When people think of Yosemite National Park, they imagine tall trees, granite cliffs, and winding paths. But did you also know Yosemite is also the origin of slacklining? This exhilarating kind of training involves amazing attention, strength, and balance. It’s the same things you need at a live dealer casino. Attempting to step foot on a slackline makes their accomplishments even more astounding.
It takes a lot of strength to climb smooth granite surfaces. The first slackliners were dissatisfied rock climbers trying to occupy their spare time. Yet, as with most new hobbies, the beginnings of slacklining did not include a slackline kit at all. Athletes would instead walk along the chains spread across the national park. After the sport gained popularity, corporations developed the slackline webbing we know today.
Breaking Down Slacklining: What Is This Sport?
Walking over slackline webbing attached to two endpoints, or anchors, is the sport of slacklining. Slackliners performed on materials that were accessible rather than the tight ropes used today.
The best slacklines nowadays consist of nylon webbing. Most businesses provide slackline kits that include many of the sport’s essential components. These include a ratchet to draw the line tighter than conventional setups allow. Without a complete kit, a slackline needs two anchor lines. You also need carabiners and climbing-grade rappelling rings to secure the slackline to the anchor. Cloths or other cushioning are also necessary to protect the vegetation, and the nylon slackline itself.
The Origins of Slacklining
Slacklining is a new activity, having begun in Yosemite National Park in the 1960s. Climbers stood on parking lot chains and ropes. They found that their stability and core strength increased as a result.
However, Adam Grosowsky is often credited with modern slacklining. According to legend, Grosowsky was a Southern Illinois student who came to the renowned Yosemite Valley to ascend in the early 1980s. Grosowsky and his companion, Jeff Ellington, had before expressed interest in walking on ropes. They were allegedly motivated by an image of circus artists doing acrobatics on a tightrope. Moreover, they were known to establish their balance on cables and climbing ropes.
During their journey, the duo stopped at Camp 4 and installed a piece of tubular webbing. Grosowsky and Ellington were among the first to walk on this smooth webbing after balancing on ropes and chains. The pair even tried to walk over a 55-foot-long steel wire connecting the Yosemite massif to Lost Arrow Spire. While none of them succeeded, bystanders were encouraged by their efforts.
After leaving Yosemite, the two proceeded to slackline, promoting the sport and perfecting stunts. Due to Grosowsky and Ellington’s innovation, many others opted to try the new sport. In the instance of Scott Balcom and Chris Carpenter, they elevated it to a whole new level. Balcom and Carpenter moved on to design the spire line. This was a new activity made up of a highline and a leash that connected the player to the line. The duo’s first real attempt at “The Arches” took place in Southern California.