Watch that space.

February 6, 2014 4:05 PM

You should try slacklining. You could maybe try highlining. You should definitely not try the Balloon highline.

Slacklining basics. Slacklining previously. Slacklining contest.

posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? (22 comments total)

Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope.
posted by infinitywaltz at 4:16 PM on February 6, 2014 [10 favorites]

Nope on a rope?
posted by yoink at 4:20 PM on February 6, 2014 [8 favorites]

GET OFF THAT ROPE, YOU GUYS! YOU COULD FALL!
posted by infinitywaltz at 4:24 PM on February 6, 2014 [5 favorites]

I have tried slacklining before and failed miserably. Doing it that high in the sky is absolutely terrifying.
posted by jamincan at 4:45 PM on February 6, 2014

I don't quite understand what's holding up that cameraman. He's positioned a good distance from the gondola of one of the balloons, 90° from the slackline. I can see a line from him to the gondola but not what's holding him up. Is he just hanging by a rope from the balloon's perimeter? 'Cause I didn't know you could do that, seems like it'd distort the envelope a lot.
posted by George_Spiggott at 4:47 PM on February 6, 2014

Hm. Now that I think about it, all the load on the gondola is effectively pulling on the envelope's perimeter, so having a guy swing out on it is not very different. So never mind.
posted by George_Spiggott at 4:51 PM on February 6, 2014

Flight of the Frenchies, one of my favourite slacklining videos. I end up re-watching it every time someone mentions it.
posted by yeahwhatever at 5:07 PM on February 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

Those who participate in slacklining are often called "slackers"

Those on the couch eating cheetoes who do not participate in slacklining, also, "slackers."
posted by Smedleyman at 5:14 PM on February 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

Warning: the primary danger of low altitude slacklining is effectively a giant Wle E Coyote slingshot blow to the groin region.
posted by loquacious at 5:31 PM on February 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

So no one is going to mention the random creepy-ass clown? ok.
posted by book 'em dano at 5:31 PM on February 6, 2014

I love any video that gives me a terrifying height buzz. Even if there is a clown in it.
The ending of the attempts is unexpected and nail-biting.
posted by Countess Elena at 5:33 PM on February 6, 2014

Nope.Nope.Nope.!
posted by lalochezia at 5:51 PM on February 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

I can say with certainty that I should not try slacklining. I can fall off level surfaces.
posted by doctor_negative at 5:55 PM on February 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

Slack rope is actually one of the simpler circus skills, akin to riding a bike in difficulty.

But why on earth did they put that "kids don't try this at home" warning on the hot air balloon video? I DO NOT LIVE ON A HOT AIR BALLOON.
posted by tspae at 6:46 PM on February 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

Moonwalk on vimeo. Dean Potter walks a highline at Cathedral Peak as the sun sets and the moon rises. Shot from over 1 mile away.

It's very calming for something that must be really dangerous.

Previously on metafilter.
posted by jjj606 at 6:59 PM on February 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

Great stuff. I couldn't see but I guess the envelopes of the two balloons were touching each other - that should provide some stability and tension on the line but perhaps not enough.
posted by exogenous at 7:20 PM on February 6, 2014

I tried slacklining once. The first three times I fell off it, the line thwacked me in the ass hard enough to leave welts. Three times! Fuck slacklining, I said.
posted by looli at 7:35 PM on February 6, 2014

The funny thing is, slacklining between balloons like that is relatively safe, because they have parachutes. I kind of want to try that, as it could satiate my conflicting desire to walk along high precipeces, the urge to throw myself off and to fall free, and my stronger desire to continue living a comfortable life. But the few moments of watching the head-cam of the one guy trying to walk across gave me vertigo, standing here on very solid ground, surrounded by very stable walls. Still, I could see trying that, even if I didn't make it to the second step.

The folks who do highlining without any safety features are nuts.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:11 PM on February 6, 2014

The funny thing is, slacklining between balloons like that is relatively safe, because they have parachutes.

Except that second guy was barefoot. Which seems like a great thing for slacklining, but not so great for landing from a Great Height, on the ground. In your bare feet.

Ow.
posted by rtha at 9:58 PM on February 6, 2014

GET OFF THAT ROPE, YOU GUYS! YOU COULD FALL!

As long as you've got a parachute, that's the best part!
posted by homunculus at 12:25 AM on February 7, 2014

I can't wait for them to work this into the next James Bond film.
posted by chavenet at 4:42 AM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

tspae: "Slack rope is actually one of the simpler circus skills, akin to riding a bike in difficulty. "

There's a slackline set up at the bouldering gym I go to, and I've spent a lot more time trying to learn to slackline than I had to spend teaching my kids to ride bikes. Maybe it's not insanely difficult, but it's a lot harder than riding a bike.
posted by Bugbread at 4:06 PM on February 7, 2014