills with air. If you've seen an actual parachute or even photos, you'll notice a balloon-shaped structure that facilitates flying.
The corresponding structure for parasailing is the canopy. In parasailing, one or two people can attached to a canopy with a harness. A motorboat on water, or a car on land, would tow the person or persons at great speed until the air lifted them high into the air.
At this point the canopy would open and fill with air. The passenger, or passengers, would be suspended in the air and travel rapidly along with the towing transport equipment below. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?
So what makes parasailing actually work? The material on the parasail should be dacron or nylon -- durable clothing materials that don't easily give in to extreme heat or cold. Other characteristics are flexibility, light weight and endurance.
Two Variations of Canopy
The parasailing canopy structure shouldn't be rigid to ensure that the gear would be functional when it's needed. A harness is necessary to attach the person or persons to the canopy.
Through the years, sports manufacturers have been modifying the parasailing canopy. Now two variations of the gear are available on the market -- the hang-glider and the para-glider.
The hang glider represents the original form of parasailing canopy. It usually weighs about 25 kilograms and is carried by hand in a special container up to 20 feet long.
The para-glider is the modern form of parasailing canopy, weighing about six to eight kilograms. The para-glider can be folded up and carried in a backpack, making it easy to carry wherever your parasailing activity is held.
Indeed, the parasailing canopy is one piece of gear you really can't do without. You simply are unable to parasail without it, so save up and buy a good one. Good flying!
Hang Gliding News
No oversight on hang gliding
Transport Canada regulates ultralight planes and skydiving, but the sport of hang-gliding is largely unregulated - despite five fatalities across Canada in the past decade, including three in B.C.
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Pilot William Jon Orders' Passenger Plummeted to Her Death from 1,000 Feet
Read more...Hang-gliding self-regulated; sometimes deadly
Transport Canada regulates ultralight planes and skydiving, but the sport of hang-gliding is largely unregulated despite five fatalities across Canada in the past decade, including three in B.C.
Read more...