Slacklining

Ever since I first became a student at the University of Maine, I became exposed to a lot of different things that I had never before seen, and one of these things was slacklining. At first, it looks like a bunch of hippies walking across a rope set up between two trees but upon closer inspection one realizes that there is actually loads of talent required to make the sport look so effortless. On campus, you know spring has sprung when the slackliners have set up their equipment on the mall and are taking turns at attempting various tricks on the rope. I have always observed from a distance, never daring to make a fool of myself in front of people who were so fluid and graceful in something that I would surely fail at. As it turns out, the owner of the store where I work is always searching for the next big thing to sell, and apparently the growing sport of slacklining has appealed to him. We now have a small line set up in the store in which anyone can take a hand at. With the encouragement of my boss, I decided it was probably a good idea to grasp the basics of the hobby in order to educate customers and assist them in any questions that they might have. Well – I did it – and I’m still alive to speak of it. My respect for the people who engage in slacklining has grown tremendously, as it is not nearly as easy as it looks. I still need some practice before I start joining the group on campus, but needless to say, it’s a fun way to stay active!