How To Fall Off A Slackline

Climbing on a slackline and remaining balanced so you can walk is the ultimate goal but falling off the line is something you will experience.

Very frequently.

Falling off a slackline involves falling away from the line to avoid it snapping up and hitting you. Try to maintain balance by holding your arms above your head and moving them in a circular motion as needed. When you’ve lost your balance, recognize that you are about to fall and determine where you’re going to land on the ground.

Preparing to fall and giving yourself enough time to pick your landing spot helps to avoid a hard landing that may cause an injury.

Below we’ll take a closer look at the aspects of slacklining up to and including falling, keeping your balance and how to get better at falling off the line when it happens.

Slacklining involves four essential phases

Slacklining involves four basic phases that you will experience:

• Getting on the slackline
• Standing on the slackline
• Walking on the slackline
• Falling off the slackline

While you’d prefer not to have to experience the fourth and final bullet point, it will happen.

Since falling is a natural and expected result, it pays to know in advance not only how you can often prevent yourself from falling but also falling properly when you do.

Try to maintain your balance to avoid falling off the slackline

Part of slacklining involves maintaining your balance at all times. You use your arms and body to try to maintain your balance and adjust as needed.

Keep your knees slightly bent and keep your head inline with your hips to maintain a good center of balance.

So rather than simply allowing yourself to fall off when you begin to lose your balance, lift your arms over your head to maintain your balance and move them as required in a circular motion to regain your balance. This aspect is part of the fun of slacklining as you’re walking on it.

But when you can’t keep your balance and fall, it helps to know ahead of time the best way to do it…

Fall away from the slackline when you do fall

Once you’ve lost your balance and know you’re about to fall off the slackline, fighting it too long can result in you getting tied up in the slackline or getting your toe(s) stuck in the webbing if you’re slacklining barefoot.

When you fall off the slackline, try to fall away from it to avoid getting hit by the line if it snaps up as you fall off. If you try to fight it too much, you can lose your balance and have the slackline snap up between your legs.

Sometimes you may not have much time to react as you lose your balance and fall off. Practicing falling off on both sides of the slackline will help you fall more naturally and avoid injury.

As you get more experienced, you’ll do a better job of getting your balance back when you lose it, without falling off the line.

But as you’re getting started, don’t be afraid to fall off when it comes time to. Not only will be good experience, it’ll help you avoid injury as you learn how and when to fall.

Practice falling from both sides of the slackline

Humans tend to be creatures of habit. When it comes to certain things, we often do it the same way over and over again because it feels natural.

You will tend to fall off the slackline on the side of your free leg each time. While falling off a slackline on the same side each time is easier, it isn’t necessarily better.

Practice falling onto your non-dominant side too. There might be times when you do fall on that side and it’s best to be prepared and ready to brace yourself as you fall.

Sometimes you may fall backwards and sometimes you may fall forward depending on how and when you you lose your balance. Be prepared for this eventuality too.

Use a top line when you start slacklining

A top line is a line that is set up above the slackline (ie. parallel to it) that you can hold onto to keep your balance and avoid falling off. It’s similar to using training wheels to learn how to ride a bicycle.

Once you can maintain your balance, you can remove the top line and take your lumps so to speak and fall when it happens.

A benefit of a top line is that it can help you gain experience standing on the slackline without falling off and losing confidence or motivation. If you keep falling off the slackline and feel like you’re making no progress, you might lose confidence that you’ll ever be able to master it and then give up slacklining completely.

By using a top line you can get a sense of what it’s like to stand on the slackline and walk on it while allowing the safety line to take care of the balance part.

Some experienced slackliners will suggest foregoing a top line and taking your lumps right away. They’ll suggest that learning to climb on the slackline and subsequently falling off is something you’ll need to do to learn.

It’s up to you but it’s at least an option as you get started.

Use a spotter when you start slacklining

If you’d prefer to avoid a top line or don’t have access to one, you might instead try to buddy up with someone and use each other to lean on. Literally.

As with the main photo at the top of this post, you can have a spotter who stands on the ground next to you and helps you maintain your balance. Similar to a spotter when weightlifting, they can only help if and when you need it i.e. you lose your balance and need someone to hold onto to right yourself.

Alternatively, you might hold their hand throughout your first few walks across the slackline.

Again, it’s up to you and is a second option as you’re getting started.

Final tips for falling off a slackline when you’re starting out

As you attempt to climb on the slackline the first X number of times (X will depend on how well you do and how quickly you pick it up!) remember a few things to give you the best chance for success:

• Don’t set your slackline too high off the ground. The higher the slackline, the farther you’re going to fall. Set it up so that it’s around waist length as you stand next to the line.
• Consider wearing shoes or other foot protection of some kind. When you fall, you at least won’t have to worry about falling on stones or something sharp or rolling an ankle.
• Remember to wear light and loose fitting clothing so you aren’t restricted in any way.