Parasailing in paradise, Billing

Billing is a beautiful adventure spot in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is rated as one of the best gliding sites in the world. Not only is it blessed by nature and beauty, it is a perfect launching pad for hang-gliding and paragliding. Adventure sports enthusiasts from all over the world flock to Billing during the month between September to November, when the winds and climatic conditions are cent percent favourable. Located at an altitude of 8, 500 feet in Kangra valley, it offers 100 kms of up and down, and cross-country flights. Billing is also famous for yet another adventure sport, that of Para Sailing. Billing also has the distinction of holding the first ever paragliding competition according to the rule of the Federation Aeronautique international, which makes this place fit to hold more paragliding championships in future. Billing Valley is based in Mcleodganj, Dharamsala, Himachal and Bir - Billing at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. The Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Himachal Pradesh organises the 'Para Gliding Pre world Cup' at Billing- Bir in the month of October.

Parasailing, also known as parascending, or "parakiting" is a recreational kiting activity where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed canopy wing that reminds one of a parachute, known as a parasail wing. On land or over water the manned kite's moving anchor may be a car, truck, or boat; parasailing just by kiting in heavy winds is highly discouraged. The boat then drives off, carrying the parascender or wing and person into the air. If the boat is powerful enough, two or three people can parasail behind it at the same time. The parascender has little or no control over the parachute.

There are six parts of a parasail. The harness attaches the pilot to the parasail, which is connected to the boat, or land vehicle, by the tow rope. The activity is primarily a fun ride, not to be confused with the sport of paragliding. There are commercial parasailing operations all over the world. Land based parasailing has also been formed into competition sport in Europe. In land based competition parasailing, the parasail is towed to maximum height behind a 4 wheel drive vehicle and then releases the tow line and flies down to a target area in an accuracy competition. The sport was developed in the early 80's and has been very popular ever since. The first international competitions were held in the mid 80's and continue to run today.

Source - Wikipedia

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