Slackline Competitions

Every couple of months, Gibbon holds a slackline competition.  What's different about these competitions is how there is multiple age groups.  Because the sport is relatively new, there is no precedent for age, so younger kids may have as many years experience as on who is 25.  For example, Alex Mason, who is currently ranked number one in the world, is only 14 years old. 

Apart from age differences, these competitions are very exciting to watch.  From back flips to chest bounces, the athletes are always landing tricks that I only dream of trying. 

http://gearjunkie.com/teva-games-slackline-competition

Vurtego vs. Flybar

While Flybar certainly seems to be the leading competitor in extreme pogo sticks, I think it is only because their product has been around longer.  For those of you who don’t know the difference between a Flybar and a Vurtego, a Flybar uses lots of thick rubber cords to propel itself, and a Vurtego uses an air powered piston.   Before Vurtego was around,  Flybar got all of the attention from anyone who wanted to be in the sport, but it’s very clear that’s changing.  In all of XPogo’s Video’s, Vurtego’s are being used 95% of the time.  This question has also been asked on all sorts of forums and discussion page, and the general decision is the same.  Vurtego has a lighter, more durable, and bouncier pogo stick

            As we look to the future, I think Vurtego will eventually dominate the extreme pogo sales.  I think the only reason they aren’t already now is because of the price.  It’s a lot to ask for a pogostick—so you have to be committed.  But as people start to notice that Vurtego is the only pogo stick that the pros are using, they too will follow suit. Below is a link to XPogo’s newest movie, called “Rise,” and displays the best tricks that are known to date.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFygPjS16R0

So tell me what you think.  Which pogo company is better--Flybar, or Vurtego? I look forward to hearing from you.

SlacklineVisions

 

http://slacklinevisions.wordpress.com/

Here is a blog with cool projects and tips on slackline setups.  I’ve seen posts from college events to kids programs that spread the word of slacklining.  One of the most intriguing topics they cover to me is highlining.  This is where a slackline, typically one inch wide, is spanned over a gap or canyon, that usually requires for the walker have a tether.  I find this so interesting because while you may technically be safe, it looks like it would be incredibly nerve racking.  I once set up my slackline about 5 feet above the ground just to see what difference it would make, and I was blown away at how much harder it was.  In one project where they talk about a place they named “cold creek”, they set up a line 100 feet high and spanning 182 feet across a valley.

Below I have shared a link that shows some of the fears and thrills of highlining.  It’s a pretty inspiring as well, so when I first saw it probably over six months ago, I really wanted to try a highline setup and see what I could do.  I still haven’t had the opportunity yet, but I’m willing to give it a shot whenever I do get the chance.

http://youtu.be/_N2LwP5X2Z4

My Hammock

One item I often bring with me while slacklining is my parachute-nylon hammock.  At only 20 ounces (and mine is a double), it’s very light and compacts down to the size of a large waterbottle, including the hanging hardware.  It’s nice to have because it gives you something to relax in while taking a break or while others are using the slackline.  I can set up mine in under a minute, so it’s very convenient to hang in a moments notice.  Apart from slacklining, I’ve used my hammock for camping, doing my homework outside, and even just relaxing in my basement.  The best part about using it for camping is that it’s so much lighter, smaller, and easier to set up than a tent, not to mention more comfy as well, without the need for a sleeping pad.  And as long as you have rain tarp to throw over you, it’s protected from the elements. 

These hammocks usually go for 50-75$, but I know you can get them for cheaper, as I did.  Sites like The Clymb or Steap and Cheap will not always have them, but if you keep checking, they will come up eventually.  I got mine on The Clymb at half price.  I would highly recommend getting a hammock to anyone who is often outside or just likes to relax.

 

picture from personal collection

Indoor Slackline

As winter starts to sprinkle snow onto my small town in Michigan, it’s becoming a little cold outside for me to slackline.  As a sport where I usually like to be in a tshirt, shorts, and no shoes, it feels a little bulky to be bundled up and trying to balance.  As a result, my dad and I figured out a way to mount my slackline in the basement.  Now this may seem like an easy task at first thought, but we quickly found out that it wasn’t going to be.   This was largely due to us spanning it between two walls instead of anchoring it to the ground and putting a-frames in between.  At one end, we had a u-barlatch that was bolted to a 2x4, with a metal plate on the other side.  We then beefed this end up by nailing in more 2x4 pieces.  This side squeaks occasionally, but has held true since we put it in.  On the other hand, the other wall we had to attach to had cement behind the drywall.  We initially set four concrete anchors to screw the u-bar latch to, each rated at 700 pounds.  While four of these don’t add up to the recommended 5000 pounds, we thought that a short line, mounted low to the ground, and used just for walking would be alright.  A loud pop from that end of the line proved otherwise while I was walking. After replacing these with four rated at 1200 pounds, I now haven’t had any problems.

