((PKG)) Slacklife
((Banner: Slacklife)
((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Martinez)
((Map: Moab, Utah )
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 1 male))
((Drone footage: Sylvan Christensen, Mercadi Carlson))
((Banjo singer: Amelia Fatsi))
((Guitar song by: Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
You really have to try and push past that mental blockage of everything telling you not
to go out there. And when you do that, when you push past that fear, you get to a sense
of flow state where everything else drops away and the only thing that matters is what
you're doing right now. And I think that's what really pushed me into highlining.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
My name is Sylvan Christensen and I am a canyoneering and climbing guide.
Slacklining is the act of balancing on either a one or two inch [25 or 50 mm] piece of flat
webbing using just your body.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
I was born here in Moab, Utah. And then we moved to Las Vegas. About a year after we
moved to Vegas, both of my parents passed away. It was ruled a murder-suicide. You're
faced with reality that life is fleeting. These people that mean the world to you and are
supposed to always be there sometimes go away. And I think that pushed me in the
direction of make the most out of life, push yourself, see what you're capable of.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
This slacklife, as we call it, called to me very strongly. You sort of go from normal,
everyday life into this state of high alertness high emotions. You are sort of exposed out
there, but the fact that you can calm that voice down in your mind and push yourself to
do it anyways is very empowering and it keeps you coming back.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are where I live, which is the slacklife headquarters, and we are all sort of
this combined force of athletic activities. Lots of skydiving, BASE jumping, rock climbing,
highlining, slacklining, canyoneering. You think of it, out here, somebody here does it.
((NATS))
((Andy Lewis, Slackliner))
I definitely was part of the golden era of highlining. So, as a pioneer, I definitely was
very creative. And now, it's just, everything has exploded in every direction. So, this
house has become like a community location, so, a lot of things happen from this spot.
So, that's why we've got the whole packing loft here. Sometimes it's very inspiring,
because like, I will have had a long day and then he'll come back and be, "Hey, we got
to rack for the next mission," and I'll think "Oh gosh,” but it keeps us both on our toes,
so.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Want to do some slacklining, love?
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Yeah.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Lots of slacklines, got a couple of tightlines. As you can see we've got chickens. It's egg
laying time. They're singing the egg song.
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Nice, baby.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
We've got a little bit of a midline, which is a slackline up in the tree. Get some exposure
training before you go out to the cliff.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Slacklining is actually been around since the 60s. Climbers in Yosemite started stringing
webbing up between trees as part of their off time activity to help with their balance and
help with their mental state, and it has since evolved into sort of its own sport. The
highlining in particular is sort of still a niche enough activity that, as we're pushing, we're
accomplishing records. We are existing in spaces where no other human has ever
existed before. And you feel that inspiration and it fuels to your activities. It fuels your
drive, your want for more.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The things we are doing are inherently dangerous. There are risks. If you mess up in
one area, in one simple knot, didn't lock your carabiner, one simple task, if you mess
that up, it could cost you your life.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It takes a lot of skill, a lot of practice, a lot of knowledge to know that you can safely rig
these lines up and be okay.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's your life, right? You've got to pay attention to it or else you might die.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Beautiful.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's nice to have people you can trust and rely on, you know? You come out here with
somebody, like Cady and I, and I can be like, "Hey, go build that anchor over there,"
and I know that that person is going to do it right and I can trust my life in their hands,
you know? That's the kind of friendships you're building.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are at the Fruit Bowl, the birthplace of GGBY.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
GGBY is one of the major slacklining festivals in the world. It's really a great area for
people to come out and congregate and highline together.
((NATS - Banjo song))
No more shackles on my feet
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh Glory
I'll fly away in the morning
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
((JP Baric – Slackliner))
I don't think I've really experienced something like this in my life. It’s in the middle of
nowhere. Like, we're out here, no cell phone coverage, you know, hundreds of people
camping. You had to hike to the area. But you're really out, kind of, just removed from
society, which can be great to kind of sit back and relax and really just reflect on life and
what you're looking to do and what you've done in the past.
((Crowd at festival))
It's definitely like a big family. Like, everyone's just here to hold each other up and just,
like, support each other. Yeah, you definitely feel that, every time you're out there.
((Patrick Thomas McCurry – Slackliner))
When I go out there, my heart's racing, and it feels amazing when you come off of it,
you feel like you're high on life. Seven years ago or so I wouldn't ever have thought I
would be doing something like this. You know, I didn't think I even had that sort of skill.
((Crowd at festival))
How does it feel?
((Slackliner))
Terrifying.
((NATS – Guitar music by Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The fact that I went through such a tragic experience at a young age, I was 11, it could
have taken me down a very different path. I could have let that hate build up and, you
know, I could have ended up in similar situation, addicted to drugs, but getting into the
slacklife I think really changed my life.
