5 Apr 2025

Parawing Explained – The Future of Hands-Free Downwinding

You’ve probably seen them already—compact, lightweight, and quietly changing the game. 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the parawing. With major foil brands jumping on board, we take a closer look at what a parawing is, how it compares to other downwind foiling options, and whether it’s right for you.

The constant evolution of foils and boards means there is always something new to try in foiling. The last few years several brands and riders have been pushing the sport of downwind paddleboard foiling and both the boards and foils have changed to make life easier for people getting into the sport and for those pushing the limits but in reality its not an easy one to crack. From weather, tides, and sea state to choosing your run and managing vehicle logistics, there’s a lot to fit into one session and that’s only after you have put the hours in to learn one of the most challenging entry level skills in all of foiling – paddling up onto the foil. All of this has definitely had an impact of the growth of downwind foiling but there is almost nothing purer than gliding for miles on rolling swell with your hands free of any bulky equipment. Its been likened to back country ski/snowboarding, in that you have to “earn your turns” to get the endless glides. Realistically though when the majority of people go to the mountains for their yearly ski trip they are jumping on a lift so they can spend more time enjoying the downhill and not walking up the mountain to get one or two untouched lines.

For the majority downwinders have been done with wings in their hands as it can take out the vehicle logistics, add a safety net to be able to get back in easier and almost guarantee you will get foiling but the downwind experience is hindered in comparison to SUP foiling. As you turn downwind and start flagging out the wings gets blown in front of you and hinders your vision of what’s directly in front of you making it hard to see where your going or the bumps you are riding.

Enter the para-wing (pocket wing, or whatever else you want to call it), this small, light-weight single skin foil kite has the ability to take you upwind and then be stowed away for you to enjoy the hands free downwind – the perfect solution!

Of course, it’s not a perfect solution—at least not yet. While development is clearly underway, most of the current parawings still feel like first-generation products: promising, but not as intuitive or forgiving as now well evolved wings. The biggest takeaway is the wind range they are usable in is much smaller than a wing or kite, underpowered you cannot pump efficiently and overpowered they are lively and hard to control. This will no doubt improve in time but for those jumping on the band wagon early a downwind or mid-length board with a bit of volume is probably the key to success and this isn’t in everyone’s current quiver. At this stage I cant see anyone learning to foil from scratch with a parawing, but that’s the same with kitefoiling – kitesurfers learn to foil with a kite and I think we will see people who foil get into parawings to unlock downwinding instead of committing to a paddle.

What is a Parawing?

Much like a trainer kite a parawing consists of a canopy, lines and bar but with a parawing the lines are only a meter or so long and the bar is flipped by 90 degrees. The lines split from the bar and this helps provide shape and stability to the canopy. The canopy its self is a light weight kite material with many brands opting for a doubled over leading edge to give better up wind performance and these are given shape with some small/thin flexible battens.

The lines/bridle can look a bit complex from far but essentially there are three rows of lines to support the leading edge, centre and trailing edge and as they are attached at bar and wing tangles are fairly minimal.

The first pocket we used was even more simple, with less lines/bridles and was basically a bag to pull you down wind with no upwind capability which did the job fairly successfully and was simple to pack away but it lacked stability and upwind ability.

So the current parawing’s out perform this one in every way and allow you to ride smaller boards and faster foils which in turn give more performance both up and down wind.

Simplicity is key

The current crop are easy to fly, control and pretty simple to pack down and its the simple bar that actually gives control when riding. The key to keeping the wing trimmed is holding the front of the bar and moving the rear of the bar to control the rear lines and back edge of the kite – to sheet the wing in put the back of the bar down and pull the trailing edge lines and sheet in the rear of the wing and vice versa when over powered let the back of the bar get closer to the canopy to loose the tension in the rear lines and the wing will spill wind. Just five minutes of practice on the beach can pay huge dividends—especially when it comes to learning bar control without the added challenge of balancing on foil.

Stowing the Parawing

This is where the parawing comes into its own. The ability to collapse the canopy and have it bundled up allowing clear vision and riding wind blown swell or waves is why the sport is attracting so much attention. Again a few minutes on the beach practising the technique will help get the hand coordination dialled to make life easier on the water. Even in flat water with no swell you can practice and work on your pumping skills.

SV Photography

Overall the Parawing opens some new doors

While the parawing may not replace wings or paddles just yet, it’s carving out a unique niche in the world of downwind foiling. For intermediate to advanced riders with the right board, it offers a new way to experience gliding swell—hands-free, streamlined, and with untapped potential. Expect rapid evolution in this space — parawing foiling is just getting started.

Evolution is already under way

The K-Wing is the sport and this is the F-One Plume. Is it a small kit on short lines? Is it a new shape of wing? Does it count as a parawing? Will other brand join in?