Parascending

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. The activity of being towed behind a boat while suspended in the air by a parachute-like apparatus
2. A water sport that combines elements of parasailing and ascending
3. A form of recreation that involves flying high above the water while being lifted by a parachute tethered to a vessel

Etymology: Parascending is a blend of "para-", the prefix taken from "parachute" (and "parasail"), and "ascending," meaning rising upward. The result describes the activity of being towed behind a boat while hanging beneath a parachute-like canopy that lifts the rider into the air. The "para-" element carries the idea of the parachute, and the "ascending" half supplies the sense of climbing skyward as the boat pulls the canopy up. Because the term is built from two familiar pieces, it needs no special history to be understood. The blend simply joins the names of the apparatus and its motion into a single word for the sport.

Synonyms: parasailing, parachuting, skydiving, gliding, hang gliding