Slacklining refers to the action of walking, jogging or balance-sailing on a tensioned length of fixed webbing between two fixed anchors. Slacklining is very similar to tightrope walking and slackline walking. The main difference is that in slacklining, you do not have to balance yourself while walking; your hands are merely acting as props. The style of slacklining that most American surfers learned involves standing on a log or other anchored object like a tree stump with one end of the line connected to the nose of the lure, while the other end is attached to the hanging from of the slackline. The object of the activity is to get above the surface of the water and “walk” back to shore.
Tricklining is a completely different sport from slacklining, but shares many of the same principles. Trickliners perform tricks on highlines that have been purposely designed to be surfable by hand instead of using a leash. For the most part, this means that trickliners are riding highlines that are off the ground, but are still attached to the same kind of holds as traditional surfing. There are many different tricks that can be done on highlines, but the most popular are the kickflip, and the reverse kickflip.
A slackline and a trickline are similar in many ways, but they differ primarily in length. A slackline is usually approximately thirty to fifty feet long, and works well for longlines going down hill or up steep hills. On the other hand, a trickline is usually between fifty to one hundred feet long. Tricklines work best when tied in tandem, so if you want to learn how to surf a highline, learning to tie in a trickline will be much more beneficial than trying to surf a slackline. On the other hand, if you want to learn how to surf a longline, then you may prefer the versatility of a slackline.
One of the main differences between slacklining and climbing is the method of climbing. When a climber uses a rope, he or she makes use of one leg to hold onto to, whereas slacklining requires no such attachment. Climbers use both hands to hold onto the rope in order to balance and climb. Slacklining climbers do not have to worry about balancing, and since no actual hands are attached to the rope, the risk of falling while slacklining is practically non-existent.
Slacklining and waterlining complement each other in many ways, but there are some notable differences as well. Waterlining works better when there is plenty of surface water, whereas slacklining works better in mud, sand, and other non-natural surfaces. The style of climbing involved with slacklining and waterlining is also different. Waterlining is often done without a protective harness, whereas slacklining requires one. Additionally, waterlining tends to work better in large bodies of water, while slacklining can be practiced virtually anywhere.
There are a few different styles of slacklining out there today, but they all basically work on the same principles of holding on to a rope and tying in a loop at the end. Slacklining comes in two varieties – walking and standing. Walking slacklining involves simply walking forward, balancing on one arm, then holding onto the rope with one leg. This walking style is often used by those who just want to do some laps around a lake, pond, or river. Those who have been walking for a while, on the other hand, use walking slacklining to challenge themselves and get a good workout in.