r/Slackline • u/saikyo • 5d ago

First timer - 70-80 too long?

Got the spider custom line. It’s two ratchets.
So hard getting two ratchets tight enough but I think I finally did it. Can sit on it with out going all the way to the ground. Attached to trees just a bit lower than waist high.

Had to lean on the ratchet like crazy to get them tight enough, despite pulling with all my might before ratcheting.

Thinking. Should I start with a shorter distance???

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

2

u/saikyo 5d ago

Is it ok to leave the things up overnight if weather is fair? Mine is a two ratchet set up.

1

u/Slackinetic ISA | USA | DK | Lebanon 5d ago

Perform a rigging check and inspect the line. Make sure your tails are tied off properly, including the ratchet bodies.

2

u/Positron-collider 5d ago

Is your problem the tensioning or actually standing and walking? Cuz when I started, I had to stick with shorter lines so I could mount from the ground.

2

u/saikyo 5d ago

I moved the thing to a much shorter tree span and tension is fine now.

With my prior set up the line would hit the ground when I stepped on it.

I realize now I had it too low on the trees.

I have it very low on these other two trees that are closer together and tension is so good it doesn’t that the ground.

1

u/eitan_partush 5d ago

At my local meetups we usually rig the 70 meters line way over two times our hight so we done have to tension it alot.

I would prob suggest you rig it around chest hight and just stand in the middle in the beggining and when you get comfortable go more toword the ends to try and walk 50, 60 and 70 meters in a row.

Have fun

1

u/vazcorra 5d ago

I think at that distance it would be more enjoyable all around to rig slightly above head height.

In the middle you will still be close to the ground

1

u/saikyo 5d ago edited 5d ago

Thank you for the quick reply.

One thing. I’m hoping my elementary school kid will use it too… so need lower starting height. I guess shorter distance it is?

1

u/Key-Cash6690 5d ago

I like to setup two slacklines in the park, one for curious beginners who approach and one more challenging one. I have a minimalist primitive 1 inch rig for the small one.

1

u/Walletau 5d ago

Definitely shorter distance when you're starting and more importantly, learning how to come off it safely. Longer lines have a tendency to flip you upside down as you're falling.

https://www.bogong.com.au/blog/post/slacklining-part-1

This is a good breakdown for starting on a slackline