Slacklining is balancing and doing tricks along a suspended length of flat webbing that is tensioned between two anchors, most often trees. Slacklining was invented in the early 1980s by two Yosemite rock climbers, Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington. The webbing is from 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5cm) wide and made of nylon/polyester. It is similar to tightrope walking, though differs in the material used and the amount of tension applied (less tension on slacklines).
Slacklining is both a sport and art. As a sport, there is a Slackline World Cup and other major competitions. One of the most popular forms of slacklining that is practiced is tricklining, in which tricks such as running, jumping, sitting, knee drops, 180s/360s, flips, butt and chest bounces.
Related Sports
- Balance Beam — a female Olympic Games gymnastics event in which a gymnast balances on a narrow horizontal bar raised off the floor, while performing exercises.
- Rope Jumping (skipping) — involves a single person or more jumping over a rope that is being swung.
- Surfing — participants stand on a surfboard, and use the waves for propulsion.
- Sport Climbing — rock climbing competitions, can be Lead Climbing, Speed Climbing or Bouldering.
Related Pages
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
- Testing balance
- Top balance sports
- Training for balance