Why do parawing foil recommendations follow downwind SUP foils, not wing foils?

A parawing pulls horizontally and is stashed mid-ride, so the foil must lift early, glide with no power source and pump easily — the exact requirements of downwind SUP foiling. Riders size up versus their wing-foil kit.

What mast length for parawinging?

80 cm is the parawing consensus — enough swell clearance without the handling penalty of longer race masts.

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Interactive tool · Data from the foil research, sources published

Foil selector

A parawing borrows its foil requirements from downwind SUP foiling, not wing foiling: early lift, glide without power, easy pump. Pick your weight, level and water — get the front-wing band, aspect ratio and the models the research points to.

Front wing

1200–1500 cm²

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The criteria — and where they come from

First sessions: mid-aspect freeride foil, AR 7–9, 1200–1540 cm² — lifts early, turns easily, forgives mistakes. Best first-session choice on flat water.
Progressing to downwind: high-aspect downwind foil, AR 11–13, 1000–1300 cm² — longer glides between bumps, lets you size the parawing down.
Advanced, strong wind/swell: 700–960 cm² high-aspect; add a high-modulus mast once span exceeds ~1 m.
Waves: most parawing wave riders compromise on a "surfy high-aspect" wing that still pumps between waves, rather than a pure surf foil.
Weight: bands assume ~80 kg; under 70 kg aim at the lower edge, over 90 kg at the upper edge or one size up.
Mast: 80 cm is the parawing consensus.

Source: our foil research compiled from manufacturer specs and independent guides (Foiling Magazine, New Rock Surf's Axis guide, Code's parawing guide, Armstrong's UHA positioning), cross-checked against community reports. Model lists below are the research's named picks, not paid placements.