A slackline balances across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech Pacewicz
The 6th Urban Highline Festival wound up in Lublin on Sunday, with daredevils walking on lines between some of the city’s key buildings.
Slackliners walk on a slackline across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech Pacewicz
170 aces from 25 countries took part in the jaw-dropping antics, which are part of the annual Conjurers Carnival in Lublin. Highlining is the highest form of slacklining, neither of which should not be confused with walking the tightrope. “The difference is that the line stretches, it moves along its entire length,” festival organiser Jan Galek told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
“Tightrope walkers typically make use of a pole to help keep their balance, and the line that they are walking along is taut.” 'Slackers’ have no such aids, relying on their wits alone. That said, each 'slacker’ was fitted with a special harness in Lublin to guard against potentially fatal falls.
A slackline balances across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech Pacewicz
Besides historic mansions and houses in the Old Town, participants also walked between higher edifices, including city government office buildings (pictured). “This sport is actually for everyone,” Galek argued. “It doesn’t require any great physical effort.” However, Lublin locals were clearly impressed. “This is amazing, I think it requires a lot of courage,” one spectator told PAP. “I’m already tired out, because you have to turn your head back to watch it, and you get sucked in and it’s hard to leave,” he added. (nh)
Slackliners walk on a slackline across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech PacewiczA slackline walks across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech PacewiczSlackliners walk on a slackline across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech PacewiczA slackline balances across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech PacewiczSlackliners walk on a slackline across skyscrapers during the 6th Urban Highline Festival in Lublin, Poland, 26 July 2014. This festival is the one biggest highline festival on the world, was attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. EPA/Wojciech Pacewicz
