In a nutshell. In Parawing, line tangles are almost never real knots: it's the bar that has passed inside one or more lines. You just need to pass it back to the right place. To avoid them, fold methodically at the end of your session and check your three lines on the ground before taking off.
Lines getting tangled is frustration number one when you discover Parawing, especially coming from Wing foil where there are no lines. But here's the good news that changes everything: in Parawing, they're almost never real knots. Most of the time, it's just your bar that has passed through the lines. Once you know that, avoiding and untangling becomes simple, as long as you're methodical.
Where tangles really come from
There are two sources, and only two. On the beach, it's poor storage from the day before: sloppy folding sets you up for a headache on your next rigging. On the water, it happens when you release the bar or fall into the wing.
The key point to keep in mind: these are almost never knots. It's simply your bar that has passed inside one or more lines. You just need to pass it back to the right place, and everything falls back into place.
The golden rule: only take off if your lines are clear
Never leave with doubt. You only take off when your three lines, front, middle and rear, are clean. Taking thirty seconds on the ground to check saves you real trouble once on the water. It's the discipline that makes all the difference between a smooth session and a struggle session.
The right folding method
It's what determines your next session. The method is simple:
- Lay your wing flat.
- Fold it in half down the center.
- Place the bar at the end.
- Fold the wing from the tips toward the center.
The next day, unrolling the wing in the opposite direction, everything comes out in order, with no tangles. That's the whole point of methodical folding: today's storage is tomorrow's rigging. One additional point, on the durability side: don't fold the wing exactly the same way each time, always folding in the same places creates weak lines in the fabric. Everything is detailed in our guide maintaining your Parawing.
Checking before taking off
You unfold the wing, you grab the bar, and you check that your lines are clear. A trick to keep the wing from taking off again while you check: place a little sand or a few pebbles on the trailing edge. It stays pinned to the ground, and you work peacefully.
If a line isn't clean, don't panic: it's just the bar passed inside. You pass it back to the right place, and when everything is clear, you can take off.
Untangling on the ground is simple
Grab the bar in your hand and look at your three lines: front, middle, rear. If one isn't clear, it's because the bar has passed inside another line.
Your A, B and C lines are different colors, precisely for this reason. Spot the one causing trouble, pass the bar over or under it, and it's fixed. Nothing more. If you need the vocabulary, see the definition of bridle in our glossary.
Untangling in the water
The principle is the same, with an extra orientation step:
- Grab the bar in your hand.
- Identify the Leading edge and orient the bar accordingly.
- Check the bridle and untangle.
- To restart: if the Leading edge is facing the water, pull on the rears to go backward. If it's pointing upward, pull on the fronts.
A line wrapped around the Foil, Mast or stabilizer requires the same rigor: never force and don't pass between the lines. The complete method for getting back up after a fall is in our guide getting back on your Parawing board.
In strong wind, manage on the ground with the PushBar System®
When it's blowing hard, picking up the wing on the ground becomes trickier. With the PushBar System®, you push the bar so the wing generates less power, then fold it as if you were heading Downwind. The PBS really helps you maintain control at that precise moment.
Without PBS, pull on the rears to pin the wing to the ground, pick it up, and fold it away from the wind before it takes off again.
And the Leash?
In Parawing, you don't need a wing Leash: if you release the bar, the wing simply collapses in the water and stays next to you. Your board Leash, on the other hand, remains essential, but that's another subject.
The FYNIX facing tangles
Let's be honest, because it's more useful than marketing spin. The main advantage of the FYNIX on this point is the short bar of the PushBar System®: 32 cm in Carbon, with lines sliding inside. Shorter, it passes much more easily through lines when you untangle. Three-color lines help too, but everyone does that. Ultimately, it's mainly your method that gets you rid of tangles, not a magic promise.
The mistake I see all the time: poorly storing your gear
Sloppy folding means sure trouble on your next takeoff. The way you fold your wing makes your whole next session easier. Take time on the ground to make sure all your lines are clean. Those thirty seconds save you ten on the water.
In summary
In Parawing, tangles are almost never knots, just your bar passed through the lines. Be methodical when folding, only take off if everything is clear, spot the right line thanks to the colors, and you won't even think about it anymore. For the rest of your questions, the guide to 30 essential Parawing questions is there.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my Parawing lines get tangled?
Only two causes: sloppy folding at the end of a session, or a fall into the wing and releasing the bar on the water. In both cases, these are almost never real knots: it's the bar that has passed inside one or more lines.
How do I untangle Parawing lines on the ground?
Grab the bar in your hand and look at your three lines: front, middle, rear. The A, B and C lines are different colors to help you. Spot the one causing trouble and pass the bar over or under it.
How do I untangle my lines once I'm in the water?
Same principle, with one extra step: grab the bar, identify the Leading edge and orient the bar accordingly, check the bridle and untangle. To restart, if the Leading edge is facing the water, pull on the rears; if it's pointing upward, pull on the fronts.
How do I fold a Parawing to avoid tangles?
Lay the wing flat, fold it in half down the center, place the bar at the end, then fold the wing from the tips toward the center. Unrolling it in the opposite direction, everything comes back in order.
How do I keep the wing from taking off again while I check my lines?
Place a little sand or a few pebbles on the Trailing edge. The wing stays pinned to the ground and you can check peacefully.
Do I need a wing Leash in Parawing?
No. If you release the bar, the wing simply collapses in the water and stays next to you. Your board Leash, on the other hand, remains essential.
About the author
Bruno Sroka is a three-time world champion in Kitesurfing and Kitefoil, former PE teacher and founder of SROKA Company. An extreme adventurer, he completed the Cape Horn crossing by sail in 2008, the English Channel Kitesurfing record in 2012, and the 444 km France-Ireland crossing in 2013. He co-developed the FYNIX Parawing and the PushBar System® to make performance accessible to everyone.
