Slacklining - a new kind of extreme
Slacklining (from the English terms slacker - idler; or slack - to loosen, slack and line - line) is a sport that involves walking on special webbing or ropes, tensioned between fixed anchor points (well-secured objects). Unlike tightrope walking, which uses a taut, round-section cable, slacklining uses straps of varying widths and structures for different purposes, but these straps are not fully tightened. The balancing techniques employed in slacklining also differ significantly from those used in tightrope walking.
The origins of slacklining
As is often the case, this trendy sport was discovered completely by accident in the early 1980s in the United States (Yosemite National Park in California) at a climbing site. During times when rain or other reasons made climbing impossible, young climbers began walking on parking lot chains.
Enthusiasts—whose names are now known, Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington—then came up with the idea of using climbing equipment webbing for slacklining, moving this pastime to climbing camps. From there, it gradually spread from one climber’s camp to another, eventually gaining popularity across the globe.
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Today, slacklining can be considered a trendy sport, although it’s not only practiced by athletes but also widely used in fitness. Indeed, walking on a slacktight rope develops coordination, concentration, and a sense of balance. It’s no coincidence that slacklining is incorporated into training regimes for skateboarders, equestrians, climbers, skiers, and other athletes who benefit from these skills.
Typically, slacklining involves nylon straps ranging in width from 2.6 to 6 cm or metallic cables with a diameter of 3 to 6 mm. The activities include not just walking but also running, jumping, and performing a variety of tricks.
Various types of slacklining
Highline - the strap at a height
Trickline or Lowline – As the name implies, this is the “low strap,” where the rope is set at no higher than hip level. This makes setting up the attraction easier, but soft padding (like sand or grass) is essential in case of falls.
Longline – A “long strap,” with distances potentially exceeding 100 meters. Here, the primary challenge is endurance and attempting not to sway the strap.
Freestyle line, also known as rodeo – The name says it all: the strap is very loose, making both keeping balance and walking extremely challenging. Few tricks are performed here; the goal is simply to cross the line. It’s said that once you conquer the rodeo line, longlines are no longer intimidating.
Highline – A strap at significant heights. This is a sport for the strong-willed since starting heights are no less than 3 meters, and there’s virtually no upper limit.
Waterline – A strap stretched above water. Here, options vary: if the water isn’t particularly deep, walking is the focus. Only in deeper waters can complex jumps on the strap be attempted, as falling into deep water is less dangerous for the athlete. Competitions become more intense if the strap is stretched over flowing water, which distracts the walker’s focus.
Waterline – slacklining above water
Jump line – Jumping on the strap. This is an especially young slacklining discipline, only about 6 years old. The strap is tensioned as it would be for lowlines, but it’s more elastic, designed specifically for jumping. Here, the focus isn’t on distance covered (rarely more than 15 meters) but on performing tricks such as spins, flips, and jumps from the strap to the ground and back. Typically, several layers of straps are used, all of which must come into play during the performance.
Darkline or Nightline – This involves walking the strap in the dark, where athletes must rely solely on their hearing and balance.
Rope Jumping Did you know that rope jumping originated thanks to a mountaineer who fell from a height but had excellent safety gear?
You can learn about rock climbing and its variations in another article of ours .
The fingerboard gets its name from “finger” and “board”—essentially a “skateboard for fingers.” Learn more here .
Tricks in Slacklining
Slacklining is not just about walking
The simplest tricks include walking, 180- and 360-degree turns, kneeling on one leg, and progressing to dancing moves and eventually mastering complex acrobatic elements.
Like any sport, slacklining has its own international federation (World Slackline Federation) and, since 2010, has held regular competitions judged by competent panels. These judges assess the difficulty, variety of tricks, execution technique, jump height, and the overall visual appeal of performances. Competitions are held at various levels, ranging from city championships to world championships.
On August 13, 2006, in Norway, on the Kjerag plateau, a world record for height was set—Christian Schou walked across a slackline suspended 1,000 meters above a gorge.
Slacklining is a fantastic way to build character, develop physicality, and regularly get an adrenaline rush. The key is ensuring that professionals handle the organization, assembly, and securing of equipment. When done right, it’s all fun and no risk.
Video
Walking a slackline at great heights, as you now know, is called highlining. But this time, the team came up with something extraordinary: walking a slackline between two hot air balloons! Watch the video to see how it turned out:
