Rappling is a quick way to descend a difficult rock by relying 100% on your equipment: harness, gear, anchors, and rope. It can be invigorating with good instruction, or terrifying if your gear is not set up properly. This is the only time you're completely dependent on the gear, so you need to know all the different ways to safely set up a rappel or trust that your instructor knows how to. At crags or sport routes, most times there will be a top bolt you off of -- again, check the quality of any and all anchors before setting off. Rappelling is the process of coming down from a mountain that is usually done with two pieces of rope. Use ...cCullohs inventions are: 1971 Stationary Platform; 1972 Motorized Platform; 1974 Winchboat; 1985 Skyrider Chair; 1994 Auto Rope Guide ; 1999 Riser Line Assembly The United States Patent and Trademark Office have issued McCulloh the only patents ever granted related to commercial parasailing methods and equipment. One of the highlights of McCulloh’s last invention “the Riser Assembly” inspired NASA’s new X-38 Crew Rescue Vehicle. McCulloh’s innovations, inventions and operating techniques continue to advance safety within the parasailing industry and have set the standards by which the majority of operators follow. Many of McCulloh’s accomplishments have been aired on worldwide Television & Print Media, such as Good Morning America, Inside Edition, Fox News NBC, LA Times, New York Times, Miami Herald just to name a few.

The first towed parachutes were developed by Pierre-Marcel Lemoigne in 1961. Lemoigne is a well known developer of ParaCommander-type of parachutes known as "ParaCommander" or PC-canopies that were derived from free fall parachutes. The date of the first towing of a parachute (parasail)is not known, but one of the first mentions is a flight by Colonel Michel Tournier from France flying behind a tractor in the same year - 1961. In 1963 Jacques-André Istel from Pioneer Parachute Company bought a license from Lemoigne to manufacture and sell the 24-gore parachute canopy he had developed for towing which was labelled as a "parasail".

In early 1974, Brian Gaskin designed, created and tested the first purpose made parasail which was a 16-gore canopy design which he named "Waterbird". The Waterbird was revolutionary in its canopy design, its unique tow yoke harness arrangement its construction and the use of zero perosity fabrics which allowed it to be used over water safely. The majority of commercial parasail operators utilise the 16-gore canopy design that was derived from Gaskin's original invention. In 1975 Gaskin founded his company Waterbird Parakites which is still in operation today, producing commercial and recreational 16-gore parasails worldwide.

Mark McCulloh of Miami, Florida is the original inventor of modern day parasailing equipment beginning with the world’s first stationary parasailing platform in 1971,
His innovations, inventions and accomplishments within the parasailing industry are broad in scope with a focus on improving the safety of parasailing through equipment design.

McCullohs inventions are: 1971 Stationary Platform; 1972 Motorized Platform; 1974 Winchboat; 1985 Skyrider Chair; 1994 Auto Rope Guide ; 1999 Riser Line Assembly
The United States Patent and Trademark Office have issued McCulloh the only patents ever granted related to commercial parasailing methods and equipment. One of the highlights of McCulloh’s last invention “the Riser Assembly” inspired NASA’s new X-38 Crew Rescue Vehicle. McCulloh’s innovations, inventions and operating techniques continue to advance safety within the parasailing industry and have set the standards by which the majority of operators follow. Many of McCulloh’s accomplishments have been aired on worldwide Television & Print Media, such as Good Morning America, Inside Edition, Fox News NBC, LA Times, New York Times, Miami Herald just to name a few.