By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
How about an adventure with a view? Parasailing combines parachuting and sailing into a high-flying water sport, thrilling for anyone seeking an adventure. Unlike parachuting, participants don’t face jumping a long distance. A motorboat tows participants by a safety harness attached to a parasailing canopy that works somewhat like a parachute. Their ascent and descent is gentle and doesn’t necessitate going in the water. Most tours allow a child to ride who is accompanied by an adult.
After going over the safety rules, tour operators and crew typically take a group of 10 to 12 participants out in the motorboat. One, two or three may parasail at a time.
A few venues in New York offer parasailing.
• Parasailing Adventures (Shoreline Cruises, 2 Kurosaka Lane, Lake George, 607-272-7245, www.lakegeorgerecreation.com) offers views of Lake George at over 300 feet in the air. Participants launch off the boat and land on it, too, so they need not get in the water unless desired. Both reservations and walk-ins are welcome. $75 per person for the 8 to 10-minunte flight and hour-long boat ride.
• Parasail Joe’s (7 Christie Lane, Lake George, 518-668-4013, www.parasailjoes.com) boasts the “longest tow lines on the lake.” The equipment can accommodate three fliers and they need not get wet. Rides last about 8 to 10 minutes, and the boat ride varies from 30 to 60 minutes. $75 per person; pre-sale tickets are $10 off.
• Montauk Parasail (Star Island Yacht Club, Star Island Road, Montauk, 631-377-1831, https://montaukparasail.com) provides views of Lake Montauk, The Long Island Sound and Atlantic. The 90-minute adventure (including boat ride) is $99.00 to $149.99.