Parasailing, also known as parascending, is a recreational activity where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a parachute. The parascender has little or no control over the parachute. The activity is primarily an amusement ride, not to be confused with the sport of paragliding.
Land based parasailing has also been formed into competition sport in Northern Europe and especially in Finland. In land based parasailing the parasail is towed behind a car or a snowmobile. In accuracy competitions the tow-vehicle controls the speed and height and the person flying the parasail controls the parasail sideways. The competitions consist of two parts: dropping/throwing a streamer to a target and accuracy landing. The sport was developed in the end of 1990's and it's growing fast. First international competitions were held on 2004.