Slackline

Many think that Slacklining is a modern day version of tightrope walking and in many ways that’s an accurate assumption. If that is so the tightrope has come a long way from a thin rope or wire stretched tightly between two end points. Today’s slackline, as the name implies, has less tension giving the line more flex. The flex adds more bounce and enables the athlete, (often called slackers), to perform some daring and unbelievable tricks and jumps.
The origin of slacklining came about by when a couple of young rock climbers attending college in Olympia, Washington found it great fun to walk the lengths of heavy chains that were strung between metal posts around campus and the Olympia area. The idea of stringing 1 inch webbing between trees and benches struck the two as a better surface than the twisted links of steel chains. Once the young men started using the webbing their sideshow antics went from simply walking to bouncing, juggling, clubbing, (toss wooden pins between individuals on the same slackline), and further developing a wide array of crowd pleasing tricks.

The new sport of slacklining spread like wildfire through the climbing community. It was a way to pass the time around basecamp and hone in balancing skills. Today slacklining has diverged to a variety of styles .

Tricklining . low to the ground, running, jumps, one leg balancing, knee drops, bouncing

Waterlining . used over a pool or body of water to practice new tricks

Highlining . at high elevation above ground or water, with or without protection leashes

Tunelining . slacking with playing musical instruments

Slackline Yoga . stretching, balance, meditation

Freestyle . aka rodeo slacklining, typically using very slack lines that swing and can be a few feet and up to 30 feet off the ground.

The sport of Slacklining has evolved to World Championship competition and World Record status. Records include the longest slackline, longest free solo highline, and the highest slackline.

Slacklining is fun, improves balance and coordination and does a number on your core mid section. It’s something the whole family can do, well maybe not your great grandmother. But give it a shot at backyard parties and when out on a group campout and it certainly doesn’t have to be done in a more than a few inches above the ground. If you’re a daredevil type kick it up a couple of notches. Next time you head over to The Lake think about stringing a slackline, believe me you’ll have fun, probably get wet and get a workout just make sure you string it high enough so not to decapitate boaters.

Granite Chief carries two models of Gibbon slacklines.

The Jib Line x13 . Trampoline style webbing is thin and dynamic maximizing power for tricks and is the official WSFED approved slackline for world wide competition. $89.99

Classic line x13 . slackline-specific webbing great for walking and beginning trick slacking $69.99