Slacklining - give it a go

Slacklining has enormously helped me get through the tough times. It's a way of finding peace with yourself, tuning in with nature, mending the body from years of slouching in a chair (especially in covid times), and positively embracing 'struggle'.

As a disclaimer, I am not a professional slackliner, and currently moving on from basics to intermediate. Though, I have come some way on my slacklining journey and would like to share with you what I've learned to make things easier for anyone new who wants to 'hit the web'.

I remember getting it for my 15th birthday, taking 2-3 hours trying to learn how to set it up, struggling even to take one step on it, and always needing to hold my dad's hand for support. Following, those hard times I gave up slacklining. Until August 2020 that is, when I was bored at home with nothing to do. One day it popped into my mind. After 5 years or so stowed under my bed, I got the bloody heavy thing out and thought "I don't care how long it will take, you're gonna master this damn thing once and for all!". Most evenings from then on I went out with the slack. Even at uni, I aim to go out every other evening. Security hasn't said anything yet!

So, rooted in my painful struggle to learn this challenging hobby, I feel it is right for me to share with you a few things that might make your experience a wee bit easier.

1. Don't focus on moving your feet to start with. Rather, focus on stability and getting a good balance in different positions.

The good ol' saying, don't run before you can walk. Well, it applies very fittingly to learning to slackline. Although, in slacklining, you also don't wanna walk before you can stand. When you are first starting out, try just to get comfortable with balancing on the spot, using your feet and arms to counterbalance. Aim for at least 30s.

2. Don't expect yourself to be able to walk across it in the first hour, the first day, or even the first week. Slacklining takes a bit of time to pick up, though obviously, this does vary from person to person. I found those who can skateboard (i.e. got good initial balance) naturally pick it up faster. Slacklining teaches you to keep persevering. Keep trying. Because honestly, in the end, you will get there if you keep going. Believe me. Initially, I thought I would never be able to do it, but persistent practice overcame this mentality. I got addicted to getting back up from my 'failures' and finally walking. It's a learning curve, but a positive one.

3. It gets easier with practice.

No really! It does! I found after a while of slacklining, muscles that I hadn't used in god knows how long became conditioned and allowed me to balance much more easily. With regular practice, you will almost exponentially find it easier to move and stabilise yourself. And that wobble at the start will mind-blowingly vanish.

4. Arms up, head up, eyes on the prize. I'm sure you have gone to the zoo at some point. Have you ever seen how a lemur or gibbon balance along the monkey bridge? Copy that! Nature knows best. Arms need to be out, but not tight. Relaxed, but reactive.

5. Making things a bit easier...crank that ratchet and learn with a friend.

I tell you...I wish I had a friend to regularly learn slacklining with. It would have made a goliath difference in my first few weeks of trying it out. Having someone to support you, whether fully or passively, will speed up the beginner steps.

Crank up that ratchet too! It helps to learn on tighter slacks. As you progress you can slacken the slackline to add a bit more challenge and improve balance and mobility to an even more impressive level.

6. Position the slack lowdown.

Don't make the mistake I made, and position the slack so high that every other time you fall off (which you will do as a beginner excruciatingly frequently) it slams your nuts. Also, the grass is your friend. Nonetheless, you can slackline on concrete with flat shoes (for starting out though the grass is better).

7. Have fun! Have monkey madness.

Slacklining allows you to go full ape mode. To be primal for 30 minutes or so. You can finally be that monkey in a forest. So don't solely focus on getting to a particular point, or walking across it 5 times. Enjoy it...go at your own pace. Don't force the movement, and just see where it takes you. It's an opportunity to be in the present because trust me, looking at your smartphone whilst slacklining doesn't work!

When starting, you're rediscovering how out of balance you have become. But you will pick up this hidden instinct. Balance and mobility after all I believe is instinct to a large extent. Once you have the toolkit, instinct will sharpen your tools. After a time, slacklining will develop that instinct.

So now that you're armed with a couple of tips, I urge you to give it a go and join me in this amazing hobby and understand why slacklining is not just monkey business, but all-round feel-good mental and physical business.