picture form personal collection

Jean Klock Park

The other night I rode my bike down to a nearby beach and park with a sizable parking lot.  Here I was able to pogo stick a little while before returning home and starting my homework.  Before I left, I added quite a bit of air to my pogo stick to see how much of a difference it would make in my bounce height.  I noticed that, at least for me, there's a point at which my legs aren't strong enough to make me go any higher.  It just makes it harder to push down and doesn’t seem to spring back as much. So, it seems that at a significantly increased psi, you get tired a lot faster, and end up going not as high or any higher than you would at a psi more agreeable to your leg strength. That certainly wont be the case for everyone, but since I’m not really in shape and I’m not very strong, I get tired pretty easily. For me, I like to keep it in the range of to where I’m getting lots of height, and compressing the piston just to the point before bottoming out. Below is a picture of me at the park.

 

 from my personal collection

Top 5 Places I’ve Slacklined

Part of what makes slacklining so different is that it is very mobile, and depending on where you set it up can change what you focus on practicing.

5.  In my yard:  This is the classic spot to set a line up.  Two trees that are the perfect distance apart (I like 35-40 feet) are close enough that the line isn’t too shaky in the middle but long enough to have sufficient space. And with that grass beneath you, there’s not much to worry about falling off, so it’s a good spot to try tricks.

4.  At the beach: As I discussed in my last post, setting up a slackline on the beach is a time consuming process and requires a lot of digging. However, it is probably the most fun environment to do it in because of the number of people going by who stop and want to try it.

3. At the climbing gym:  Here, there usually lots of experienced slackliners who are good to watch and learn from.  Some of them even show you how to get started if you’re new (that’s what happened to me).  Apart from this, you can boulder while taking a break from slacklining. I've done this at Climb Kalamazoo while I’m in Michigan, and City Rock when I’m in Colorado.

2.  At the marina: Here I’ve found a spot to set up my line across a wide slip, and as a result of being above water, the line can be higher while eliminating the risk of getting hurt from falling.

1. At the pool:  The pool has all of the benefits as the marina except the water is clean. No more gas and duck poop smell in your hair when you’re finished.

                                                         picture from personal collection


So now it's your turn.  Where is your favorite spot to slackline? Let me know in the comments below.

Beach Slackline

At the end of the summer, I had the chance to set up my slackline on the beach. Apart from being in the sand and by the water, the main difference was the anchors. Usually, a slackline is attached to a tree or something of that shape, and as a result, takes just a few minutes to set up. To anchor the line on a beach, you have to dig two large holes, each three feet deep, four feet wide, and one foot long. The ends of the slackline each go around a 4x10 board that is four feet long and then lowered into the hole and buried. To hold the line off the ground, I made my own A-frames, which support my weight, as well as share the tension load (as much as 5000 lbs.) with the ground anchors. The result provides for a very strong system that can hold up against bounces and jumps. The only issue is the time it takes to measure out and dig the holes. I think it took me somewhere around 45 minutes to dig and rebury each board. However, if you’ve never done it before, it's worth it, as I was able to use the line all day, even at 11:00 during a bonfire. 

Picture from personal collection

Introduction

You step up onto the yellow nylon band, arms flailing as you try to catch your balance. Eyes locked onto the end of the line, you can’t seem to get a solid feel in your step. Slacklining came into my life about a year and a half ago when we met in a Colorado climbing gym. I loved it right away, and bought one within a couple months after my return. Ever since, (except for the winter), I’ve been trying to get out on my slackline whenever I have the time and motivation. I’ve been pogo sticking all my life, but it wasn’t until last Christmas that I could bounce higher than a foot. And that quickly turned into about 4-6 feet. My Vurtego has allowed me to get way higher off the ground, as well as give me the airtime to try tricks. I’m not very good yet, but I hope to get there. So, crank your slackline tight, pump some air in your pogo stick, or do whatever odd sport you may do and tell me about it right here. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

picture from personal collection