AUBURN — They describe it as liberating and challenging all at the same time — a true test of one's ability to mentally focus while maintaining constant balance on a line a little less than 2-inches wide.
Emily Sukiennik, of Concord, N.H., balances on a slackline at center court in the Auburn Mall on Monday afternoon.
Emily Sukiennik, of Concord, N.H. balances on a slackline at center court in the Auburn Mall Monday afternoon.
Visitors to the Auburn Mall on Monday try out one of the newest extreme sports, Slacklinning, that was set up at center court.
Emily Sukiennik, of Concord, N.H. balances on a slackline at center court in the Auburn Mall Monday afternoon.
Michael Payton of Boulder, Colo., balances on a slackline at center court in the Auburn Mall on Monday afternoon.
Visitors to the Auburn Mall on Monday try out one of the newest extreme sports, Slacklinning, that was set up at center court.
Emily Sukiennik, of Concord, N.H. has some fun on a slackline at center court in the Auburn Mall Monday afternoon.
Visitors to the Auburn Mall on Monday try out one of the newest extreme sports, Slacklinning, that was set up at center court.
Oh, yeah — there's also that element of thrill-seeking danger when you string that same little yellow line — which looks very similar to those ratchet straps you use on your car — across a ravine 3,000 feet deep.
Welcome to the world's latest extreme sport — slacklining.
"It took me out of my daily life and gave me something to challenge myself and something to focus on," said Emily Sukiennik of Concord, N.H. "People just really like (slacklining) because it's a combination of your mind and your body and people just really like it because it's a fun challenge."
Sukiennik and her partner, Michael Payton of Colorado were at the Auburn Mall Monday in hopes generating interest in the Twin Cities. The pair work for Gibbon, which manufacturers slackline kits that start at $80 for a basic setup. The two were in town to help raise awareness about the sport and allow people to test the company's equipment, which is now being sold at Percy's Burrow in the mall.
"It's fun. You get to bounce around and it's really bouncy," said Norliyana Menes, 10, of Buckfield, who spent hours at the demonstration area set up on the mall stage. "You really have to concentrate. In the beginning, it's hard."
Slacklining is a balance sport using nylon webbing stretched between two anchor points. Developed in the 1980s by rock-climbing enthusiasts, the sport differs from tightrope walking because the line is not stretched taut. Instead, the line has a bit of "slack," making it dynamic — stretching and bouncing like a long and narrow trampoline, Sukiennik said.
In most instances, the line is strung low to the ground between two trees several feet apart.
Thus, the name — slacklining. There are a wide range of variations to this combination of strength, balance and coordination — including a favorite pastime practiced by both Sukiennik and Payton known as highlining.
Highlining takes slacklining to all new heights — literally. The extreme sport involves walking a slackline across ravines. The deepest for the two Gibbon experts is 3,000 feet.
Percy's Burrow owner Laurie St. Pierre said she hopes to bring the demonstration back again this fall. Like Sukiennik and Payton, she agrees that the sport could take off in much the same way that skateboarding and snowboarding did years ago.
"Once they try it, they fall in love with it," St. Pierre said. "It's a great exercise. You can do it in your backyard."
Report a correction
In order to make comments, you must verify your account.
In order to comment on SunJournal.com, you must use your real name and include the town in which you live in your profile. A member of our staff will call you to verify this information. To join in, fill out your user profile completely and check the box "please verify my status." We'll get back to you within one business day to verify your account.
Login or create an account here.
Our policy prohibits comments that are:
- Defamatory, abusive, obscene, racist, or otherwise hateful
- Excessively foul and/or vulgar
- Inappropriately sexual
- Baseless personal attacks or otherwise threatening
- Contain illegal material, or material that infringes on the rights of others
- Commercial postings attempting to sell a product/item
If you violate this policy, your comment will be removed and your account may be banned.