Parasailing, also known as parascending, is a recreational activity where a person (two or three people may also ride at the same time) is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a parachute. The boat then drives off, carrying the parascender into the air. The parascender has little or no control over the parachute. There are 5 parts of a parasail. The harness attaches the pilot to the parasail, which is connected to the boat, or speeding form of transportation by the tow rope. The activity is primarily an amusement ride, not to be confused with the sport of paragliding. There are parasailing locations all over the United States and the world.

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 at the end of 1990s and is growing fast. First international competitions were held in 2004