Parawing & Competitions

Downwind Foil
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Figured I would start a dedicated thread on this topic as it has come up a few times. Here’s my take - this “how do we incorporate the explosive consumer parawing interest into racing?” I’m not sure it’s necessary, and I feel like trying to incorporate upwind racing, and downwind stowing is a bit contrived. Here are a few ‘cleaner’ alternatives:

  1. Compact-kite racing: Allow the full expression of it (double skins always deployed) as a more compact version of kite racing that has potentially to be more interesting to watch due to closer proximity tacks, gybes, slalom etc that is harder to bring to life on TV with traditional foil kite racing. Size limits on parawing area and line length (i.e. a box rule) would force larger foils and boards, while keeping riders and their parawings in frame for spectating and video.
  2. [MY FAVORITE] Bring DW Freestyle & DW Race closer to spectators. Open up a GKA style event by allowing competitors to quickly lap and shred between gates at locations like The Hatchery. You could have freestyle (e.g. similar to the head to head video Josh Ku made) or racing (wing must be stowed between start finish), but would sacrifice the big journey racing format for something closer to drag-race/NASCAR (e.g. Elimination rounds would take fastest async times, final would be head to head 1v1). Competitors wouldnt be required to get back upwind via parawing, but it seems like it would facilitate the heats well. Parawing is totally incidental to isolating unpowered riding close to shore, or in the best conditions. It essentially brings surf-foil competition to additional locations.
  3. Leverage Parawings for dw paddle race safety + adventure. Parawings haven’t yet been incorporated into safety requirements (e.g. Waive a boat requirement for M2O if you have the standard wingracer kit - Garmin+PFD+phone → Paddler’s could have the same backup if they carry a parawing). There’s also just an awesome opportunity to invite casual adventurers into these sports via parawing, whether that’s supported crossings w/ Parawings, or multi-day circuits down the Brazilian coast with parawings.

I just don’t see a practical way to enforce or score mixed parawing + gliding, or determine how to score someone coming off foil in one of the complex parawing courses as proposed so far. The middle #2 above seems like it’s doable at the Hatch, or Treasure Island SF, and eliminates a boatload of logistics that make downwind races a bit of a chore.

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Weight class of rider where PW size limits tailored for the wind strength.
The reason the wing races are never flagged is because they all ride 6m wings while I’m sure they could get on foil with 3m wings.

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I think it would be cool to have a regatta style course for parawings and have it in some bumps.

Certain sections of the course you’re allowed to have the parawing deployed, other sections (downwind & side wind) you have to have them stowed.

Shorter course, multiple laps.

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I agree with Zarb and think the obvious rules to keep it true to the nature of parawinging would be a couple of runs between downwind point A to upwind point B, but you’re not allowed to have the parawing in the air while going downwind from B to A, perhaps you even need to have it in your stash belt. If you crash you have to go back upwind to B (or a somewhat shorter distance) before stowing and going downwind again. Something like this would really challenge all aspects of parawinging and keep development focused on the needs of general riders. Anything with the parawing always in the air would just be an inferior version of kite foil racing.

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This is a great post, and likely the best thought out take on this I’ve seen

I’m pretty anti this as a thing as mentioned here because it will just look like more GKA stuff, but because it is cheaper, less technical it could be more fun. I’d enforce a strict “stock car” aspect to this, where everything is strictly locked down to remove the money aspect, and the speed, and just make like dinghy racing with short stacked laps that keep the field together. Kite foil racing where they tangle kites just looks stupid so this could be a good solution to make it more interesting and accessible.

I’d still guess the kite GWA crew will try something here when they need something new

This could work, and I think likely the best format. In the Hatchery or Maliko this could make sense, with a 1km gate and drones to follow.

  • Freestyle would have limited broader appeal unless it includes straps, Ridge Lenny example, to make it at least look interesting from the drone. Otherwise more fluid surf style? I dunno, it all seems rather soon to start forming judging criteria on this. Must you ride a bump? Points for airs? Points for backflips? Straps vs no-straps? All gets a bit confusing to the viewer.
  • Racing
    • Sprints, which would be interesting, but maybe a dull. They did flat water sprints at AWSI, which looked interesting, a 1km race would be pretty dull I think, but hey why not. They do sprints on every other craft.
    • Course, as @Zarb describes, basically like GWA wing racing where they have the pump section, but make it 70% stowed to make it slightly less sailing oriented.
  • Wave riding - this could be interesting, as it removes the need to chip in, which opens up more locations. Waves like Cape Verde would be super interesting, and a huge improvement on the winging.

If you are in a spot with less steep bumps, or short or no waves then this becomes much less interesting, but likely always possible so would make a good standard format.

In short, doing something that encourages riding like Jack below seems worth doing, seems a pity that it isn’t happening at the Gorge this year

This to my eyes is the only thing that will appeal to the broader intermediate public as participants, and also the only thing that is inherently interesting to the outsider in my opinion because of the novelty.

multi-day circuits down the Brazilian coast with parawings

:backhand_index_pointing_up: only thing I’d pay money to attend.

Hopefully there is a way that the existing downwind events add PW as an option to their formats. I’ve sold my 8’11 DW board, likely will have shifted all my racier foils. I could still paddle up at a push, but less convinced I should maintain that skill.

