According to Wikipedia, “Paragliding is a recreational and competitive flying sport. A paraglider is a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. The pilot sits in a harness suspended under a fabric wing, the shape of which is formed by its suspension lines and the air pressure entering the vents at the front of the wing.”
And again according to Wikipedia, “Parasailing, also known as ascent, is a recreational activity in which a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed parachute, known as a parachute. The boat then pulls away, carrying the ascending pair into the air. The sheer power of the boat is powerful enough for 2-3 people to parasail. The ascending pair has little to no control over the parachute.”
The difference
Your level of interest helps you decide whether you would choose to go paragliding or parasailing. Those who yearn to be in the driver’s seat, with a sense of adventure and aware of their limitations, should take lessons to become a paraglider. Laid-backs who prefer others to take over should stick with parasailing. Both activities are a great way to relax and unwind.
The first and main difference between parasailing and paragliding is that: parasailing is for those who love the water but do not prefer extreme activities like jet skiing or kneeboarding. Paragliding, on the other hand, is for the light-hearted.
You can paraglide almost anywhere, but most paragliders choose open fields, exciting cliffs, and mountain ranges for their intense scenery. Parasailing, on the other hand, is done on large bodies of water and sometimes on land as well, all with the safety of a parachute.
In parasailing, you need a motorized vehicle and a canopy to fly, while in paragliding the wings are controlled solely by the pilot, who is technically a pilot.
Another obvious visible difference is that parasailing is a team effort whereas paragliding can be done solo. Even the way one gets up differs in parasailing and paragliding. In paragliding, you use a parachute if you are on land or with a backpack if you have opted for motorized paragliding.
Before you go parasailing, all you need to do is take a few minutes of water safety lessons. However, in paragliding you need to take a few days of training before you can do a solo flight.
