Are you feeling dizzy? That's because slacklining just reached new heights!
Even though the sky is the limit when it comes to this extreme sport, certainly it’s not one for those with their heads up in the clouds. It takes focus, strength, incredible balance and preparation to enjoy a walk on a line above nothingness… literally.
Such as the case of the vertigo-inducing highest elevation highline, a majestic-looking record that took place in the unforgiving Central Andes.
In 2022, a brave trio formed by German Quirin Herterich with Argentinians Federico Cantú and Alejo Roldan, prepared together and completed their jaw-dropping highline stunt using only a highline strung between two anchor points.
In simple terms, they walked along a line that stood 64 m (211 ft) above the ground – that is about half the height of the pyramid of Giza, taller than the 57-metre-tall Pisa Tower, and taller than a 22-story building - for a whopping total of 24 m (79 ft).
The record took place in the Central Andes in Mendoza, Argentina, at an elevation of 5,882 m (19,410 ft): at such heights, the altitude and drop in air pressure makes it even more difficult to fight dizziness and maintain a steady balance.
Interestingly, that was not the first record for Quirin: in 2021, he successfully completed the 88-m long, gravity-defying longest slackline walk between hot-air balloons.
Following the guidelines, the athletes were wearing a harness for safety, and the record was monitored and curated by the International Slackline Association (ISA).
The International Slackline Association is a federation that connects, supports and reunites local groups of slackliners.
It aims also to increase safety in all forms of slacklining, educating local communities of all sizes and organizing events and competitions. They also ensure that all the record titles involving slacklining are safe and using a safety harness (unless overwise stated in the record title).
But what is slacklining, exactly?
Originated in the early 1980s, slacklining is the activity of walking down a suspended length, along a rope or a narrow piece of strong fabric stretched above the ground between two points.
The rope is secured less tightly than a tightrope, allowing the two disciplines to be categorized separately.
Highlining is the most extreme version of this sport, reaching the highest elevation possible.
The female counterpart to this record is held by Italian Miriam Campoleoni.
Reaching for the sky (quite literally) the athlete was followed by an Italian-Bolivian crew of professionals and broke the record for highest elevation highline (female), with harness (ISA-verified) in August 2021.
She walked along a 50-m-long (164-ft) highline secured to a glacier, at an altitude of 5,150 m (16,896 ft) over the frozen lake of the Chachacomani glacier, a beautiful corner of wilderness in the Cordillera Real range of the Bolivian Central Andes.
Needless to say, watching a slacklining athlete perform her magic is a jaw-dropping spectacle, and we are sure that Miriam felt on top of the world after completing the record.
She was harnessed during the entirety of her sky-high stroll.
After she completed her catwalk at a height of 20 m (66 ft), the ISA once again verified and confirmed her record.
The ISA report also specified that the project was part of a cooperative project on the Chachacomani-Glacier. Such research was championed by three Italian-Bolivian associations: the Servizio Glaciologico Lombardo (Lobardia's glaciology services), Turismo Rural/Peñas and La Cordillera Experience Peñas.
Another (slightly more perilous) majestic feat was the one completed by the French slackliner Philippe Soubies.
On 6 January 2021, the athlete walked a 300-m-long (984-ft) line suspended roughly 55 m (180 ft) above the ground in Basque Country near Sare in France, breaking his own previous record of 170 m.
Differently from the two records above, Philippe was NOT wearing a harness!
Demonstrating courage in spades, together with an incredible balance and technique, he broke the record for the highest free solo highline: meaning that Soubies was not attached to a safety line and would have no protection in case he lost his balance.
He was also barefoot while crossing the canyon.
Interestingly, harness-free slacklining is not considered as dangerous as the climbing equivalent since athletes can still grab the line if they slip.
Although the filmed attempt appears majestic, it bears repeating that a stunt so extreme is something only trained professionals should approach. This kind of attempts are always preceded by a high degree of preparation due to the danger involved.
As with the previous ones, this vertigo-inducing record was also monitored by the International Slackline Association (ISA).
Soubies was previously in the newspapers (more specifically in 2020) with a breathtaking snapshot of him slacklining over 100 m above the ground in front of a huge red moon.
The night-time shot was captured by photographer Thomas Meurot in Navarre, in the Basque region of Spain, during a one-and-a-half-minute video that was shot with the collaboration of the Slackline Pays Basque group after a long research.
More recently, in October 2023, Chinese daredevil sportsman Shi Hailin claimed the record for the fastest 100 m slackline walk.
Proving an incredible talent, he completed the record in just 1 minute 14.198 seconds.
Looking for more gravity-defying records?
Grab your copy of Guinness World Records 2024 and go to page 130!
Want more? Follow us onGoogle News and across our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Snapchat Discover.
Don't forget to check out our videos on YouTube and become part of our group chat by following the Guinness World Records WhatsApp channel.
Still not had enough? Click here to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.
Related Articles
