When we go out to practice our sport we have to consider some basic slackline safety rules and good practices. Using public spaces, we must follow rules of good coexistence, to protect ourselves, to protect others and slackline.
Slackline Safety & Basic Rules
Anchor Points
You should only mount slacklines on structures if you know that they are strong enough to endure the forces exerted by the slackline. Sturdy, healthy trees and reinforced concrete pillars are mostly a good solution. Check more about forces occurring in slacklines.
In no case should you fix a slackline to light poles, volleyball poles, road signs, handrails or similar structures. This one is a major slackline safety rule!!!
Trees
Slacklines should be attached to trees with a minimum diameter of 30 centimeters. Also, if the tree raises doubts or seems to be unhealthy, you should look for a safe alternative.
You must also always use tree protectors and never break branches to facilitate the setup.
Signalisation
Slacklines that match the height of someone’s eyes are almost invisible to that person. So if you mount a slackline on such a height, make sure to signal it to prevent someone from crashing against it and getting hurt. Wind dampeners are a good solution, the help you managing the line on windy days and increase slackline safety.
Pathways
When you choose a public space to set up your slackline, you should ensure you do not block any roads or path ways.
Surveillance
You should never abandon or leave our slackline unattended. If you have to leave for some reason, either find someone who takes care or disassemble the slackline. You might always be taken into responsibility if someone gets hurt on or by your slackline.
Backup
Whenever you mount a slackline to high tension (mainly tricklines or longlines), you should back up all metal pieces e.g. with a strong rope. This also accounts during the tensioning process. Although accidents are rare, you should protect yourself and protect other users of the public spaces.
Safety area
Keep an eye of other users of the public space. Especially kids or dogs can be pretty much unpredictable and run towards the slackline unexpectedly.
Authorities
When you are approached by law enforcement officials, security guards or police officers, you should take the opportunity to share good practices in slacklining. Explain why you practice this sport and that it benefits your health and well-being. Always stay polite to help spreading a good image of this sport and ideally prevent prohibition.
Education
When you find other slackliners who are doing something less correctly, you should approach them, sensitize or teach them how to do it better. It may seem uncomfortable and intrusive but you have to be aware that a damaged tree or an accident could mean the prohibition of slackline practice in your park.
Maintenance
Slacklines (specially tricklines or longlines ) are subject to great forces. In addition they are exposed to the sun, moisture and dust. Therefore you should regularly check the condition of your equipment and, if necessary, replace it.
FAQ’s
It is a sport that consists of balancing on a dynamic line, tensioned between two anchor points, that has many disciplines. Get to know them all!
Yes, some slacklines are ideal for the first steps and the early stage of slacklining, they are easier to walk and to setup. Check out the awesome equipment we have developed for beginners.
I started slacklining 2012 and was mostly into trickline for around 5 years. Right now, my slackline days are split between rodeo and longline. In 2013, my enthusiasm for slackline led me to open Monkeybiz, the first Portuguese slackline shop, through which i started to work with Slacktivity, Samuel and Tobias, as a customer. In 2019 I decided it was time for new challenges and closed Monkeybiz, but created the All About Slackline Blog as the slackline professional life drift way. Recently after a challenge made by Slacktivity, I could not resist coming back to slackline and took over the Slacktivity.com international operation. Feel free to reach me if you need any help on the website, or even for a slackline session, in case you are passing by Porto, my hometown.