It was less than a year ago that BRM released their first mainstream-worthy Parawing. The excitement was high, and our initial video discussing this new development on Maui quickly became one of our most viewed videos on YouTube. Interest was immense. At the time, there was only one product on the market, and word on the beach was that the owner and developer of the BRM wings had made quite a bit of money. That was the summer of 2024.
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At Stand Up Magazin, we’ve been closely following the evolution of SUP and foiling since the beginning. So naturally, the question arose: Will this Parawing phenomenon follow the same trajectory as other trend sports that originated in Hawaii?
The life cycle of these sports seems to follow a familiar pattern. First comes the honeymoon phase, where one or a few core brands spark a trend and establish proof of concept. Social media becomes flooded with content, and the excitement is palpable. Pioneers showcase what’s possible and push the boundaries. Then, the hype attracts more brands to the market—this is the second phase of Parawinging, the one we’re currently witnessing.
After BRM, ENSIS moved quickly and unveiled a market-ready product at the boot show in Düsseldorf this past January. Soon after, the ENSIS ROGER wing was available to the general public. We spoke with the team at ENSIS, and CEO Karl Müller told us that their rapid development was thanks to one of their product designers having a background in paragliding. That was just three months ago. It now appears ENSIS managed to stay ahead of the pack by only a few months—or even just weeks—as the market is quickly becoming crowded.
Balz MĂĽller sees in the Parawing the ultimate tool to combine all the best aspects of Wing Foiling.
Michi Näf sees many competitive disciplines coming out of the Parawing.
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Which brings us to phase three: market saturation. It’s the same question we asked ourselves about wings four years ago. Perhaps it’s time to compare notes from back then—but right now, the moment for that reflection hasn’t quite arrived.
4 years ago: Is the Wingfoil Market over saturated?
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One thing is certain: when it comes to Parawings, we appear to be heading in a familiar direction. The pace at which new products are entering the market is accelerating. Ozone launched their Parawing not too long ago, and another brand currently making waves is Duotone. Other recent entrants include Naish, North, Sabfoil, Gong, Element, Flow, and Takoon.
Prices range from $549 on the low end to an eye-catching $1,149 at the upper end—surprisingly high for a product that appears relatively simple. A Parawing uses less material than a traditional wing and is made up of fewer components. The most affordable option we found was from Gong, priced at just €299. Interestingly, they don’t call it a Parawing—they’ve named it the Lowkite. With the growing number of suppliers, we can expect and welcome a drop in prices.
This brings us close to phase four: The rise of OEMs. We saw a picture of a Kite on Decathlon that looked very much like a Parawing. We are sure it will be just a matter of time until big sport suppliers start to throw house branded products for cheap on the market. It’s clear that factories are now producing Parawings for various brands, and, as is often the case, just one or two manufacturers may be supplying much of the market. It’s only a matter of time before we see OEM brands launch budget-friendly versions.
The Counterpoint
While the evolution of Parawing follows a familiar pattern seen in other emerging sports, not everyone is on board. One notable skeptic is Starboard. In a recent conversation with the head of Starboard Germany, we learned that none of the brands within the Starboard group plan to release a Parawing. The same appears to be true for Armstrong, a leading name in foils and wings. For some companies, the TAM (Total Addressable Market) is simply too small. The traditional wing is already well established, and unless you’re deeply involved in downwind foiling or wave riding, it’s currently unclear whether the Parawing can truly compete with conventional wings.
As for us at the Stand Up Magazin—it’s still too early to say. We’re in the initial stages of this new foil-based sailing discipline. But one thing is certain: We’re staying on top of the topic and will continue to keep you informed.
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