Sean Renwick slacklines in a Saskatoon park.

Slacklining has hit the University of Saskatchewan campus and it might be more than just a fad.

Slacklining is the act of walking on one- or two- inch wide webbing that is anchored on either end. The line is commonly anchored to trees to keep it a few feet off the ground. Once strung, people attempt to keep their balance while walking across the narrow webbing.

Unlike tightrope walking, where the rope is pulled completely tight, slacklining — as the name implies — ensures the line still has slack in it. This also allows for more spring in the line, creating a trampoline effect.

While the sport does seem to be gaining popularity among younger people, slackliner Clarissa Kostiuk, a student at the U of S majoring in drama and education, says the sport is still strange to some.

“Lots of people give us strange looks,” Kostiuk said. “Many ask just to try standing on it and then walk away because they can’t do it, but everyone asks to give it a shot.”

One possible reason for slacklining’s recent surge in local popularity is the mainstream attention it has garnered in past months. Slackliner Andy Lewis showed the world what the possibilities are on a slackline when he was integrated into Madonna’s dance choreography during the Super Bowl halftime show last February. Lewis’s ability to shift his weight and remain balanced while bouncing from his back to his chest amazed millions of viewers.

Kostiuk, who began slacklining this summer, agrees that this type of mass showing has helped put slacklining on the map.

“I definitely think that has an impact on all different generations just realizing that it is a sport. At first it can kind of look strange, but having big television spectacles showing it off makes it more socially acceptable.”

Due to the current rise in popularity of the sport you might be surprised to find out that it was invented in the mid-1980’s by rock climbers Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington. The two long-time climbers started by walking across the guard chains in parking lots. They noticed the balance required to complete the feat was similar to the balance needed for rock climbing, and that it also strengthened their leg and abdominal muscles. The duo strung up some old climbing webbing between two trees and would take to the slackline when the weather prevented them from climbing mountains.

Advocates of the sport also boast about its meditative aspect.

“It’s similar to yoga in the sense that when you do yoga, your brain relaxes from the concentration,” Kostiuk said. “Slacklining requires using so many muscles, and concentrating so much on your body doing all the work it needs to do. The concentration on our balance helps us clear our heads. Nothing else around matters; it’s just you, the line and your balance.”

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf