Steve Breazeale
Outdoor Spotlight: OC Slackline
If you’ve been to Lantern Bay Park in Dana Point or T Street beach in San Clemente recently, chances are you’ve seen San Clemente resident Johnny Glover and his slacklining crew out walking the line and practicing their craft.
Slacklining involves stretching a long, 1-inch strand of webbing between two trees through a system of pulleys. The effect creates a taut line on which enthusiasts balance a few feet above the ground. For veterans like Glover, who has been slacklining for 11 years, the balancing act turns into an art form, as backward walking and yoga moves get thrown into the mix. It’s a test of one’s core strength, body positioning and balance.
“When you’re learning (slackline), you’re training yourself to focus on one thing— your balance,” Glover said. “I think that translates to everything, focusing on your homework, surfing, skating.”
Glover has taken his love of slacklining, which derived from rock climbers who decided to go horizontal across points instead of vertical, and started a sort of makeshift, flash mob club. He invites everyone interested to join in.
If you’d like to give it a try, follow him on twitter @OCslackers or check out the group’s Facebook page, San Clemente Slackline.
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