In short. In parawing, tangled lines are almost never real knots: it's the bar that has been passed through one or more lines. Just pass it back through the right place. To avoid them, fold methodically at the end of the session and check your three lines on the ground before launching.
Tangled lines are the number one frustration when you discover parawing, especially if you come from wing foil, where there are no lines. But here's the good news that changes everything: in parawing, they are almost never real knots. Most of the time, it's simply your bar that has gone through the lines. Once you understand that, avoiding and undoing a tangle becomes simple, as long as you're methodical.
Where parawing line tangles really come from
There are two sources, and only two. On the beach, it's a poor packing from the day before: a sloppy fold sets you up for a mess with the next rig. On the water, it happens when you let go of the bar or fall into the wing.
The key point to remember: they are almost never knots. It's simply your bar that has been passed through one or more lines. Just pass it back through the right place, and everything falls back into place.
The golden rule: only launch if your lines are clear
Never set off with doubt. Only launch when your three lines, front, middle and rear, are clean. Taking thirty seconds on the ground to check saves you a real headache once you're on the water. That discipline makes all the difference between a smooth session and a struggle.
The right way to fold parawing lines
This determines your next session. The method is simple:
- Lay your wing flat.
- Fold it in half through the center.
- Place the bar at the end.
- Fold the wing tips toward the center.
The next day, when you unroll the wing in the reverse direction, everything comes out in order, without tangles. That's the whole point of a methodical fold: today's packing is tomorrow's rig. One extra point on durability: don't fold the wing exactly the same way every time, because folds always in the same place create lines of weakness in the fabric. Everything is detailed in our guide on maintaining your parawing.
Checking before launching
Unroll the wing, pick up the bar, and check that your lines are clear. A tip so the wing doesn't take off again while you check: place some sand or a few stones on the trailing edge. It stays pinned to the ground, and you can work in peace.
If a line isn't clean, don't panic: it's just the bar that has gone through. Pass it back through the right place, and once everything is clear, you can launch.
Untangling on the ground is simple
Hold the bar in your hand and look at your three lines: front, middle, rear. If one isn't clear, it means the bar has gone through another line.
Your A, B and C lines are different colors precisely for this reason. Find the one causing the problem, pass the bar over or under it, and that's it. Nothing more. If the vocabulary is unfamiliar, see the definition of bridle in our glossary.
Untangling your parawing lines in the water
The principle is the same, with one extra step for orientation:
- Hold the bar in your hand.
- Identify the leading edge and orient the bar accordingly.
- Check the bridle and untangle.
- To relaunch: if the leading edge faces the water, pull the rear lines to go backward. If it's oriented upward, pull the front lines.
A line wrapped around the foil, the mast or the stabilizer requires the same care: never force it and never pass between the lines. The full method for getting back up after a fall is in our guide on getting back on your board in parawing.
In strong wind, manage on the ground with the PushBar System®
When it blows hard, recovering 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 stay in control at that moment.
Without PBS, pull the rear lines to pin the wing to the ground, recover it, and fold it out of the wind before it takes off again.
And the leash?
In parawing, you don't need a wing leash: if you let go of the bar, the wing simply drops into the water and stays beside you. Your board leash, however, remains essential, but that's another topic.
The FYNIX and tangles
Let's be honest, because that's more useful than a marketing argument. The main advantage of the FYNIX parawing on this point is the short bar of the PushBar System®: a carbon bar, with the lines sliding inside it. Being shorter, it passes through the lines much more easily when you untangle. The three-color lines also help, but everyone does that. In the end, it's mostly your method that gets you out of tangles, not a magic promise.
The mistake I see all the time: poor packing
A sloppy fold means guaranteed trouble at the next launch. How you fold your wing makes your whole next session easier. Take the time on the ground to make sure all your lines are clear. 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 launch if everything is clear, identify the right line using the colors, and you won't even think about it anymore. For any other questions, the guide to the 30 essential questions about parawing is there for you.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my parawing lines get tangled?
Only two causes: a sloppy fold at the end of a session, or a fall into the wing and letting go of the bar on the water. In both cases, they are almost never real knots: it's the bar that has gone through one or more lines.
How do I untangle parawing lines on the ground?
Hold the bar in your hand and look at your three lines: front, middle, rear. A, B and C lines are different colors to help you. Find the one causing the problem and pass the bar over or under it.
How do I untangle my lines once in the water?
Same principle, with one extra step: pick up the bar, identify the leading edge and orient the bar accordingly, check the bridle and untangle. To relaunch, if the leading edge faces the water, pull the rear lines; if it's oriented upward, pull the front lines.
How do I fold a parawing to avoid tangles?
Lay the wing flat, fold it in half through the center, place the bar at the end, then fold the wing tips toward the center. When you unroll it in the reverse direction, everything comes out in order.
How do I stop the wing from taking off again while I check my lines?
Place some sand or a few stones on the trailing edge. The wing stays pinned to the ground and you can check calmly.
Do you need a wing leash in parawing?
No. If you let go of the bar, the wing drops into the water and stays beside you. The board leash, however, remains essential.
About the author
Bruno Sroka, three-time world champion, four-time European champion and three-time French kitesurfing champion. Crossed Cape Horn by kitesurf (2008), record for the English Channel (2012), France-Ireland crossing of 444 km (240 nautical miles) in 16 h 40 min (2013). Former PE teacher, founder of SROKA Company, a Breton brand of foil, wing foil, SUP and parawing. Co-designer of the PushBar System® with Gaël Contal, SROKA ambassador and originator of the idea of sheet in / sheet out.
