Flying a Parawing is about controlling power by managing two levers: the wing's position in the wind window and the bar. You tilt the front of the bar toward the direction you want to go, you power up to gain strength and you depower to release it. The rest, takeoff, transitions and turns, flow from these movements, while always maintaining tension in the lines.
Here is each command and each movement, explained simply.
At a glance
| Maneuver | What it does |
|---|---|
| Steering | Tilt the front of the bar toward the desired direction |
| Power management | Wing position in the wind window, plus bar control |
| Power up | Increases power |
| Depower | Reduces power |
| Takeoff | Gets the wing in flight |
| Relaunch | Gets the wing back in flight after a crash |
| Toe side | Slide while leaning on your toes |
| Jibe | Change tack downwind |
| Jibe | Successfully perform a jibe on the foil |
| Waterstart | Takeoff on the foil from the water |
| Pumping | Create lift through pulses |
How to steer the wing right and left
To steer a Parawing, tilt the front of the bar toward the direction you want to go. To send the wing to the right, tilt the front of the bar to the right; to go left, do the opposite. This operation is universal on current Parawings. Keep the movement gradual and maintain tension in the lines: an abrupt action deforms the Profile and causes the wing to lose pressure.
Bruno's tip. The first thing to correct in a beginner is the front hand. Pass the front lines between the index and middle finger of your front hand: you feel the wing and control it to the millimeter, instead of just reacting to it.
How to manage power
The power of a Parawing depends first on the wing's position in the wind window. The closer the wing is to the zenith, the less it pulls; the more it faces you, the more power it generates. The zenith is therefore the neutral zone, where the wing pulls the least and where you manage a maneuver most easily.
A Parawing's lines are short, typically 1.3 to 1.8 m depending on wing size. There's no point in making the wing oscillate up and down in the window to pump power like on a long-line kite: it doesn't work. Be careful not to confuse two different movements: making the wing oscillate in the window requires long lines and therefore doesn't make sense on a Parawing; pumping on the wing, on the other hand, remains a useful movement, especially at takeoff, as explained in our article why can't I take off in Parawing.
To regain power once airborne, place the wing slightly lower in the wind window, then work the bar. On the FYNIX, you pull the bar and the PushBar System® restores wing surface; on other systems, you tilt the bar backward to retension the back lines.
In light wind, getting going early doesn't depend on a wing movement, but on your technique and equipment: foil size, board volume and wing size.
How to power up
Powering up means pulling the bar toward you to increase the wing's angle of attack, and therefore its power. The movement should be gradual, without jerking. Excessive powering causes the wing to stall: find the point where power is maximum without the Profile breaking. On the FYNIX, powering up brings the bar back and the PushBar System® restores wing surface, for gradual power return. This is what you do to accelerate, take off on the foil or sail upwind.
How to depower
Depowering reduces the wing's power. There are two approaches. On most Parawings, you release or tilt the bar to decrease the wing's angle of attack: power drops, but the range of motion remains limited. On the FYNIX, you push the bar: the PushBar System® creates a central fold that reduces wing surface, and therefore power, more significantly and effectively, without changing the Angle of attack of the Leading edge. In both cases, depowering remains your dosing and safety control, to be managed so you don't collapse the wing all at once.
The FYNIX is the first Parawing with true dynamic depower-power up thanks to the PushBar System®: lines slide inside the 32 cm carbon Bar and modify the wing geometry in real time. (PushBar System®: Registered trademark, Patent pending.)
How to launch
Launching means deploying the wing and getting it airborne. Leading edge facing the wind, let the air inflate it and give it its shape, then guide it to one side of the wind window, where it gains power in a controlled way. Don't try to take off from the zenith: that's where the wing pulls the least.
How to relaunch
Relaunching means getting the wing back in flight after a crash or closure. Don't pull all at once. Aim the wing toward the Edge of the wind window, gently tension the lines to give it back its shape, then bring it into the wind and gradually power up. Patience prevents it from closing again immediately.
How to take off from the water (waterstart)
Waterstart is getting on the foil from the water. Position yourself on the board, gradually power up to gain strength, let the board accelerate, then raise yourself up while keeping your weight centered. It's speed that creates foil Lift: wait until you have it before loading your front foot. On a Parawing, you sail on fairly voluminous boards, which makes weight distribution soft. On a very small board, front foot management becomes more sensitive. If you're still at that stage, our guide to starting in Parawing covers the complete progression.
