How to Slackline! - Falcon Guides

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Slacklining was once relegated to the select few climbers who had the knowledge and gear to rig a slackline from scratch. Today slackliners come from all backgrounds. The introduction of easyto-assemble slacklines has transformed slacklining from an obscure offshoot to a full-fledged, modern extreme sport. However, while the mass production of slackline kits has produced a new generation of highly skilled balance athletes, it has also left those athletes ill-equipped to think critically about slackline rigging and to manage the full array of rock climbing gear needed to safely construct a longline or highline. I was lucky enough to be part of a community of rock climbers and slackliners that were, at the time, pushing the limits of slacklining, but it still took me years to learn the ins and outs of slackline rigging. Today I know just about every trick there is to rigging and walking slacklines, but the majority of that information is still passed from slacker to slacker by word of mouth and remains difficult, if not impossible, to learn without the help of an experienced slackliner. Owing to the infinite variety of slackline styles and locations, no book could ever cover every specific slackline rig. Each slackline is unique, the materials and methods determined by the nature of the anchors and style of the rigger. The purpose Introduction Jordan Tybon walking a highline in the Fisher Towers, Utah ix of this book is to explain the applications of the most common slacklining gear, and to put in simple terms the time-tested techniques for rigging safe, walkable slacklines in a variety of environments. There is no “right” way to rig a slackline. American highline guru Terry Acomb describes the phenomenon like this: “If you ask four different slackliners how to rig something, you’ll get five different opinions.” Slackline rigging is not a standardized practice. The type of line you rig will be determined by the type of line you like to walk. That’s what makes slacklining so wonderfully personal, and so difficult to learn. Each line is customized by the slackliner who rigged it. Talking with other slackliners about rigging preferences is one of the best ways to learn more about slackline rigging. Studying this book will give you the tools to weigh in on slackline rigging discussions and form opinions of your own. How to Use This Guide Slackline rigging and walking are progressions that go hand in hand. This guide moves through slackline concepts in ascending order of complexity and difficulty, assuming that the reader has no prior knowledge of slackline gear or rigging techniques, and working up to more advanced rigging and
Once slacklining was for experts only. Today children are one of the biggest sectors of the slackline community. Kids as young as 2 and 3 can enjoy bouncing on the line with their parents. walking by building on concepts explained in earlier chapters. Start by learning how to walk a lowline, then get familiar with slackline gear and start rigging your own lines. More advanced slackline walking techniques are paired with chapters about rigging advanced lines. You don’t even need to think about how to walk a highline until you can confidently rig a good longline. This guide includes all the technical information you need to make informed decisions about what gear to invest in, including detailed descriptions of what gear is out there, what will work for slacklining, and how to use some of the newest innovations in slackline gear. What follows is a set of guidelines that provides a framework for safe slackline rigging illustrated by real-world examples and photos. x Introduction You will learn how to build a custom line that reflects your personal walking style while adapting to the specifics of any given location. You will learn how to build safe slacklines and to judge what is safe enough by evaluating the consequences of failure. You will learn how to make your rigging safer as you master longlining and highlining, in that order. If you are looking for information on a specific topic, including knots, flip to the glossary and knots index in the back of the guide. Ethics Slackliners have a special relationship with trees. No matter how good you get at slacklining, you will always be able to find a pair of trees that challenge your abilities. The problem with trees is twofold: (1) They are alive, and (2) somebody owns them. City officials across the United States are debating the slacklining issue because of the potential for damaging trees in public parks. One of the major goals of this guide is to set a standard for rigging that makes it easier for public officials to condone slacklining. Slackliners need to understand that our lines put a great deal of force on trees, and can damage or even kill trees that are too small. Even big trees need to be padded before affixing anchors. You don’t have to be a hippy to care about the trees, pad your anchors, and police your friends; if you don’t, slacklining could be banned in your hometown. The second best slackline anchor, after trees, is a set of bolts. It’s easier to place a bolt than it is to think creatively about how to use natural anchors. Unfortunately, bolts are permanent, and slackliners may unwittingly put bolts in a taboo location (such as in the middle of a climbing route or within sight of a hiking trail). Use this guide to learn alternate methods of rigging. It is considered extremely poor style to place a bolt where you could have rigged to a boulder or tree instead. Talk to someone at the crag to learn local customs, and research the rules and regulations of
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