What you need to know before jumping on the parasailing bandwagon

Parasailing first hit the scene in the 1960s as a tool to impart training to military pilots on how to manoeuvre parachutes. Later, it became a popular recreational activity for people across the globe. Kerala too has many destinations that are ideal for parasailing. But it may be noted that parasailing, like any other sport, has a certain degree of risk attached to it, and the other day a tourist fell into the sea while parasailing on the Hawa beach in Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram district.

It is indeed noteworthy that bad weather and technical glitches contribute to parasailing accidents. In the Kovalam incident, the tourist fell into the sea pointing to the fact that either the wind was not strong or the traveller might have tried to dip legs in the sea waters. As the person who fell into the sea knew swimming and the parasailing staff swiftly reached the tourist, a major danger was averted.

Let’s take a lowdown on what every tourist should keep in mind before embarking on a parasailing expedition.

Wind

Strong winds can be a challenge to parasailing as the chances of losing control and falling into the sea are pretty high. It is always judicious to check the weather report of the place where you are planning to go for parasailing beforehand.

Emergency water landing

This can also happen. In rare situations, the parasailors are forced to land in water due to myriad of reasons. If you land in water with great force, you can’t rule out the chances of getting injured.

Problems with parachutes

The parachutes help parasailors to literally float on air. One can lose control if there are glitches or holes in the parachutes. An emergency landing is inevitable in such situations.

Faulty towlines

Undoubtedly, the lifeline of parasailing is the towlines that attach parachutes with boats or any other vehicles. Faulty towlines can cause serious accidents while parasailing. The towlines are prone to wear and tear due to constant use and this can result in the ropes losing strength significantly. So it is better to check the toughness of the towlines before literally flying high.

According to a report of the Sport-Statistics.com, parasailing doesn’t feature on the list of 15 most dangerous sports in the world. But one has to keep in mind that parasailing is not devoid of risks. You can parasail safely if requisite precautionary measures are taken.