V is for "V-Shape Extended" Highline

A couple days ago together with Wojtek we set up new highline on V-construction (which actually is holding the gas main) in Wrocław. We met at 12 o'clock and then the highline-crime begun. We were a tiny bit stressed at the beginning. As soon as we realized people down below even didn't see us (or just don't give a fuck) we started rigging our line. I used only one piece of "Type-18" webbing clipped to the slackline-bananas and spansets (main anchors). I padded with carpet every surface where the webbing or spansets were touching the structure. Soon the highline was ready and Wojtek could start shooting his footage. I walked 25m long highline 6 times (full-man) (it's about 30 meters above the ground). Still I was quite scared. It was weird feeling, unusual kind of fear. Focusing on this thin blue beam at the end was really difficult. In my opinion this highline has totally different kind of exposure.

Anyway it was fun for sure! I think it's really good place for mental training and I'll come back soon. Next time - longer highline or just walking steel cable on the top connecting structure 'arms' (have to think about some new leash for it, or like Damian said - "just do not fall" - it's so simple :P).

Wojtek decided to name this movie "V". Down below you can find some frames:







Karol showed up too and took some pictures of setting up and "behind the scenes".


photo by Karol Osowiecki

You can find all of them here:

Photo gallery 1
Photo gallery 2

We were done at 4 o'clock. We didn't get any troubles from anyone. I rigged down, took all the equipment and went back to my home.

You can find all updates about new movie on Wojtek's blog

Today I went for some longline session. The day was sunny and almost all snow was gone (fuck yeah, common spring!). I set up alone 139 meters line - it was really hard work, even with nice gear. I walked it 3 times (FM) and it was already almost dark. Usually I posted all info on the forum but only Karol visited me in a park. We set up trickline too. It was good day.






All photos from longline session by Karol Osowiecki

I'm looking forward for the trip to Meteora - hopefully Faith and I will get some sponsorship. It will not only great highline time. I'm happy to meet my friends again, especially Jordan, Bernhard and Marty. After US Highline Trip I feel motivated to do more projects - go longer, higher ... next level - where is it?


photo by Bernhard Witz

Peace & SlackOn!

"White Noise"

The movie from first longline session is ready. Wojtek called it "White Noise". After watching the video it's easy to figure out why he chose this name. I already saw final footage and really liked it. Right now Wojtek is waiting for permission to use one song in the soundtrack. I think we will co-operate on some slackline projects together.


Official premiere on vimeo in a few days ...

I went again for the winter longline session. I set up the same line and walked on it a bit more than 1km (10 times/5 full-man laps) without any falls. It was sunny day, but felt colder then the last time. I used the same method - during brakes warming up with down jacket and hot tea from my vacuum flask. Next time I have to bring sunglasses (it's hard to focus during sunny day, walking above the snow) more tea because my new goal is to walk the line 10 times full-man (4 times/2 laps full-man in one run without sitting down). My plan for the future is to find out the best training for longlines and highlines. Probably the solution is simple - just do this things systematically, but I just like to have some kind of plan. Soon I should get 270m piece of webbing from Landcruising and hopefully start long-term partnership with this great company.

Talking about slackline projects - tomorrow I'll set up an urban highline on the "Y-construction" in my city. Together with Jordan Tybon we set up one highline ("V-Shaped" Highline) on this structure (2009).


photo by Jordan Tybon

More photos

Tomorrow I'll set up longer highline, and Wojtek will try to do some sick footage from some different angles (also from above the highline, hanging on the steel cable on the top). Hopefully the weather will be good enough, we'll have fun ... without any police (he, he).

Checked out Wojtek's blog

Peace & SlackOn!

Winter Longline Session

I spent already one week in Poland since I am back from the "US Highline Trip". Finally I decided to do something ... The weather in Poland is not perfect but it was way colder when I was in US. I'm really happy that I skipped the biggest frosts hear and didn't have real winter this year. Yesterday I went to longline. The ground was cover by deep snow. Together with Wojtek we set up 104 meters line. I used my new equipment and I'm really excited - SMC pulleys ("NFPA Prusik Minding Pulley-DBL") and rigging plate are working perfect! Beefy spansets are also nice thing to have (I got them from "Western Rigging Products, Inc." in San Francisco). My friend made some video footage with his camera. I think so the final product should be interesting. Wojtek just started with making and editing movies but his experienced photographer. You can find really nice photos on his website - "vacaspurpuras" , or check out his last (first production) movie from bouldering:

"A day without friction"


http://www.vimeo.com/9295144

It was really good session. I want to longline more and more - it's such a good feeling. The only problem is that I need something longer than my 130m piece of webbing to get better. I can always experiment with tension and make my line not so tight but it'll be nice to walk something really long.
I made 4 laps without falling and some tricks for Wojtek's movie (surfing on +100m line is fuckin' hard!). I had great time and probably will repeat it on Sunday (maybe something longer).
You can find photo of my longline rigging down below (photos by Wojtek Kozakiewicz):



More photos

List of the gear used for this line:

- 2 x double SMC "NFPA Prusik Minding Pulley-DBL",
- SMC rigging plate,
- spansets from "Western Rigging Products, Inc.",
- 2 x shackle 3 1/4 WLL from "Slackstar",
- 2 x 65kN binner from "Omega",
- ID,
- one double "Gemini" pulley from Petzl and one simple CT pulley for multiplayer (+ 2 non-locking binners and Tibloc from Petzl),
- 2 x slackline-banana from Kwjet + adjustable slings "Missing Link" from SBI,
- 100m piece of "White Magic" from Landcruising.de,
- 60m static rope (diameter 11mm)
* rubber tree-protection from Slackline-Tools.de

In the nearest future I'll start posting some articles from 'US Highline Trip'. Right now I'm trying to organize some stuff, earn money and hopefully go to Meteora together with Faith :)

Peace & SlackOn!