Shi Hailin's 109 Yard Slackline Feat Over Jinsha River

Sixty miles upriver from a city of golden Buddhas, the Jinsha River thunders, slicing Yunnan Province, China. On September 24, the waterway became a plank for a Chinese athlete to walk across. On one journey over 109 yards, Shi Hailin showed what a man was made of and what his sport was capable of.

The art of a long walk: what is slackline athletics?

Slacklining is a balancing act; it combines elements of yoga, rock climbing, and extreme parkour. Slackliners begin with a nylon strap pulled tight between two points. At the start, the slackline isn't as taut as one might think: Before walking on it, the line usually droops in the middle. Slacklining has a wide range of disciplines, from gracefully balanced walks to gymnastics 20 feet above the forest floor. The Chinese slackline athlete, Shi Hailin, practices highlining: a challenging, and sometimes deadly, offshoot of slacklining that involves balancing on a thin line above a deep, rushing river. Increasingly popular throughout the world, the sport has grown from a fringe pastime to an extreme sport that sports enthusiasts recognize. Slacklining requires few tools, but it demands patience and self-discipline. Adept slackliners can cross a highline with the grace of a ballet dancer, while novices may struggle to keep themselves stable on a lowline. To learn slacklining, a novice must understand that "This sport is a journey. You learn a little each time you try a line. It’s particularly rewarding when you finally master the line you want." Shi Hailin walked the line on September 24, 2023.

Cultural currents and the risks of slacklining

In China, Shi Hailin is known as one pioneer of slackline athletics, and the recent journey at the Jinsha River fuels that reputation. Shi is not the only extreme sportsman who has taken a zany approach to workouts out. And Shi's journey highlights more than just the extreme lengths an athlete will take to walk a tight rope. It's also a testament to the culture of risk that extreme athletes embrace, and it introduces an important question: How far can—and should—sports like slacklining go? Other slacklining daredevils can be reminded of the sport's humble roots, where the experience of walking a thin line between two trees had more to do with building patience than showcasing skill. A self-proclaimed “fearless spirit," Shi may underestimate the risks involved, risks that make slacklining less of a sport and more of a dare. The extreme danger of slacklining seen at the Jinsha demands awareness and preparation from all involved. The thrill of watching someone walk over a river begs us to forget the danger: The challenge can be a gamble, and Shi would win a lot and lose quite a bit.

The destination and the journey

Against the current, knowing the line.

The distance of a slackline is crucial to consider, and many skilled slackliners begin with a longer line then shorter and more challenging lines. Shi Hailin traversed a 109-yard stretch of slackline spanning the Jinsha River. Shi's journey was a daring, yet documented feat; the proximity of the chinois sportsman to the ground, the stability of the line, and the overall intensity of the drop are evidence of Shi's mastery. At present, 109 yards is not the longest slackline. The current world record for the longest highline walk is 2,287 meters. But the duration of a slackline has less to do with how far it stretches, as with how difficult it is to balance on it. This makes a slackline's base—its anchor points—critical.

Building a line: topography and technique

Slackliners always have to be on the lookout for a suitable place to build a line. Slacklining involves considering factors present in the terrain, such as the depth of the water, the difference between high and low tide, the width of the river, the material of the riverbanks, and the rocks that are slightly submerged. The weather and the equipment are important, too. Shi Hailin navigated a 109-yard stretch of slackline on September 24, 2023. He mastered a highline walk on the closest point. The Jinsha River’s flow is fast and strong. The river is so strong that Shi Hailin had to keep moving to avoid being pulled under. Then, the slacklining material and its installation is vital. To keep the line tight, slackliners must calibrate the tension precisely, and an incorrectly positioned highline can be dangerous. Finally, slackliners have to gauge the line’s slope, because a line that slopes downward is easier to traverse the opposite direction.

A bold journey with Chinese cultural context

Those who have seen the footage of the feat still cannot help but marvel at the sight of a Chinese slackline athlete balancing high above a river with current that jumps with a wide current. The combination of the protracted silence of the balancing act and the thunderous river below creates a daredevil atmosphere. The experience of the entire journey is a very intense one, with spectators talking about it for hours and days.

If your head is not in the game, do not walk the line

If you're thinking of trying slacklining, begin by taking a few measured steps. There is a crucial distinction between skills, the discipline of balance achieved through training, and real natural talent. Begin by walking a lowline, ideally with the guidance of an expert. Gradually progress to a higher, longer line; take nothing for granted, and remember that the sport is not just about the destination, but the journey.

• Location: Make sure you are in a safe, controlled, and legal environment to build and walk a slackline. Consider using equipment like padding or a harness.
• Practice: Start with a slackline close to the ground, then move higher, and longer.
• Equipment: Make sure you buy a high-quality slackline kit, including straps, rats, and anchors.
• Advice: There are a lot of ways to test your own slacklining skills. Find a mentor and practice on slopped tracks.

Your first step – be careful be well-versed in the purpose, and it will be a stable ground for your future slackline journey.

The air above the Jinsha River is still thick with adrenaline. But adventure is not about trying to get your heart racing all the time. Shi Hailin is living proof of the saying, “If you can walk on a line, you can walk anywhere.”