We solve the old paragliding vs parasailing question which is often common with tourists on beachside holidays or those new to these activities.
Paragliding and parasailing sound very similar and at first glances you could get confused between the two. We’ll explain the differences between these two activities and help you decide which one you should try.
Paragliding involves a pilot or a pilot with a passenger (tandem paragliding) running or achieving lift and flying by being suspended under a curved wing. With the exception of paramotoring, a paraglider does not receive any assistance and is solely powered by the air and thermals.
Parasailing is a fun and relatively simple activity where a person is towed by a boat while attached to a parachute (parasail). Once speed and lift have been achieved, the pilot achieves flight. Once the boat slows down or the pilot breaks the connection between boat and pilot, the pilot will slow down and land in the water.
Visual Differences
A paragliding wing is curved in a banana shape with a series of cells which hold air and aid flight. In aeronautical engineering terms this is known as a ‘ram-air airfoil’. Parasailing uses a parachute which has more of a half-dome shape.
Both use a series of lines between the person and the wing/parachute. Here there are some more differences, with paragliding lines, risers and hand brakes set up to provide the pilot with as much control as possible. Parasailing lines don’t offer this level of control as the driving is taking place by the boat towing the parasailer. The person parasailing is merely a passenger, while a person paragliding is the pilot of their craft.
Skills Required in Paragliding and Parasailing
When solo paragliding, you’re the sole person in control. Therefore paragliding pilots must undertake rigorous theoretical and practical training to ensure they can launch, glide and land a paraglider safely in a variety of weather conditions.
When tandem paragliding as a passenger, you are paired with an experienced pilot who will fly the paraglider and make all decisions for you. The only important roles are to run with the pilot when launching and to lift your legs when landing to protect your ankles from impact. Your pilot will still give you a briefing before the flight to ensure you’re fully aware of what goes on and what you’re required to do when launching and landing.
Parasailing is pretty straightforward with little skill involved. You stand on a boat and the speed of the boat enables the parachute to achieve lift. A good operator will still give you a safety briefing to ensure you’re fully aware of what to expect and are educated on what signal to give in the event you wish to end your flight early.
This makes parasailing great for those on holiday who simply want to have some quick thrills. In comparison, paragliding may seem like a larger commitment of time for those who only have limited time to spare around other holiday activities.
Where Can Paragliding and Parasailing Be Performed?
Paragliding is usually done at coastal areas or at hilly, mountainous regions where it’s easier to obtain lift and leverage thermals. For tourists looking to tandem paraglide, these locations usually include beach holiday destinations such as Bali, coastal cities such as Cape Town or snowboarding/ski locations such as Aspen in Colarado, Grouse Mountain near Vancouver or the Tirol region in Austria. Many paragliding clubs with access to suitable launch sites exist in almost all suitable paragliding locations.
However it can be performed at other locations too such as flat, inland areas, as long as there is suitable wind and running can be incorporated in the launch.
In most cases parasailing is performed from a boat, with the water providing a level of safety in case things go wrong. This usually restricts this activity to water areas, usually coastal beach areas which attract a young, outgoing crowd.
Parasailing can also be performed by being towed by a vehicle, usually a four-wheel drive. This is often known as off-road parasailing. It’s a dangerous activity as there is no water to land on, only the hard ground.
This should only be attempted by adrenaline junkies with regular above-water parasailing experience. It also requires skill and concentration by the driver of the car to ensure they maintain enough speed and enable you to land smoothly.
To summarise this section, most people will find paragliding more accessible than parasailing.
Impact of Weather
Weather impacts the safety of both paragliding and parasailing. Attempting either of these activities in strong winds isn’t worth it. If it’s your first time doing either of these sports, you want it to be not only safe but be enjoyable as well.
Paragliding is more sensitive to the weather conditions, with no wind making an impact on launching and increasing reliance on your run-up and ability to leverage thermals. Wind upwards of 18mph is considered too dangerous for experienced paragliding pilots. If you’re going tandem paragliding, the operator will most likely cancel or postpone the flight at a lower wind speed, such as 12 – 15mph.
Parasailing operators will usually cancel or postpone a flight at wind speeds of around 25mph. Experienced parasailing pilots have been known to parasail at up to 50mph, however the risks here are very high.
Other Interesting Things To Know
Many parasailing providers will give you a choice of landing back on the boat or getting dunked in the water. This can be a cool thing to do on a hot day or for a laugh with a group of friends.
Paragliding can give you a birds-eye view of some amazing locations. From Austrian alps, to mountain/city/coastline crossovers in Cape Town to amazing beach locations in California and Bali.
Which Is Right For Me?
Paragliding vs parasailing, which is best? Which should I try? If you haven’t tried either, you’ll probably find both will provide you with an enjoyable and memorable experience. But if you can only do one and you want to do the best activity for you, we’ve got some considerations that’ll help you make your decision.
If you want to go up high and take in the views, or simply enjoy the flight in a relaxing manner, paragliding is a great option for you. Paragliding is also a great choice if you want to take up a hobby, something that you can work at and get improve at over time. Once you’re good at paragliding, you can do this sport by yourself or join a club and fly with other like-minded people.
Parasailing is something fun to do with a group of friends while on a beach holiday. It’s a great way to spend a few hours on a sunny day with friends. There’s little to learn and no stress. It’ll provide you with a quick burst of adrenaline and some great memories and laughs. Your scope for progression in parasailing is far smaller, however if you’re just having fun on holiday, who cares?
