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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, no it’s Parasailing
First of all, I’m a flying junkie! I love everything about flying, the take-off, the landing. I love big planes, little planes, helicopters and parasailing. The first parasails came from France in the early 1960’s. The first towling of a parasail is unknown. Mark McCulloh of Miami, Florida is known as the original inventor of modern day parasailing equipment. Since the 1970’s, he has come up with many inventions, equipment advancements and safety advancements for the sport of parasailing.
So just what is parasailing? You sit on a platform of sorts hooked to a boat with a small parachute holding you up in the air. I participated in Hawaii. Here you take off from a swim platform in a bay. Many other locations you take off from the beach. Whether you fly or not is totally dependent on the weather. If there is no wind or too much wind or just plan crappy weather, you will not fly. Hawaii is a perfect location.
I was brought out to the swim platform via small motorboat. On the platform, you are hooked up into the riding platform. For me it was little more than a big harness attached to a small seat, kind of like a swing. The parachute, attached to the harness was laid out behind me on the platform. I was positioned at the edge of the platform farthest from where a motorboat idled at ready.
I was told to lean back into the seat of the harness. When the boat took off, I was to run the length of the platform and then I would be pulled into the air. They yelled at the driver of the boat and it took off. I did just as they said and poof! I was airborne! right off the edge of the platform, I just popped up into the air.
It was fabulous. You are up there with the birds, out in the open. I guess I would compare it to being on a bicycle compared to being in a car. You are “one with nature”. Of course being in Hawaii helped, the scenery was gorgeous. During my ride, the boat slowed down and I began to sink. Looking around, I began to panic a bit. I was out over the ocean, no platform in sight. Pretty far away from the beach. Were they going to pick me up in the boat? But my panic left when the boat picked up speed and I was popped back up into the air again.
Feeling comfortable, I decided to play around a little. I pulled on one of the harness cords and I swung to the right. This was fun. I did a little more of this, but the boat was turning around and I knew I was headed back to the platform. All too soon the boat slowed and I once again began to lower towards the water. They managed to drop me just on the far side of the platform. This way, the parachute landed on the platform and remained dry.
I would have done it again if it wasn’t so expensive. I may have been with the birds and had views as if I was in a plane, but I was really up in a parasail. A must do for all.
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 am
You must not have fear of heights. What an adventure.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:56 am
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June 26th, 2009 at 12:24 am
Loved your latest post, by the way.