Tightrope walking? Meh. Slacklining is where it’s at.

The sport of slacklining is a new-fangled version of tightrope walking. Slacklining is compared to tightrope walking because of the general idea of walking on a piece of material suspended between 2 points. Slacklining is greatly different from tightrope walking mainly because it is done on a flat piece of webbing (usually about 2” wide), while tightrope walking is done on a metal cable. Tightrope walking also involves a highly tensioned wire, while slacklining is done on a piece of webbing that has much lower tension, which can be changed quite easily.

It is said that slacklining was invented in the 1970’s, in the Yosemite Valley, a popular destination for rock climbers. The sport originated because the rock climbers were often bored during their down time at base camps, so they started walking on railings, parking lot chains and ropes hung between trees. They soon discovered that the flat webbing used in climbing was far easier than walking on the rounded climbing ropes, and that is how slacklining became what it is today.

    Slacklining on its own would seem difficult enough, but many variations of the sport have been invented. Slackline Yoga was invented recently and is becoming all the rage. In Slackline Yoga, yoga poses are held while balancing on a slackline, with extreme amounts of concentreation and strength required- it is not recommended for beginners. Urbanlining is the most common form of slacklining, involving simply learning to walk the slackline. Tricklining involves a stretchier piece of webbing than used in classic slacklining. In tricklining you use the stretchiness of the material to bounce off the slackline and do aerial tricks. Waterlining simply involves setting the slackline up over water making it an easier place to learn how to do tricks. Freestyle slacklining is when a 15- to3 0-foot piece of webbing is set up with no tension on it, allowing it to swing freely and wildly. Slacklining has been proven to have many benefits, the more obvious being improved balance and core strength. There are other benefits that may be overlooked though- posture can be greatly improved, as well as concentration.   

I personally have slacklining experience- I received a slackline for Christmas. I found it to be very difficult at first, and frankly, quite frustrating (I spent a lot of time on the ground in my yard.) After spending more time slacklining, I found that it became relatively easy to get roughly to the halfway point of the line before there was too much wobble. I also observed that when slacklining my mind would become very clear and calm. For me slacklining certainly helped relieve the stress of day-to-day life.

Slacklining is a great sport for those interested in maintaining their balance, or regaining it. It is a great sport to simply get you outside and moving. At Wander on Whidbey, we carry Gibbon Slacklines, you can find a link to their website here- http://www.gibbonslacklines.com. Also, make sure to check out the Gibbon Facebook page; http://www.facebook.com/GibbonSlacklinesUSA

Happy Slacklinin’,

Jack