Excuse Me, While I Kiss the Sky
Parasailing Just the Ticket for High Times
By Greg Smith
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In "Rocket Man," Elton John sings of being "high as a kite." Maybe he's been parasailing. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a human kite, parasailing is your answer. Dangling from a strap seat and hooked to a speedboat hundreds of feet below, parasailing enthusiasts experience not just the rush of acrophobic adrenaline, but the awesome serenity of unpowered flight, an experience usually reserved for birds. Excited? I bet, but hang loose for just a minute, while I show you a few of the ropes.

Parasailor I went on my parasailing excursion while visiting the Bahamas. This particular company was operating in Port Lucaya, Grand Bahama, but rest assured, anywhere there are tourists and a body of water, there will be parasailing. There was an office on the island that the company worked from, but we didn't need to find it. At any given moment, there was someone roaming the streets signing people up for parasailing, jet skiing, snorkeling and anything else you'd want to do on the island. So don't worry about finding parasailing; it'll find you. Just make sure you get a straight answer from your salesman and some sort of ticket or receipt for your money, as there will always be a few shady characters in any tourist trap. Speaking of money, most trips cost between $20 and $30, depending on where you are. If it's any more than that, try bargaining the guy down. If that doesn't work, look around for a better deal.

On my trip, we were taken to a floating platform about a half-mile off the beach. Through an ingenious rope-and-pulley system, they had it worked out so that the rider takes off and lands right on the platform, never touching water. As I stood in line, they explained some safety precautions and gave some tips for smoother landing, which I recommend listening to (I didn't, and I landed hard). Soon, it was my turn. I was strapped into a harness equipped with a belay attachment (a type of safety hook). As the boat passed the platform, the previous rider was unhooked, and I was hooked onto the boat's 300 foot rope. I heard the boat engine rev, and in seconds I was hundreds of feet in the air.

The experience was simply exhilarating. I could see for miles out, or I could look down and see the bottom of the ocean. Being towed in a parachute was a strange sensation. I was sitting in a harness, yet dangling from a parachute above, and I was being pulled forward by a rope. But once I got over the weirdness of it all, I just sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the ride.

Even if the ride wasn't exciting, the landing alone would be enough of a thrill. As I mentioned earlier, I landed right back on the platform I took off from -- and believe me, from up there, it doesn't look all that big. They hooked my rope onto a pulley, and as the boat drove away from the platform, I was drawn right to it, and fast. If you pull the right way on your chute, you'll come in softly. I didn't do that, so I hit the platform pretty hard. I didn't hurt myself, of course; I just looked like a dork. In most cases, common sense is enough to avoid hurting yourself parasailing.

I got unhooked and boarded the boat to return to the island, my heart still pounding. I left wanting to do it again, which I consider the mark of a really great ride. Now you can experience it too. Just a few words of caution, though. Always ask around to see if the parasailing company you're going to use is reputable. Ask if any package tours or agencies use it, and check a tourist information center to see if the company is listed and known to be legitimate. And, if you do parasail somewhere other than the U.S., check to see what that country's laws are pertaining to tourists, and what, if any, liability insurance is required of the parasailing companies. I don't know anyone who has gotten hurt, but if something did go wrong, you might be surprised to find that there's nothing you can do about it legally.

These are just precautions, however; Chances are you won't run into a fly-by-night company, especially if you do a little homework. I had a blast, and, if you want to be high as a kite, you will be!