Minimalism and The Emergence of Freestyle Slacklining

11-18-06

"In art, man reveals himself and not his objects."

-Rabindranath Tagore

One of the things that prevents people from taking up slacklining is the complexity of traditional setups. Although they can be straightforward for a seasoned climber, all of the knots and metal hardware involved can be a little overwhelming for the uninitiated. The emergence of freestyle slacklining is doing a great deal to make the sport more accessible, and to help establish the practice within the larger matrix of yoga, meditation, and freestyle sport.

Setting up a freestyle slackline is a casual process. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. Take a sixty foot piece of 1" tubular nylon webbing and tie a six inch loop in one end. Use the loop to hitch the line to a tree roughly seven feet up the trunk (see first edition of Slackline Magazine for a discussion of how to protect our trees), and then drape it so it hangs about a foot and a half off the ground. Tie the other end at the same height using a quick-release knot so your body weight won't make it too difficult to take down. By adjusting the distance between the tie points and the knot heights you can explore a huge variety of line profiles.

This "slack"line environment is characterized simultaneously by its simplicity and multi-dimensionality. Although outwardly minimal, this type of setup offers limitless possibilities for both static and swinging moves. Personal expression and the development of new ways of interacting with the line is the heart of the practice. While it offers no place to "get to," it presents methods for discovering what is possible. It is "freestyle" in the most unlimited sense.

While the most progressive moves being sent on freestyle and rodeo lines these days are extremely challenging, it also somehow manages to keep a certain approachability. Lacking the "bite-back" of tight-lines, it is ideal for children. Being lower to the ground it is also safer - you will likely not need to take advantage of that new life insurance you just bought. Since it is so easy to set up and remove you can practice alone without the trouble of the scene surrounding the session. This makes is much easier to bring the practice into daily life.

Much like the way bouldering opened up the sport of climbing, the emergence of freestyle slacklining is opening up our practice. The inexpensive and straightforward setup, combined with the increased dynamics of a looser line, will hopefully continue to inject our sport with new progressive energy and bring the benefits of balance to an ever increasing number of people.