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Slack
Lining
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Info and photos:
Matt de Vaal
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These
notes are intended to assist the beginner who has already
gained some knowledge of slack lining and is fully aware
of its risks. They are brief and not designed to be
comprehensive in any way. Ultimately slack lining is
a dangerous sport if practiced high enough off the ground,
and at the very least can result in crushed delicate
bits. One of the guiding principals of British climbing
and mountaineering is that it is the individual climber
is responsible for his or her own safety, and this should
probably go for slack lining too. If you can not accept
this then this site and probably slack lining in general
is unlikely to suit you. May we refer you to this
very interesting site instead!
Slack
line walking, or slack lining, is a sport of balance
concentration and relaxation.
Once you have mastered the basics you will be rewarded
with hours and hours of fun, and you will be amazed
at how addictive it can be!!
You can slack line alone where you can concentrate with
no distractions, or be part of a big social group, and
have lots of laughs watching your mates try it for the
first time. Ether way you will always attract attention.
Once
you can walk the line, you can progress to turning and
walking back, walking backwards, bounce walking along
the line, jumping on to the line, and sit down starts
on the line and try to stand up. There are loads more
tricks you can do, but you will have to figure them
out for your-self.
Your
slack line can be set up almost anywhere. All you need
are two anchors (preferably solid trees - try to use
some sort of tree protectors where appropriate to do
so to prolong the life of your line, and also protect
the trees you are using) about 10 to 15 metres apart
from each other with a nice grass landing in-between.
If you set up your line really tight you may find it
easier to walk on - try starting in the middle of the
line where the line doesn't move from side to side as
fast. However, slacker lines can be so much more fun,
with you really having to work hard to stop the line
from throwing you off. Turning and other tricks may
be more difficult too.
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