((Banner: Slacklife)
((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Martinez)
((Map: Moab, Utah )
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 1 male))
((Drone footage: Sylvan Christensen, Mercadi Carlson))
((Banjo singer: Amelia Fatsi))
((Guitar song by: Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
You really have to try and push past that mental blockage of everything telling you not
to go out there. And when you do that, when you push past that fear, you get to a sense
of flow state where everything else drops away and the only thing that matters is what
you're doing right now. And I think that's what really pushed me into highlining.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
My name is Sylvan Christensen and I am a canyoneering and climbing guide.
Slacklining is the act of balancing on either a one or two inch [25 or 50 mm] piece of flat
webbing using just your body.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
I was born here in Moab, Utah. And then we moved to Las Vegas. About a year after we
moved to Vegas, both of my parents passed away. It was ruled a murder-suicide. You're
faced with reality that life is fleeting. These people that mean the world to you and are
supposed to always be there sometimes go away. And I think that pushed me in the
direction of make the most out of life, push yourself, see what you're capable of.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
This slacklife, as we call it, called to me very strongly. You sort of go from normal,
everyday life into this state of high alertness high emotions. You are sort of exposed out
there, but the fact that you can calm that voice down in your mind and push yourself to
do it anyways is very empowering and it keeps you coming back.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are where I live, which is the slacklife headquarters, and we are all sort of
this combined force of athletic activities. Lots of skydiving, BASE jumping, rock climbing,
highlining, slacklining, canyoneering. You think of it, out here, somebody here does it.
((NATS))
((Andy Lewis, Slackliner))
I definitely was part of the golden era of highlining. So, as a pioneer, I definitely was
very creative. And now, it's just, everything has exploded in every direction. So, this
house has become like a community location, so, a lot of things happen from this spot.
So, that's why we've got the whole packing loft here. Sometimes it's very inspiring,
because like, I will have had a long day and then he'll come back and be, "Hey, we got
to rack for the next mission," and I'll think "Oh gosh,” but it keeps us both on our toes,
so.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Want to do some slacklining, love?
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Yeah.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Lots of slacklines, got a couple of tightlines. As you can see we've got chickens. It's egg
laying time. They're singing the egg song.
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Nice, baby.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
We've got a little bit of a midline, which is a slackline up in the tree. Get some exposure
training before you go out to the cliff.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Slacklining is actually been around since the 60s. Climbers in Yosemite started stringing
webbing up between trees as part of their off time activity to help with their balance and
help with their mental state, and it has since evolved into sort of its own sport. The
highlining in particular is sort of still a niche enough activity that, as we're pushing, we're
accomplishing records. We are existing in spaces where no other human has ever
existed before. And you feel that inspiration and it fuels to your activities. It fuels your
drive, your want for more.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The things we are doing are inherently dangerous. There are risks. If you mess up in
one area, in one simple knot, didn't lock your carabiner, one simple task, if you mess
that up, it could cost you your life.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It takes a lot of skill, a lot of practice, a lot of knowledge to know that you can safely rig
these lines up and be okay.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's your life, right? You've got to pay attention to it or else you might die.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Beautiful.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's nice to have people you can trust and rely on, you know? You come out here with
somebody, like Cady and I, and I can be like, "Hey, go build that anchor over there,"
and I know that that person is going to do it right and I can trust my life in their hands,
you know? That's the kind of friendships you're building.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are at the Fruit Bowl, the birthplace of GGBY.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
GGBY is one of the major slacklining festivals in the world. It's really a great area for
people to come out and congregate and highline together.
((NATS - Banjo song))
No more shackles on my feet
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh Glory
I'll fly away in the morning
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
((JP Baric – Slackliner))
I don't think I've really experienced something like this in my life. It’s in the middle of
nowhere. Like, we're out here, no cell phone coverage, you know, hundreds of people
camping. You had to hike to the area. But you're really out, kind of, just removed from
society, which can be great to kind of sit back and relax and really just reflect on life and
what you're looking to do and what you've done in the past.
((Crowd at festival))
It's definitely like a big family. Like, everyone's just here to hold each other up and just,
like, support each other. Yeah, you definitely feel that, every time you're out there.
((Patrick Thomas McCurry – Slackliner))
When I go out there, my heart's racing, and it feels amazing when you come off of it,
you feel like you're high on life. Seven years ago or so I wouldn't ever have thought I
would be doing something like this. You know, I didn't think I even had that sort of skill.
((Crowd at festival))
How does it feel?
((Slackliner))
Terrifying.
((NATS – Guitar music by Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The fact that I went through such a tragic experience at a young age, I was 11, it could
have taken me down a very different path. I could have let that hate build up and, you
know, I could have ended up in similar situation, addicted to drugs, but getting into the
slacklife I think really changed my life.
