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Slacklining is a sport or activity that is similar to walking on a tightrope. It utilizes balance, core strength and moving meditation (being aware of what you are feeling when your foot touches the ground as you walk) in order to get from one side of the nylon webbing to the other. The webbing is anchored on both sides, usually by trees, above the ground, but not pulled so tight to the point where there is no give to it.
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The activity originated around 40 years ago, but has experienced a massive growth in popularity over the past few years and has expanded to include variations of your typical slacklining: waterline, highline, trickline, yogaline and rodeoline.
Waterlining requires the webbing to be suspended over a body of water and is said to be more difficult than your standard slacklining because the movements of the water distort your visual sense of level ground.
Highlining is typically done between two cliffs. Despite how extreme the location appears, highlining is actually very safe because each highline has backups for their backups to ensure that if someone does fall, the most they will experience is a brief swing in open air.
Tricklining involves a stretchy webbing that gives the line a trampoline effect. This allows people to use gymnastics and acrobatics to perform a series of tricks on the slackline.
Yogalining combines yoga and slacklining so that participants are performing yoga poses while on the slackline. This increases the level of difficulty and many slackliners practice some form of yogalining.
Rodeolining has been developed both as a way to train for highlining and as its own version of slacklining. The webbing typically holds no tension so that it forms a U shape across two anchor points. The lack of tension creates a different type of challenge for slackliners.
CSU has an area behind Corbett Hall where people can try slacklining. But if you do want to slackline on campus or anywhere in Fort Collins, be sure to do your research on the rules that they have in place and try to practice leave-no-trace ethics.
