The world of surfing is currently experiencing a radical return to its roots: harnessing the pure energy of the ocean. Whilst wing foiling has become increasingly technical, the Surf Foil World Tour (SFT) has introduced the Parawing Downwind format, a discipline that combines maximum efficiency with minimal use of equipment. It is no longer simply a matter of keeping a Parawing aloft in the wind, but of making it disappear at the crucial moment.
The concept: versatility is the top priority
The SFT race format is designed to identify the ‘most well-rounded rider’. A Parawing race is not simply a sprint from A to B, but a tactical course that tests a range of sailing and foiling skills. A typical course consists of a combination of upwind, half-wind and downwind sections, culminating in the ‘Stashed Downwind’ section.
The technical challenge begins with the material itself. According to the SFT Rulebook 2026, parawings must be ‘stashable’ (stowable) and ‘self-launchable’ (capable of launching themselves). This means that the athlete must be able to stow the parawing safely on their person or in a bag whilst riding, and relaunch it when necessary – for example, after a fall or for an upwind section. There are currently no minimum or maximum size requirements for boards, foils or parawings, and the regulations give competitors free rein in this regard: even prototypes are expressly permitted, which is fuelling innovation within the scene.
Parawing: A game with the elements
The layout of the race courses is highly flexible and is adapted to local conditions, wind and wave conditions immediately prior to the event. Hug Chardon Fabra, Race Director for the SFT Downwind Parawing World Cup Cabarete 2026, held as part of the Cabarete Wing Fest, explains the philosophy behind the course design: “The route really does depend a great deal on the specific location and the conditions there – and, of course, on the equipment you’ve got with you.”
In Cabarete, for example, the course led far out onto the ‘Outside Reef’ to give the riders access to the powerful Atlantic waves. The procedure there illustrates the task at hand: Following a start, which often begins as an upwind leg, participants must reach a specific buoy, beyond which the ‘Stash Zone’ begins. From this point onwards, the challenge changes fundamentally: the riders stow their parawings and switch to pure foil mode. In these downwind sections, any propulsion from the parawing is strictly prohibited; athletes may only propel themselves using wave energy or active pumping. The parawing must remain stowed at all times during this phase.
The ‘Stash’ challenge and crisis management
The greatest technical challenge – and at the same time the most spectacular spectacle for spectators – is the transition from parawinging to pure wave riding. Anyone who fails to stow their parawing quickly and safely will lose their balance or valuable metres on the wave.
But what happens if a rider falls in the downwind section? Here, the rules are fair but strict: a rider who has fallen has two minutes to get back onto the foil. They may use the parawing to regain speed, but there is one clear restriction: they must not make up any distance downwind. The rider must start across the wind, get back into foiling position and stow the parawing away immediately before continuing the chase after the waves. If this is not achieved within the time limit, the run is classified as a ‘Did Not Finish’ (DNF).
From the time trial to the final
To ensure fair conditions in the often tightly contested heats, the SFT employs a two-stage tournament structure:
- Time Trials (Qualifying): Individual time trials are often held at the start of an event. These not only serve as an initial assessment of form, but are also crucial for the seeding (the draw) of the subsequent knockout rounds.
- Elimination Series: The main event is contested using a knockout system. Riders compete against one another in various heats, with – depending on the Race Director’s announcement – usually the top two athletes progressing to the next round, until the winner is crowned in the final. Depending on the number of participants and the conditions, races may also be held with the entire field (Full Fleet) or split fields (Half Fleet).
Although beach races and technical slalom courses are important for versatility, the heart of the tour lies in downwind racing. In an interview, Fabra emphasises that the SFT deliberately adjusts the weighting of results to protect the essence of the sport: “Our vision is to develop Parawing events specifically with a high proportion of downwind racing.” To reflect this in the rankings, pure downwind races are often weighted with a higher factor, so that performance in these events accounts for a larger proportion of the overall standings.
Parawing at the Cabarete Wingfest
A clear example of how this format works in practice is provided by the SFT Downwind Parawing World Cup Cabarete 2026, which forms part of the Cabarete Wing Fest. Here, the race organisers opted for a ‘full fleet’ scenario, in which the entire field of competitors lined up at the start together. To emphasise the essence of the discipline, the overall classification consisted of six counted results: five so-called beach races and a downwind race covering more than 12 kilometres, which was given significant weighting through a factor of 3.
In Cabarete, the Beach Race course deliberately took the riders far out onto the outside reef to allow for the ‘Stash section’ in the Atlantic waves, before the course concluded with a technically demanding beach finish right in front of the spectators. This mix of tactical short races and the physical challenge of the open sea ensured that, in the end, only those who had mastered both their Parawing and the power of the waves stood at the very top of the podium.
Safety and Fair Play
Despite its competitive nature, the SFT adheres to ‘gentlemen’s rules’ and common sense. Dangerous riding or deliberate obstruction will result in immediate disqualification. Furthermore, safety equipment – comprising a helmet and protective vest – is compulsory for all participants. The right-of-way rules are based on classic sailing principles, with priority given to the leeward rider in overtaking situations.
Outlook: Parawing – a format with a bright future
With stops at iconic locations such as Cabarete and Lake Garda, the SFT demonstrates that the Parawing format works across a wide variety of venues – from the long swells of the ocean to the steep wind-driven waves of large inland lakes. The goal for the coming seasons is clear: the downwind component is to be further developed. By combining technique, riding skill and the conditions at sea or on lakes, Parawing is set to become one of the leading foiling disciplines.
Results of the SFT Downwind Parawing World Cup, Cabarete 2026
Men
- Bastien Escofet FRA
- Thomas Goyard FRA
- Maxime Lhuillier MEX
Women
- Manon Dupe FRA
- Nadja Bianchet AUT
- Martina Alonso ARG