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Parasailing Offers the Thrill of Flying without the Fear and Risk of Regular Parachute Jumping
from: Maxx Sports GuidesParachuting isn't for the faint of heart. Fear of heights still grips many people, although modern parachutes are much safer than they once were, even a few decades ago.
When you're free falling through the air, all you have is a parachute to keep you from falling to your death. Anything can still happen, so let's hope your reserve chute works if your parachute fails unexpectedly.
Fortunately, extra cautious individuals can choose a related form of recreation that still is considered exciting, yet much less risky than skydiving with regular parachutes.
Parasailing helps to eliminate, or at least greatly reduce, the fear factor for a more enjoyable ride. This recreational activity is usually offered at resorts for vacationers and tourists.
Harmless Fun at the Beach
The concept of parasailing began in the 60s. Pierre Lamoigne, a parachute teacher, unintentionally started the sport after he attached a parachute to his moving car as part of his training for safe landing techniques.
Lamoigne, who used this method to instruct his students, found it was the easiest way to raise the "pilot" (a device in parachute training) without having to use an aircraft.
He intended to raise the pilot high enough and set him free to float. However when he didn't set the pilot free, he discovered he had unintentionally contributed to the birth of a new recreational activity -- parasailing.
In 1961, Colonel Michel Tournier flew behind a tractor using his parachute. In the 70s Mark McCulloh used the parachutes at sea, later raising the parachutes on the shore. After that he used a motorized platform he designed; and raised his parachute on a boat.
Water provided safer landings so parasailing has been done at sea, lakes and along shore lines ever since. McCulloh also created the parasail winch boat.
In 1963 the Parachute Pioneer Company started making parasails. Jacques-André Istel bought the licensing rights to sell the parasails from Pierre Lamoigne, who made the first parasail, and started to manufacture them for resale.
Brian Gaskin also made some of the early parasails. He experimented with parachutes that were made in the 60s and later created the "Waterbird". It was the first true parasail that became the template for today's modern versions.
In 1975 Brain Gaskin founded "Waterbird Parakites", a company that makes parasails for commercial and recreational use in the United Kingdom.
Two Contributions to Parasailing's Popularity
McCulloh's parasail winch boat, which was introduced in the 80s, together with Brian Gaskin's "Waterbird" contributed to parasailing's widespread popularity.
All parasailing operators now use winch boats equipped with a power take off. The boat's engine serves as a hydraulic winch.
Parasails are annular and similar to pull down apex parachutes. Originally, the parasail was a variation of the round parachute with suspension lines and a hole in the apex that could be opened.
Water parasailing is primarily recreational, although in Finland, parasailing on land is a competitive sport.
In land parasailing, instead of a boat being used, a car or a snowmobile is used to raise the parasail. The vehicle towing the parasail controls the height and speed while the parascender controls lateral movement.
If you're more interested in a safe, thrilling ride parasailing may be just what you're looking for.
The faint of heart don't need to jump from a plane at dizzying heights to enjoy the thrill of floating effortlessly through the air. In parasailing, the water provides a soft landing and a life vest comes as standard equipment.
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