How to pump (Pumping)
Pumping means giving vertical and forward pulses with the board and foil to create Lift, take off or stay airborne when power is lacking. The movement comes from the legs and torso, broad and regular, never jerky. On a Parawing, a few pumps help get on the foil, then the wing takes over.
How to stabilize the wing once airborne
Once the foil is in flight, don't seek maximum power but steady traction. Bring the wing slightly higher, toward the Edge of the wind window, and release tension to let it move forward while producing just enough. A wing left too low constantly pulls and tires you out without adding anything to your ride.
How to sail toe side
Sailing toe side means sliding facing the board, leaning on your toes, instead of being on your heels. Your body faces the wing, eyes forward, hips engaged to hold the edge. This is the key position to chain turns and transitions without changing feet.
How to jibe in Parawing
Jibing means changing direction by passing the wing and board downwind. The jibe is done downwind, when power is weakest and therefore most manageable. Maintain speed to stay on the foil, and gradually power up once the wing has relaunched on the other side.
How to jibe in Parawing
Jibing means successfully performing a jibe while staying on the foil, without falling back into the water. The key is entry speed: the more airborne you are, the more Lift the foil maintains during the turn. Bring the wing to the other side at the right pace, stay light on your feet, go toe side or change feet, then power up to exit in power.
How to neutralize and pack the wing in Downwind
One of the great advantages of the Parawing is being able to neutralize the wing once airborne, to surf only the energy of the Swell. When the foil is carrying and the Swell pushes you, you depower the wing and gather it, being careful not to put the lines in the water, then you redeploy it when you need power. We detail this technique in our guide to Downwind in Parawing.
Single-skin or double-skin: how does it change flying?
Flying changes depending on wing construction. A double-skin is softer and less abrupt, but it generates less power at low speeds. A Single-skin, like the FYNIX, offers more power, with slightly more Drag, so a top speed slightly lower. In a crash, a double-skin can take water into its chambers: you then have to empty it before relaunching. These differences apply to all Parawings, regardless of brand.
The most common flying mistakes
- Front hand misplaced. This is the most common mistake early on: the front lines must pass between the index and middle finger of your front hand. Held incorrectly, you lose fine control of the wing.
- Pulling too hard on the back of the bar. If you pull too far back, the wing moves back in the wind window instead of forward.
- Overpowering when the wing weakens. A stalling wing is almost always overpowered: you've pulled too hard on the back. The right reflex is not to power up more, but to give it speed back.
Frequently asked questions
How do you turn right or left in Parawing?
Tilt the front of the bar toward the direction you want to go. To the right to go right, to the left to go left. This operation is universal on current Parawings.
Do you need to swing the wing to gain power?
No. A Parawing's lines are too short, typically 1.3 to 1.8 m depending on size: making the wing oscillate in the wind window, like on a long-line kite, doesn't work. Don't confuse this with pumping on the wing, which remains a useful movement, especially at takeoff. Once airborne, power comes from the wing's position in the wind window and the bar.
Is powering up the same thing as accelerating?
Powering up increases power, which allows you to accelerate, but the foil must also be airborne for speed to climb.
Why is my wing going backwards?
You're pulling too hard on the back of the bar. Rebalance your pull toward the front so the wing returns to its place in the wind window.
Does depowering close the wing?
Not if it's controlled. An abrupt depower can lose tension and cause a collapse.
Where should I position the wing to start?
On one side of the wind window, where it pulls in a controlled way. The zenith is where the wing pulls the least, reserve it for managing a maneuver.
Does flying change depending on wing size?
Yes. The smaller the wing, the more responsive it is: be more precise with your weight distribution. A larger wing is more forgiving.
Jibe or tack, what's the difference?
A jibe goes Downwind, a tack goes upwind. Both change tack, but by opposite paths.
Why do I fall on the jibe?
Most often due to lack of entry speed, or because the wing loses power at the wrong moment in the turn.
Why can't I take off on waterstart?
Most often due to lack of speed or power: power up more and let the board accelerate before you raise up.
About the author
Bruno Sroka is a triple world champion in Kitesurfing and Kitefoil. Cape Horn crossing (2008), English Channel record (2012), France-Ireland 444 km link (2013). Former PE teacher, he is the founder of SROKA Company, a Breton brand of Foil, Wing foil, SUP and Parawing, and the designer of the PushBar System®.
To understand the physics: why it moves forward and why it stalls. Useful definitions: wind window, Line set / bridle system, Angle of attack. Choosing your equipment: how to choose your Parawing. After the session: maintain your Parawing. Discover the FYNIX Parawing.
