The sport of slacklining will be featured at the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Expo as a result of a partnership between Gibbon Slacklines and Vibram USA.Taking place on Nov. 1-4, 2012, Gibbon Slacklines will be hosting a Slackline Open and an interactive area at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.
Twenty-four of the world’s top slackline athletes will battle head-to-head, showcasing their most impressive flips, tricks and jumps on the 48-foot long and two-inch wide piece of flexible webbing called a slackline. Sponsored by Vibram USA, the competitions will take place on Nov. 2-4, and the interactive slackline area will be set up throughout the Expo for attendees to test their own balance while “walking the line.”
“We have seen incredible growth for the sport this year,” said Emilio Torres, vice president of sales at Gibbon Slacklines. “Gibbon has been traveling all across the U.S. hosting professional slackline competitions and teaching people what the sport is all about, and we’re happy to be hosting the Open in Gibbon’s home state of Colorado. Three years ago, the Denver Ski and Snowboard Expo was one of the first events to include slacklining and it’s amazing to see how much the sport has developed since then.”
The 24 pro slackliners will be competing in Denver for points in the world ranking for 2013. Round one of the competition will take place on Friday, November 2 at 4 p.m., with the second round at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the two quarterfinal rounds will take place at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The semifinals and final rounds will happen Sunday at 2 p.m.
Following the Slackline Open in Denver, Gibbon will be hosting the World Slackline Federation World Championships at The Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo on November 10-11, 2012, where the overall title of World Champion will be decided.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, slacklining is the act of balancing along a narrow, flexible piece of webbing which is low to the ground and usually anchored between two trees. Slacklining has become a recent feature of Madonna’s current MDNA tour where three Gibbon athletes are performing with the Material Girl. NBC’s “The Office” also recently featured the sport during their season nine premiere episode.
Gibbon is the world’s leading slackline manufacturer and is rapidly building the sport with their top-level pro team and by hosting competitions across the U.S. Gibbon’s easy-to-use equipment makes the sport accessible for anyone, from athletes to families, and has evolved slacklining into a cross-trainer, backyard activity, fitness trend and sport all of its own.
