Slackline, literally "loose tape", is a sports discipline that is gaining more and more popularity. Slackliners balance on a belt suspended at any height, while doing spectacular acrobatics. Sounds complicated? Only in theory, because slackline can be practiced by everyone, even children!

Slackline- some call it art, others call it sport. It only depends on us for what purpose we want to practice slackline - it can be treated as a way to strengthen the muscles, also the deep ones, because moving along the belt suspended between two fixed points requires a lot of fitness and is a great training for the whole body. However, avid slackline amateurs train themselves in performing spectacular tricks and tricks that arouse great interest from outside observers.

How was slackline born?

The cradle of slackline is the United States. It was here in the early 1980s that Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington began to walk on the chains surrounding the parking lot, then they turned them into climbing ropes, and finally - to the belts that are popular today.

Slackline came to Poland around 2006. Slacker competitions organized in various cities and public demonstrations of their skills contributed to the increase in its popularity. Although this discipline is still very young in our country, there are more and more people willing to learn to balance tape.

There are three basic types of slackline:

  • trickline- a tape with a length of several to several meters is hung at a height of several dozen centimeters. It is an acrobatic version of slackline - a tightly stretched belt is characterized by high elasticity, thanks to which you can stand out on it up to a height of 2 meters. Trickliners perform various stunts: somersaults, bolts or so-called "Bounce", i.e. bouncing off the tape with individual parts of the body and balancing on both or one hand.
  • longline- a tape with a length of several dozen to even 150 meters allows you to travel long distances. Contrary to appearances, this variant is as difficult as trickline, because the vertical and horizontal fluctuations of the belt are very large and it is difficult to keep the balance. The current world record for longline distance is 384 meters!
  • highline- the most chillingblood in the veins variation of slackline. The tape is suspended up to several dozen meters above the ground. Highline requires mountaineering skills and, due to the risk of falling from a great height, additional safety lines in the form of safety lines. This is the most spectacular variety of slackline.

Advantages and effects of slackline

Slackline has many advantages, the most important of which are:

  • balance exercise - balancing on a shaky belt perfectly develops the sense of balance. You may feel insecure at first, but regular training will help your brain's hemispheres work together better. It is their interaction that will help you keep your balance and not fall off the belt while walking;
  • perfect muscle training - slackline engages all the muscles of the body to work. Walking on the tape especially strengthens the legs, paraspinal muscles and the entire shoulder girdle;
  • a way to relieve stress - slackline brings not only physical but also mental benefits. Experienced slackers emphasize that there is no better way to relax. During training, you focus only on maintaining balance, which allows you to distract your thoughts from everyday problems and reduce the level of stress. You also learn to control your fear and deal with your own limitations. After walking the entire length of the tape, you will not only feel satisfied, but you will also believe that you can do a lot.
Worth knowing

Slackline and walking on a rope

Slackline is often confused with tightrope walking, although the two disciplines have little in common. You can see it at first glance - in slackline you use a wide belt, the parameters of which are strictly defined - it is supposed to be 2.5 or 5 cm wide. The traditional rope on which circus acrobats walk is narrower and tighter, which results in less vertical and horizontal deflection. Walking on the tape, we shake more, but we also exercise the muscles of the whole body.

Who is slackline for?

Seemingly slackline seems to be a discipline aimed at a small group of extreme sports fans. But this is a wrong impression. Everyone, regardless of age and level of physical fitness, can try their hand at walking on the tape. Even small children can learn Slackline - it is not only good physical exercise for them, but also great fun. Adults can also have a lot of fun learning this difficult art, which also improves agility and coordination.

Slackline requires breaking down internal barriers in the form of fear of heights and possible falls.The first steps on the tape are usually very uncertain, and at the back of the head the thought is "no, it's impossible, I will not do it!" Experienced instructors, however, know effective ways to get used to the new situation, so it is worth starting learning to walk on the tape under the supervision of a professional.

How to start growing slackline?

Today, informal groups of fans of this discipline operate in almost every major Polish city. Many groups have their own Facebook profiles, so it is worth doing some research on the web first. It is enough to contact representatives of a given community and ask about the possibility of training. More and more often in individual cities, on the occasion of various cultural events, free slackline trainings are organized. Some of them must be registered in advance by completing and sending a special application form to the organizers. You can follow the training information on the profiles of slacker groups, e.g. Slackline Lublin or Warsaw's DwaDrawy.

This will be useful to you

Price of slackline equipment

There are also several stores with professional slackliner equipment on the Internet. You can get the original tapes and accessories needed to practice "slack" there. The beginner's kit costs about PLN 100-150 and includes a full set of tools needed to start your adventure with this discipline. Thanks to the attached assembly instructions, you can easily start training walking on the belt, e.g. in a nearby park or between trees on your own plot.

If sport is not only an effort for you, but also an opportunity to have fun, be sure to get interested in slackline and join the slacker community in your area!

Category:

Summer sports