Sunday Favorites: Slacklining

Joshual Mauro slacklining in Lamb Park

PALMETTO -- Driving by a local park and noticing someone levitating between two trees might seem like an exceptional spiritual phenomenon, but the vision is becoming more regular thanks to a physical activity called slacklining.

It is no wonder that the hobby is gaining popularity in the Tampa Bay area -- one can get a core aerobic workout, have fun and descend into meditation all in one session.

”People are fascinated by it,“ said Joshua Mauro, a slacklining enthusiast. ”They come up to me all the time and ask if I’m training for the circus.“

Slacklining is theoretically similar to tight-rope walking, only the line is flat, nylon and less taught. It is a considerable contrast to the rigid round cable that people have been walking on for centuries. Walking on these sagging straps takes more skill and focus, but is more accessible since all that is needed to engage are two trees and a ”line.“ It can be practiced in the backyard, on college campuses, in city parks and even hundreds of feet above the ground.  

Components of a slackline

Common setups include simple friction methods, using wraps or webbing between any sort of adjustment hardware like a ratchet or carabiners. Packages range in price anywhere from $50 to $150 depending how advanced the system is. Primitive kits come with no instructions and require a helper to pull the line tight.

There are several styles to practice. The first being lowlining, which is the most common and most creative, probably because participants are low to the ground. One can do tricks like ollies, turns, walking backwards, drop knee, freestyle and anything else that comes to mind without running the risk of serious injury.

”It helps me with all the sports I like – surfing, skimming, and skateboarding. I get used to bending my knees and staying on top of the board. It helps with balance and correcting your body when you are about to fall,“ said Mauro.  

Mauro doing an "ollie"

Highlining is for the more daring enthusiast and is done at a greater elevation. Most of the time a harness or safety line is worn for protection. Waterlining is slacklining above any body of water and is considered to be a good starting technique since falling is not as unfavorable.

”Climbers are big into it,“ said Hal Thureson, one of the owners of Vertical Ventures climbing gym in Tampa. ”The two go hand and hand. Kids come from all over the state to participate. Some take their straps up to north Florida and high-line over sinkholes and springs.“

Another form of is yoga slacklining. The practice utilizes poses from traditional yoga but is more challenging than the customary method because combines balance, focus, core work and as Mauro points out ”breaking barriers in your mind“.

“The slackline really helps me relate with life. You have to have a good balance of everything in your life. Relationships and friendships, nutrition, addictions (good or bad), work, and alone time to yourself. Too much of one thing will pull you down and make you fall off the line,“ said Mauro.

For more information or to take a slacklining class, contact Mauro slackking@live.com.