Frequently Asked Questions – Riding the Highline

Riding the Highline aims to answer the thoughts you may have about slackline and highline in South Africa with the following frequently asked questions.

What is Slacklining?

Slacklining refers to the act of walking or balancing along a length of flat webbing suspended between two anchors. It is an incredible practice in balance, core strength, and focus.

What are the Styles of Slacklining?

Slacklining can be performed in a variety of styles. Once you feel comfortable walking across a slackline you can begin to experiment with freestyle, trick, speed, jib, rodeo, surf, long, water, midline, and highline. Taking to the skies there is freestyle highline and if you are brave, trickline highlining.

What is Highlining?

Highlining is a slackline discipline that takes place at a height that would prove fatal should you fall without protection. Typically the webbing and a backup webbing are anchored naturally between cliffs, buildings, trees, or even across the world’s largest waterfall. The highliner is attached to the main and backup webbing by a leash connected to a personal harness.

As you can imagine, the experience of being on a slackline at a deathly height provides an adrenaline rush of note.

Lukas Irmler is a world record holding slackliner having completed incredible freesolo and blindfolded walks. In 2014, Irmler and Reinhart Kleindl rigged a 100m highline across Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

The longest highline was completed in Lapporten, Sweden, in 2021 at a length of 2.13 km (6988 ft). Now a 2.71 km (8891 ft) line taking over an hour and a quarter to cross is the record holder. Walked on 2nd of August 2022 first by Augustin Moinat and seven others without falling.

What are the Styles of Highlining?

Highlining has additional styles such as highline freestyle, highline trickline, and a sub-category called midlines. Highline freestyle has recently grown in leaps and bounds, with athletes performing tricks that push the boundaries of both the athlete and the equipment. You can expect to see bouncing, handstands, shoulder stands, rocket-mounts, rolls, and more.

Highline trickline is a much smaller niche within highlining, with Eric Hake appearing to lead the pack. It differs from highline freestyle in the use of a wider two-inch trickline webbing.

Midlines are not high enough to be considered fatal without protection. These lines are often between 10 and 15 meters off the ground, so they still necessitate a backup and leash. While the height is less intimidating on a midline, it is considered more dangerous than a highline as a mainline failure could result in the athlete touching the ground when falling into the backup.

How old is Highlining in South Africa?

The first highline in South Africa was rigged on table mountain by Friedi Kuhne in 2008. While there may have been earlier feats, this is the earliest line to our knowledge. Small groups of South Africans showed interest in slacklining and fewer still in highlining until 2015.

Sylvain Burki, the founder of Slack Gear and the Highline Meeting in Rocklands, helped grow the community in the Western Cape with annual events starting in 2014. A plaque appears in his honour at ‘De Pakhuys’ campsite reading ‘the father of highlining in Rocklands’.

These annual events helped to create awareness and interest around the sport. The Rocklands meetings continue, arranged annually by Charmaine who operates the online store Slack Gear.

At a similar time, a group of adrenaline-junkie climbers in the province of Mpumalanga rigged a 30 meter highline at the popular Waterval-Boven climbing destination. This community has continued to grow with climbing and highlining meetings held in April each year.

Is Slacklining Illegal in South Africa?

Slacklining remains legal in South Africa. In an effort to keep slacklining legal in parks and outdoor spaces it is important to respect the public spaces we use. This encompasses preventing damage to trees in parks, leaving no trace on mountains, and preventing accidents in public spaces.

Is Highlining Illegal in South Africa?

Highlining remains legal in South Africa. However, when rigging a highline it is important to gain permission from the property owner as they would be liable should something go wrong. In an effort to keep the incredible sport of highlining legal it is crucial that the correct safety procedures are followed.

Has Anyone Died Slacklining or Highlining?

There are no reported deaths from slacklining or highlining in South Africa. Thanks to the responsible development of the sport and the strict implementation of safety measures, highlining will continue to be a safe and fun way to get high!

While injuries do occur whether the webbing is low to the ground or high above, the risks can be managed through responsible rigging.

Best Slackline to Buy in South Africa?

The best slackline to buy in South Africa is going to depend on your ability and goals. If you are a beginner, the two-inch slackline kit from Viper Slacklines is the ideal slackline. It allows you to quickly develop your basic skills of balance at lengths up to 23 meters.

Once you feel comfortable on the line and want to walk longer distances, it is recommended that you walk on a one-inch wide webbing. One inch webbing is lighter and more compact, making it more suitable for longer lines.

The gear can be purchased in a kit with a webbing of any length. We recommend, however, that you purchase a maximum of 50 meters and opt for a segment with sewn loops on each end. This will allow you to connect two lines with a soft-shackle should you wish to go longer in the future.

Do you have any Further Questions?

We would love to help answer any questions you may have about slacklining and highlining in South Africa. Comment below or message us directly for more information.