It was just another average Thursday, some clouds in the sky and students running after the 99. But not for the VOC slackliners. At 5:00, the faffing began in the clubroom: us VOCers turned into technological ninjas as cords and laptops flew about in anticipation of the slacklining trailer, The Flying Frenchies. Despite all of the outdoor resourcefulness gathered in a single room, the technology was too much: no video.
Then the practice began! We were off, tying ourselves in a flurry of water knots, rap rings flying as beginner hands struggled to tie a simple line lock. Under the fearless guidance and patience of our slacklining master, Riley, we slowly got the hang of how to set up a slackline. Eventually, we were ready to take our new skills out of the protective indoors and out into the big, dangerous, student-filled outdoors underneath the shadowed forest of trees next to the SUB.
The journey was chaotic, as half of the group ventured in the wrong ways as with the traditional VOC fashion, only to be found later by one of our own who came to search for us. We arrived soon after to see some slackliners of the other kind. Amidst a scene of organized chaos, a slackline appeared between two trees and we stepped back only for a minute to enjoy our handiwork before the line collapsed upon sitting on it for the first time. Attempt #2: the line held as we became one footed ninjas on a one inch wide piece of webbing jumping on and off (or just off…). As darkness began to descend, our shaky beginnings turned into graceful balancing acts as we learned how to walk all over again.
Slowly, members of our group began to return to their docile lives, leaving the excitement and focus to the few remaining adventurists eager to find their inner zen and become one with the slackline. As the overhead lamps began to glow, only two beginner VOCers remained to watch in awe the tricks of the masters. As Blue Chip closed, and only pie r squared remained, it was time to depart and leave the memories of the evening behind. We will meet again, slackline. We are your masters.
Krista Cawley and Grace Young