Jay Vanparia/Staff Writer
The Modesto A. Madique campus has been the playground for a group of slack line enthusiasts since the beginning of spring break. It was initiated by two FIU students, Tico Ginart and Chris Bonilla.
Ginart, a junior Hospitality major said, “It all started after I watched an inspiring documentary about the world’s best slack liner on the internet. Being into extreme sports, I wanted to try it straight away.”
Ginart and Bonilla purchased the equipment online and started to practice near the housing quad.
“The equipment is affordable and just costs about $50 and will last for about five years. So it’s a pretty good investment,” said Ginart.
Slack lining is an extreme adventure sport that involves walking or balancing on a suspended length of flat webbing, tensioned between two anchors. Professional slack liners practice at dangerous locations like a valley or a river. These individuals use harnesses, but those who love thrills and adventure avoid that extra piece of equipment.
“Mastering any sport requires practice and that is why we try to take out as much time as possible for [slack lining], so that we get better and better,” said Bonilla, a junior Communication Arts major.
The group of students call themselves “Slackers Only” and anybody who is interested can join them on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 3 p.m. at the GC lawns. Owing to the overwhelming positive response, the group has decided to take a step further and register themselves as a formal student club with the Council of Student Organizations next summer.
“We get people of all kinds who see us practicing and develop an interest into the sport. College students, professor, even some high school kids are regular visitors to our practice spot,” said Ginart.
One does not need to be extremely fit to participate because “Slackers Only” focus on the beginner level before trying to do tricks and moves on the slack line. The group usually practices by suspending the slack line between two sturdy trees anywhere on campus and keeping a low height.
Ginart and Bonilla guide and advise students who want to advance in the sport. They provide them with an insight of the experience of starting slack lining with zero knowledge.
“Our motto to encourage the potentially pro slack liners is ‘Hug a Tree,’ so that they know that when they start to walk the line, they have to do it all the way and hug the opposite tree,” said Ginart.
When Bonilla first started to practice slack lining, he went too enthusiastic and suspended the slack line at a dangerous height, and started trying out professional tricks. He ended up ripping his ankle in the process. Ginart and Bonilla make sure that students are practicing safe slack lining and not putting themselves in danger.
This initiative by the two students has a positive effect on the FIU student body. The students can genuinely distress and come into touch with nature with this sport. Ginart and Bonilla usually ask the students to go barefoot so that they can experience nature more closely and make the most of the sport.
“I encourage people to bring speakers or some portable musical instrument to enjoy this experience and take some serious interest into this sport,” added Chris.
You can follow the group on Instagram at SlackersOnlyFIU for updates, practice locations and information about the various events hosted by the group.