By Jessica Bracamontes |Staff Writer|
CSUSB students are encouraged to join the new trend of slacklining, the extreme balance sport. Slacklining can help enhance a person’s balance and relieve stress.
Slacklining challenges an individual’s patience and focus, requiring them to balance on a one-inch nylon webbing that is normally held between two anchor points (usually trees). The lining can be adjusted to fit different types of webbing and can go up to various degrees of difficulty.
Slacklining is similar to tight rope walking, but the line used to balance on is made from a more flexible material, allowing a person to do an assortment of tricks.
Student Angela Rodriguez looks forward to introducing slacklining into her workout this upcoming summer. “I’ve seen a lot of students slacklining in front of the Rec Center and plan to try it out this summer,” said Rodriguez. Her goal is to walk all the way across a slackline without falling.
Slacklining can also help improve a persons balance, posture and concentration and is a great way to relieve stress and let the mind relax, according to slacklining.com.
Student Christian Bautista has been slacklining two times and believes it is a great way for him to test his strengths. Additionally, he finds it to be a great stress reliever.
“I tried slacklining a few months ago and think the constant movement my body is going through helped me improve my concentration and helped me reduce some stress,” said Bautista.
Slacklining also benefits participants in developing muscles based on the repetitive exercise and constant redistribution of body weight a person is continuously going through while balancing on the line.
Medical practitioners and professionals who advocate slacklining believe it has the ability to improve one’s awareness of the position of one’s body as well as coordination, according to slackline4u.com.
A person’s body will be least likely to suffer average injuries like twisted ankles after slacklining as the balancing act strengthens the back, spine, along with the stomach-musculature and support for the knees and hip joints.
The most well-known benefit of slacklining is its ability to improve a person’s balance. Having good balance can help a person develop great coordination and strength, which in turn, helps to preserve a person’s body and keep them relatively injury free when engaging in a physical activity.
Bautista strongly encourages his fellow Coyotes to take part of this up-and-coming sport that has the tendency to have people wanting more.
“It will be difficult for first-timers to find a balance, but once you accomplish one slackline, you want to try a lot more,” said Bautista.
For those students who would like a great challenge this summer, slacklining can prove to be a beneficial and fun activity.