Slacklining is an extreme sport whereby the slacker walks, runs or balances along a suspended wide piece of webbing that is made from synthetic fibres. This piece of webbing is often rigged between fixed points such as trees or mountains.
Slacklining is similar to tightrope walking or slack rope walking, but what mainly differentiates these are the types of materials used and the amount of tension that’s applied during usage. Slacklining is an extreme sport with a number of variations, disciplines, and competitions. Learn more about this intriguing sport.
History Of Slacklining
Rope walking has been around for thousands of years but what set the tone for modern day slacklining is courtesy of a rock climber known as Adam Grosowsky from southern Illinois. He and Jeff Ellington were the first people who introduced the idea of using their rock-climbing gear to balance on, giving birth to slacklining to the climber’s camps in the valley.
In 2012, Andy Lewis featured in Madonna’s halftime performance where he slacklined. In 2016, Giovanna Petrucci had a slackline performance during the Rio Olympics on the Ipanema beach and attracted the attention of the New York Times. All these acts contributed to the popularization of slacklining.
Different Types Of Slacklining
Urbanlining
Urbanlining or also known as urban slacklining combines all the different slacklining styles. This type of slacklining is practiced in urban areas as the name suggests, examples include on urban streets or in city parks. Many urban slackers prefer slacklining on wide 5cm lines for tricklining on streets, but some can use narrower lines that are around 2.5cm for longline purposes or waterlining.
Tricklining
Tricklining has become the most popular form of slacklining because it is easy to setup 5cm slackline kits. Tricklining is mostly performed on low grounds, however, it can also be done on highlines too. Many tricks can be achieved on the lines. Basic tricks include walking backwards, drop knees, running on the slacklines, bouncing, and jumping too. Other tricks that are considered intermediate include sitting down on slacklines, laying down, surfing forward, cross legged knee drops and many others. It’s as easy as playing at Philippines casino for mobile, only you’ll need better balance.
Highlining
Highlining is a type of slacklining where it is performed at elevations that are above the ground or water. Many slackliners agree that highlining is the ultimate pinnacle of the sport. Highlines are commonly set up in locations that are or have been used for Tyrolean traverse. Highlining is extremely dangerous, so ensuring the safety of highliners is of the utmost importance. Most highliners wear climbing harnesses or swami belts with leashes that are attached to the slackline.
Slackline Yoga
Slackline yoga combines traditional yoga poses with slacklining. It is not easy to balance on a 2.5cm piece of webbing while performing some yoga poses. This type of slacklining is a great challenge that encourages focus, power, balance, breathing control, sitting postures and many more.
Rodeo Lines
Rodeo slacklining is the skill of being able to balance on a piece of webbing or rope between two anchor points are usually about 455 to 915 cm apart and 60 to 90 cm off the ground. This type of slacklining offers opportunities for being able to both swing and perform static manoeuvres. The rode line doesn’t have tensions in it, whereas the traditional slackline does.