How to Build Your Parawing Setup | One Wing or a Full Quiver?

Parawinging is really starting to take off, but it's still new territory in the foiling world and there aren't many resources to help you choose the right parawing yet. Tucker and Jeff have had the luxury of using the shop's gear to dial in their ideal quivers and have also started to get feedback from customers, and now they're ready to share what worked as they got a feel for parawinging and what they moved to as they progressed.

Size Range

Parawings can be found anywhere from 1.5m on up to 5.5m, though that's still evolving and it probably won't be long before we see them up to 7m. Most commonly you're going to find them in 2.5m to 5.5m though, and that'll cover the wind range for beginner to intermediate riders of average weight.

Your First Parawing

There are a few factors to look at when you're choosing your first parawing. Are you new to winging or have you been foiling for a while now and want to add a parafoil to your quiver? Are you a heavier or lighter rider? What sorts of winds do you typically get? Do you only go out on perfect days, or do you want to ride every day? Do you mainly downwind, or will you need to ride upwind as you do laps around your local spot? Do you like to size down your board and foil?

A lot of companies have done initial parawing releases in the 3m - 4m range, with a few 5m wings available as well. This is because most early adopters have been experienced wingers who ride in ideal 18 - 30 knot conditions. That's a fun range where you can really get some performance out of your foil, and 3m - 5m parawings work great for these, with the larger sizes letting you size down on your foil and board. They're not tiny wings or light wind specific; they're that middle ground where most people are. With limited development time in this first generation, that's the smart place for designers to focus.

If you're a newer foiler, you'll want to make sure you're adequately powered and on the right board and foil. Unless you can afford multiple wings, you're going to have to be a bit picky about when you choose to go out since parawings don't have quite the wind range that wings do, and if you're over or underpowered, it's going to be frustrating and exhausting. Tucker is around 95 kilos / 205 lb, and a 4m or 5m parawing would be right for him to learn on. Jeff weighs a bit less than that, so a 4m would be right for him most of the time since he's going to get blown off his board with a larger parawing.

Choosing Your Quiver

If your conditions are typically 15-25 knots, then a 4m and a 5m would be a good quiver. If you get closer to 25-35 knots, then a 3m and 4m would be better. But again, this varies based on your gear and your weight, so if you can, talk to someone with some experience who has a setup similar to yours, or who knows a lot of riders and what worked for them, like the crew at a shop.

While parawings, like kiteboarding foil kites, have a lot of punch for their size, they're not particularly grunty. You won't be able to pull and go. Their power shines as you get moving and start building apparent wind. It compounds quickly, and you can actually start to get overpowered. But on the other hand, if it's gusty you'll want to be sure you have enough power to get through the lulls. You'll need to be much more intentional about which size parawing you choose than you are when choosing a wing with its more forgiving wind range.

If you're coming from the kiting world, you may be used to a quiver of 3 or more kites to cover days from blasting wind to gentle breezes. Parawinging is intended for riding waves since you can stash it away and ride hands-free, so you'll generally only take it out when the wind and swell are up. That means you'll probably only need two or even one size to cover those sessions.

Parawinging is really about having the right tool for the session and conditions. If it's lighter wind, Tucker and Jeff still love grabbing a wing. Chaotic days are also a blast with a wing. It's a better, more controllable tool for those sorts of days. But then there are the days where it's sideshore and rolling downwind for miles with consistent wind, or you're able to make some long, surfy runs in the same location, and a parawing is perfect for that. The sense of freedom you get from packing the parawing away and just surfing is amazing. Of course, parawinging is still in its infancy and there's no telling where future designs will find their place, but for now it's a surf-centered sport.

Whether you're mainly downwinding or riding laps will make a difference in sizing your parawing. On a downwinder, you want a parawing that will handle a variety of conditions and not leave you stranded if the wind ticks down a bit and you wipe out. You may be on a smaller foil and board because you've got great swell. You'll need a larger parawing, 4m or 5m for that. You may be a bit overpowered if the wind picks up, but as soon as you're up on foil you'll tuck the parawing away.

Now, if you're staying in one spot, you'll need to be able to ride upwind, and that's not especially feasible on a larger parawing. For that, stick to 4m parawings and under. When you're learning to use a parawing, you may need a bit larger foil and board, as well as perfect conditions, but once you've developed your skills, you'll have a blast.

Parawing Sizing Checklist

A lot of factors go into selecting the right size parawing, and we do recommend reaching out to us to talk through your goals, but here's a general list to give you an idea of where you might fall with your sizing needs:

• Are you new? Size up, but not so much you're overpowered.
• Are you heavier? Size up.
• Do you get strong, consistent winds? Size down.
• Do you want to ride more often? Get two parawings to cover your wind range.
• Do you like to ride small foils and boards? Size up.
• Do you like to downwind and may face changing conditions during your run? Size up.
• Do you need to ride upwind? Size down.

Parawinging can be a game-changer for anyone who loves to foil in the waves, and it's well worth making sure you're on the right gear to make the most of your session.

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