Why I Changed My Mind About Parawinging

When I first tried parawinging a couple of years ago, I honestly wasn't convinced.

Coming from kitesurfing and freestyle, where everything revolves around jumps, tricks and progression, parawinging felt... strange. I couldn't really understand what made it so exciting.

After I got the Lotus in my hands, I finally had a reason to spend more time on the water with my Parawing — and now I'm hooked.

What makes parawinging unique isn't jumping or freestyle. It's the freedom.

Instead of constantly managing a wing or kite, you simply use the Parawing to ride upwind. Once you've gained enough height, you pack it away or hold it with one hand and simply surf your foil downwind.

That feeling is incredibly different from wingfoiling or kitesurfing.

Why Parawinging Is So Much Fun

One thing I immediately noticed is that parawinging is almost never frustrating.

Even on days without proper waves, it's still fun.

With a larger foil, even small wind chop becomes enough for enjoyable downwind runs. On better days with real waves, you simply switch to a smaller foil and enjoy longer surfs.

It means you don't need perfect conditions to have a great session.

That's probably my favorite part about the sport.

Lotus Parawing Overview

I've been riding both the 3.2 m² and the 4.0 m² Lotus.

Most of my sessions have been on the 4.0 m², which quickly became my everyday choice.

Compared to earlier generations of parawings, several things immediately stood out:

• Huge wind range

• Excellent upwind performance

• Very stable in turbulent wind

• Precise steering in the wind window

• Lightweight and simple

Overall, it feels like a significant step forward compared to the first generation of parawings I used back than.

Wind Range

One of the biggest improvements is the usable wind range.

Older parawings often worked well only within a very narrow window. Once the wind dropped slightly, getting onto the foil became difficult. A few knots more, and they already felt overpowered.

The Lotus is much more forgiving.

For me (83 kg), the 4.0 m² works comfortably from approximately 14 to around 22 knots, depending on the foil I'm using.

That wider range makes it much easier to decide which size to rig and allows for longer sessions without constantly changing equipment.

Upwind Performance

The main reason I use a parawing isn't for tricks.

I use it to get upwind.

This is where the Lotus impressed me the most.

The upwind angle is significantly better than what I experienced with the other parawings. Getting back upwind requires fewer tacks, making every downwind run longer and more enjoyable.

For me, that's exactly what this sport is about.

Stability

Because a parawing flies much lower than a kite, it constantly experiences turbulence close to the water.

A stable flight performance is therefore extremely important.

The Lotus remains remarkably stable, even in gusty conditions, while still responding precisely to steering inputs.

It stays exactly where you want it in the wind window, making the whole experience feel much more controlled.

Choosing the Right Size

Many people ask which size they should buy.

A simple guideline is to compare it with your wingfoil setup.

As a rough rule, choose a parawing that's approximately 0.5 m² bigger than the wing you normally ride.

For my weight (83 kg), I currently use:

• 4.0 m² as my main size

• 3.2 m² for stronger winds

There is also a 4.8 m², but personally I don't feel the need for anything larger because smaller parawings are easier to pack away while surfing, which is one of the biggest advantages of the sport.

Board and Foil Setup

If you're just starting out, choosing the right equipment makes learning much easier.

I recommend using:

• A board with approximately the same volume as your body weight (for example, an 80 L board if you weigh 80 kg) or bigger.

• A large front wing to get flying early.

Once you become comfortable, you'll quickly find yourself using the same foil sizes you already ride for wingfoiling.

Personally, I currently ride front wings between 850 cm² and 2000 cm², depending on the conditions.

Is Parawinging Worth Trying?

Absolutely.

Even if you don't have perfect waves, the sport is incredibly enjoyable.

Small chop is already enough to have fun, and the feeling of surfing with almost nothing in your hands is unlike anything else.

For me, parawinging isn't replacing kitesurfing or wingfoiling.

It's simply another discipline that adds something completely new to foiling.

If you've been curious about it, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.

Final Thoughts

The Lotus Power Wing is a huge step forward compared to other parawings I used so far.

Its wide wind range, excellent upwind ability, stable handling and compact design make it a fantastic choice for both beginners and experienced riders.

Whether you simply want to enjoy relaxed downwind runs or make the most of small conditions, parawinging opens up a completely new way to experience foiling.