I know that almost none of the DW crew would be interested in anything but this last option as attendees. Everyone on the attendee side is looking for an adventure not a chore

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Some interesting perspectives on instagram, @shep with the best insight I’ve seen so far

Honestly, the fun of the sport is stowing and deploying. Making that part of racing pushes manufacturers to build better wings for it — good for the sport, good for all of us.

Super interesting point. The race format should align with what people want to do when not racing so that the gear gets better for freeride… :ok_hand: stowing, durability, reliability etc

But then that also means going upwind better, more performance, better range, better angles.

So maybe the “enduro” style makes sense, but with the balance of the time spent downwind, and emphasis on surfy bumps.

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One option would be to actually choose a course that has natural wind shadows (near a land mass, such as the inside at Crissy Field) where you almost certainly would want to stow it.

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Cool idea, definitely appeals. I also like the idea of going through a surf zone where if you leave it open and you fall you’ll break it.. the idea of having natural gates and boosters is cool

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I put together some rules for a casual competition a while ago, but I’m way too timid a person to actually organize it. The idea was for a short course roughly 200m between markers. Casual evening racing once a week - no defined start time. Just show up and find the person with the clock & clipboard. If anyone wants to set something up in their area, please go ahead and use these - tell me how it goes:

General Rules:

Basic courtesy rules & priorities still apply, we are sharing the river. Don’t ruin it for other people, especially for those not participating. When sailing on opposite tack, the starboard rider has right of way. When sailing on the same tack, the leeward rider has right of way. Riders sailing powered should give way to unpowered riders on swell. Don’t expect that everyone will know these rules, ALWAYS do everything you can to avoid a collision, even if you technically have the right of way. Make eye contact, and try to make your intentions clear.

You can start an attempt at any time within the event window (2 hours), make sure you’re registered with the timekeeper before you go out onto the water.

You have 2 attempts per event, they can happen at any-time during the event window, so make sure you forecast conditions and choose wisely (do you hedge your bets and spread out your attempts, or do you trust that the conditions will improve / decline and throw your eggs into one basket?). Your final time is the average of your attempts.

To keep the peace with other river users, to make sure we can accurately track participants, and to encourage cheerleading, we will limit the amount of people on the course at any one time.

The timekeeper will try to keep an eye on participants, but this is honor-based rule enforcement. Don’t be a doorknob and intentionally break the rules - you’re just kicking puppies at that point.

The course is intentionally kept short to make it casual, to allow for spectating, and to give equal weight to a variety of skills - pumping, bump riding, upwind angles, jibes/tacks, packing & redeploying.

The Course

There are two markers, which are white fishing net buoys upwind and downwind of the Point - partially in the eddy closer to shore. Keep note of these two buoys because they will be important for the following explanation (obviously we will not run the event if there are nets out).

The start is a “running start” and is the only time on the course that you may have the parawing deployed in between the two buoys while travelling downwind. Racers will warm-up in the area upwind of the downwind buoy, then give a thumbsup to the timekeeper that they are about to start. Make sure the timekeeper sees you and gives you a thumbs up that they are ready to write down your start time. Racers then sail downwind past the buoy (passing in between the buoy and the shoreline). The time starts once the racer passes downwind of the downwind buoy, and they can begin the upwind leg.

There is no course boundary on the upwind leg, you can go as far out into the river as you would like. It just depends on wind conditions, swell conditions, your expertise in manoeuvers, etc. Strategize accordingly. (Tip: Make sure you know beforehand where all the weed is!).

You must sail upwind PAST the upwind buoy. Give yourself enough room upwind, because you must have your parawing stowed by the time you pass downwind of the buoy.

(Tip: This buffer zone will be different for everyone - depending on your skill in stowage, the conditions on the day, how well you can multitask (you might have to pump around the buoy if conditions aren’t huge!)). (Extra tip: you may have to stow your parawing further out in the river where there are better bumps to stow your parawing neatly, then surf/pump your way over to the buoy to round it).

In-between the two buoys riding downwind, you must have the parawing stowed. This means “hands-off” and not being used for propulsion. Stuff it under your shirt, put it in a belt pouch, down your pants, etc. We are intentionally keeping the definition vague to allow for some creative ways of stowing. We may change the definition depending on how “creative” people get…

On your downwind leg, there will be a mix of pumping and swell riding depending on conditions and your foil choice. You can choose to hug the shore (more pumping, potential weed issues?), or you can go further out into the river for some swell (less pumping, save energy for multiple laps!).

If you fall during the downwind leg, you have two choices (pick wisely, depending on where you are). You can redeploy your parawing, BUT if you do you must go back around the upwind buoy and re-stow as a penalty. OR you can prone paddle to the downwind buoy with no penalty and redeploy as usual.

Once past the downwind buoy you can redeploy your parawing and begin your upwind leg again.

1 Upwind leg & 1 downwind leg constitute 1 lap. Your time stops when you’ve completed the required number of laps (which means an attempt will finish with a downwind lap - parawing stowed).

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Love this! These are great rules. This would be fun to do in the surf too!

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If you want to see the future of the sport, look at what the kids are doing. Sorry old dudes, that’s how it works (i include myself)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOyq60QiasI/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOxX-rZDqui/