Slacklining in FiveFingers

Slacklining? All you need is flat, nylon webbing stretched tightly above the ground between two anchor points, and you have the beginnings of a slackline adventure. The idea is to exercise balance by walking across the contraption. It's similar to a tightrope although much more dynamic allowing for increased movement and potential for some big tricks, an opportunity to strengthen core muscles, build balance, and have a good time. Youtube reveals many fluid slackliners stepping confidently down the webbing. For me, it was more like brief moments of violent shaking and awkwardly catching my balance while fumbling to the ground. Slacklining is a lot harder than I expected.

While humans have tested their balance high above the ground for thousands of years, slacklining is relatively new. California climbers, Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington, are the ones usually attributed to the introduction of the sport in the early 1980s. They were known to practice their balance on the loose chains and cables alongside parking lots. It didn't take them long for them to find ways to set their own dynamic tightropes with their climbing gear. They were the first to set up a 55 foot line across at Yosemite's Lost Arrow Spire in 1983, 3000 feet above the ground. Neither of them made it successfully across, but Scott Balcolm made it across on webbing in 1985. Since then, slacklining has grown to a very accessible level, from backyards to worldwide competitions.

Gibbon provides slacklines in different colors, weights, and lengths depending on whether the customer wants something for children or beginners, for advanced moves and stunts, for waterlining, or for traveling. I ordered my slackline from Gibbon, a 75 foot long 2 inch wide webbing resembling something you would pull a truck out of the mud with, bright yellow with red stitching down the middle. Gibbon calls this their 'Classic' slackline. The difference between the slackline I purchased and a tow rope was both the length and the handy loops on either end allowing for quick set up. A simple ratchet enables a single person to taught the line satisfactorily. 

Although it was cold and muddy, my daughter and I couldn't wait to put our slackline skills, or rather lack thereof, to the test. We borrowed some trees in an empty lot across the street and set up. I have to admit that my best time of 4 seconds was pretty unimpressive, lots of seizure-like movement and falling, but we had a great time. Just minutes after setting the line, neighborhood kids flocked. The chill in the air didn't matter, all one and a half dozen of them vied for a turn. In fact, every time I have set the line up since, others are attracted, a great social activity.

FiveFingers and slacklining? I really don't have enough slacklining experience to comment on the pros and cons of  using VFF on the webbed tight-line. There may be benefits to having a flat sole such as a skate shoe. I have seen many videos where this is exactly the type of footwear used. I have also seen videos of  barefoot slackliners, even videos of slackliners in FiveFingers. In fact, the latest video I watched was of Andy Lewis making his way across the Lost Arrow Spire in his bare feet with no safety. If he felt safer barefoot, there might be something to using my minimalist footwear. I'll keep working on it.