Zhang Liang competing in the 2011 Yangshuo Rock Climbing Festival
At the 2012 KAILAS Yangshuo Rock Climbing Festival, in addition to rock climbing for beginners, a camping gathering, a mountain bike cross-country race, a travelers' wedding, a geek cosplay party, and a climbing music festival, will there also be a slacklining competition?
As this year’s Yangshuo Rock Climbing Festival draws nearer, the much-anticipated slacklining competition, which has garnered significant attention since last year, will be even more spectacular this year. Currently, several top slackliners have been invited to attend the event. As one of the hottest outdoor sports in 2012, slacklining has been shining with its unique appeal all over the country. Among them, Zhang Liang, known as the “first master of fancy slacklining in China,” has been invited to make another appearance in Yangshuo to exchange skills and compete with other slacklining experts.
Zhang Liang performing fancy slacklining (Photo provided by China Outdoor Photography)
It is reported that during the rock climbing festival, Zhang Liang will perform an impressive slacklining routine. As one of the few in China who can breakdance on a slackline, Zhang Liang will not only showcase his fancy slacklining skills at the festival but is also expected to take on challenges at some of Yangshuo’s famous high-altitude scenic spots. In short, there will be plenty of activities, non-stop excitement, more thrilling challenges, and more stunning performances at the Yangshuo Rock Climbing Festival. Registration in Yangshuo is currently in full swing, and the organizing committee is confirming details about more domestic and international elite participants. For registration and more information about the Yangshuo Rock Climbing Festival, please visit the official event website at www.rockclimbing.cn
The grand occasion of the 2011 Yangshuo Rock Climbing Festival slacklining competition
What you must know about slacklining
Slacklining, also called tightrope walking or “Slackline” in English, is a new sport where participants walk along a flat, narrow strap anchored between two points while maintaining their balance and even performing various tricks. It was pioneered by foreign mountaineers based on the traditional tightrope walking activity. The straps used in Slackline are typically 25mm wide and 3mm thick nylon webbing. It can serve as a training exercise for rock climbers to improve their balancing skills and is an independent, highly challenging balancing sport.
Slacklining originally started as an activity for foreign mountaineers and rock climbers to practice and experience related balance and mental focus. “Cool,” “fun,” “feeling the balance,” “challenging limits,” “zen”… or maybe the answer is simply, “Because the slackline is there!”