Parasailing is a sport that has flourished in popularity over the past half decade, particularly on ocean resorts where the wind is amenable and there is ample room for speedboats. Essentially, the parasailing participant is strapped into a harness that is attached to a paraglider wing and pulled by a speedboat, allowing the participant to catch the wind and float effortlessly into the sky. The person who is parasailing is then pulled along the coast and out over the ocean while flying with the parasail.
While parasailing looks relatively easy and harmless, the number of accidents, injuries and deaths have risen dramatically in the past decade partly due to the fact that the sport is significantly under regulated. Injuries are mostly due to violent, unexpected winds, and equipment failure that causes the parasailing traveler to be dragged into trees, into buildings, and even into deep waters. For this and other high-risk sports, you should consider adventure sports coverage.
