Junior Leo Mayer recalls times when he was practicing slacklining in the park and had been mistaken for something other than himself. Mayer said one time two kids saw him walking on his slackline and called him “Superman” and “Spiderman.” Another time, a woman asked if he was a member of the circus.
Mayer sparked an interest in slacklining in seventh grade when he read a book featuring the activity, so he asked his parents to buy him a slackline for Christmas.
He said he practices two different types of slacklining.
“I set up the line and I get up and start walking it to get used to it,” said Mayer. “Every time the length is a little bit different. [First] I warm up. Then I try to [do] new tricks.”
Mayer said people think he is walking on a tightrope when he practices in public. However, Mayer said slacklining and walking on a tightrope are two different things.
According to Mayer, the biggest difference between a slackline and a tightrope is that slacklines sag, while tightropes are more stable. Mayer said slacklines are comparable to a seat belt with the bounciness of a trampoline.
Although Mayer’s first slackline was only three feet tall, he said he still had difficulty standing up on the line.
“[The first time I slacklined] I put my foot on it, and it started shaking really fast and uncontrollably so I tried stepping off, but I fell [off] right away,” Mayer said.
Mayer said he was eventually able to stand on the line with a lot of persistence and determination.
According to Mayer, he faces many challenges with slacklining — one of them being the length of the line.
“Walking a long line can be hard because when you step on the line it sinks, making it hard for you to balance and continue walking,” Mayer said.
He said it took him about a month of practicing three to four days a week to learn how to walk on the line. Currently, Mayer said he is learning how to do some new tricks like jumping, 360s and bouncing on his butt then returning to a standing position.
Another challenge Mayer said he faces is trying to find time to practice because slacklining is very time consuming. Mayer said when he does not have much school work, he will practice his tricks because a typical practice for him lasts one or two hours.
While Mayer said he had trouble learning the basics of slacklining, Mayer’s mother, Renee Mayer, noticed his determination.
“[The first time Leo Mayer slacklined] he was very tenacious and really worked at it,” Renee Mayer said.
Leo Mayer said he was eventually able to buy another line that was twice as long as his original slackline.
“A lot of [slacklining] is mental because you have to keep your focus and determination,” said Leo Mayer. “It’s really discouraging not being able to stand up at first.”
Leo Mayer said people think falling from a slackline would be dangerous, but he said it is not much different than falling off a chair.
“I could see that it wasn’t really that far off the ground,” said Renee Mayer. “It made me [unhesitant] to get it for him.”
His mother recalled her first time trying to slackline and said it was challenging. She said the hardest part about slacklining is being able to get on the line, which took her several days.
Renee Mayer said she is happy her son enjoys doing something different and unique like slacklining.
“I’m impressed that he wants to try new things [and] make up his own mind, not do what everyone else is doing, just what looks fun to him,” Renee Mayer said.
Leo Mayer said he is glad he stuck with slacklining, despite initial discouragement.
“You need to be really determined and you can’t get discouraged at all,” said Leo Mayer. “There’s going to be tons of failure before you can even walk [on the slackline].”