A Slackline for Father

Having a slackline can provide hours of fun and fitness for parents and children alike.
I've been slacking on getting my slackline up regularly, but with the sunny weather, I've promised myself that I would walk the line more often. I find that when it's up, I can't keep my kids off of it. I walk beside and offer my shoulder as a balancing aid, and with the youngest (2 1/2) I hold both her hands while she bounces. It's a great way to beat the boredom blues.

Here are some resources to help you on your way to a slackline addiction:

How to Set up a Slackline


Slacklining at Wikipedia

Information for parents can be found at: Slackline Express Parents

There's a great how-to slackline page at Slackline Express Tips

For a history of slacklining, check out Slackline.com's A History of Slacklining

Strange Addiction - Slackline

Learning to walk the slackline is a fun way to stay fit and work on your balancing skills. It really works the core muscles and all of the stabilizing muscles in your feet and calves. I love it for the mental time-out. Everything else disappears just for a second, and when you've got it down, there are many variations: tricks, surfing, yoga, partners, and highlining.

I use the "primitive" system, which uses the webbing and carabiners for tensioning, but there are some pretty slick kits out there that are quicker to set up and easier to tighten. If you want to set up a long line, you'll probably want to get a ratcheting tensioner. I have 60 feet of 1 inch webbing, 6 carabiners (three sets of two), and some slings, both store-bought and homemade (from webbing) to fit different sized trees. I currently use duct tape covered cardboard as a tree-saver, but I have some old carpet that will be cut to size for that soon.

One of my goals is to walk a highline when I turn 40 (next year), mostly just to do it, but partly because I love the adrenaline rush that comes from pushing the boundaries of my physical body. Watching my children play always reminds me of how open and free and capable we are as kids. I'm trying to re-capture that feeling by doing things that are pure fun and serve no other practical purpose in my life. Slacklining does have physical benefits, but that's not the point for me. It's that feeling of being centered, being balanced, and trying something that is difficult in order to learn about myself.

If you've got a couple of trees in your yard, or a park nearby, get a slackline and get balanced.

peace

Is this thing on?

Today is another supreme Colorado day, with all the potential of spring in the air, and I'm inside on the couch. What gives?
I thought that instead of just thinking and talking about the idea of my own blog, I'd just do it. So here we are.
I promised myself that if I got at least the setup and one post done, I'd break out the slackline and get it setup in the backyard. That's usually motivation enough for me.
Our garden is starting to come together - we've got salad greens, kale, arugula, and peas up, and onions and garlic in, and more seeds started. Our compost bin is built and filling up, there are tulips and daffodils blooming... wow...
Today the old Birney trolley (streetcar) is running, and it's one of our fun things to do that's cheap and easy, so we'll go after naptime. Man, I want a nap, too.