Parawing aspect ratio

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1

What’s the deal with parawing aspect ratio?

I’m riding a north ranger which is a dog up wind but great low end, it is noticeable fatter than a lot of other brands. There are obviously a lot of other factors in brands etc. But new to the world of kites/paras and don’t really understand them yet.

does aspect ratio impact parawing capability? Is it a major factor when you’re buying a parawing? Is this something that I should try to comprehend as a new parawing submissive?

AR obviously has a huge part to play in foils and is probably the first thing I look at when demoing or trying new wings after the initial look of them.

share your thoughts as it’d be great for first timers to have a thread to delve into, I sure wish there was one when I started

2

In kiteboarding higher aspect kites sit further forward in the wind window (less drag), typically go upwind the best, have the most float while jumping, but turn the slowest.

Low aspect kites sit farther back in the wind window (more drag), drift better on slack lines, have more lowend grunt, don’t go upwind as well, but turn faster.

High aspect kites “pull” you upwind and low aspect kites “drag” you downwind.

For flat water and jumping I grab a high aspect kite and in waves I grab a lower aspect kite.