Mike May, who describes himself as “a climbing bum,” gave us a tutorial on slacklining, the sport in which people walk on not-so-tight ropes suspended between trees.
Set it up
Get a weekly dose of home and style inspiration
Subscribe to the St. Louis Design+Home newsletter to explore the latest stories from the local interior design, fashion, and retail scene.
The wider 2-inch slacklines are best for beginners. Find a couple of trees 10 to 15 feet apart. Using the loop at the end of the line, attach it to the first tree, then hook it to the other tree with a second piece of webbing and a ratchet.
Be careful
Some parks have rules against affixing things to trees, so plan ahead to stay out of trouble. To avoid damaging trees, always use protection: a towel between the bark and webbing.
Stand, then walk
Start out sitting on the line with your dominant foot in front of you, positioned at a slight angle. Push down on the line slightly to propel yourself up into a standing position, placing your other foot on the line in front of you. Fall. Repeat. Keep your arms extended wide, stand straight up, and look forward.
Go wild
Most things you can do on a trampoline, you can do on a slackline, including flips and the “butt bounce.” There are slacklining competitions, people use slacklines as a workout tool, and there’s even slackline yoga. Nothing clears the mind quite like trying not to fall on your face.
