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"  Slacklining started in the late 1970s as a rainy-day pastime for rock climbers in California&amp;#039;s Yosemite Valley. Unlike tightrope or high-wire walking, slacklining is done without using a pole and, as the name would imply, on a stretch of nylon webbing that has some give. Dean Potter, originally famous for soloing some of the hardest climbs in the world without the aid or the protection of a rope, learned to slackline a few decades ago from one of the sport&amp;#039;s founders, Chongo Tucker. Today Potter is probably just as renowned for having stretched lines 2600 feet over Yosemite Falls and for walking without the reassurance of a tether that would save his life if he fell. But along with Josh Greenwood, a professional slackliner who taught Madonna the sport, Potter says that it&amp;#039;s a fascinating challenge close to the ground as well. And Greenwood, a former gymnast, recommends slacklining as a full-body workout. Here are both experts&amp;#039; tips for getting started. GEAR If you already have rock-climbing equipment, Potter says, putting up a slackline is as simple as setting a toprope. Otherwise, buy a kit from a company such as Gibbon Slacklines. For around $75, you can get a ratcheting device and 2-inch-wide webbing custom-made for the sport. SETUP Wrap the line around one tree and connect it to the ratchet system, which should be anchored to another tree up to 20 feet away. &amp;quot;You want it nice and low, maybe a foot off the ground,&amp;quot; says Greenwood, who is a member of Gibbon&amp;#039;s pro team, &amp;quot;and keep it short&amp;quot; to minimize bounce while you learn.  TREE CARE When the anchors are snug but not tight, work carpet remnants or blankets beneath the webbing to protect the tree&amp;#039;s bark.  TENSION The line should remain just under knee height as you bounce on it. The webbing will stretch during your first session; adjust it with the ratchet. FIRST STEPS Potter suggests slightly elevating a short section of line between two boxes, or between one box and a tree. This reduces wobble. &amp;quot;Practice standing on one foot, then the other foot, then both feet,&amp;quot; he says. &amp;quot;Once you can stand with both feet, taking a step is a lot easier.&amp;quot;  BALANCE TIPS First, don&amp;#039;t look down. &amp;quot;Empty your head and just focus on your breath and watch the anchor point,&amp;quot; says Potter. Second, balance by making an upturned U shape with your arms. Finally, use your unweighted foot as another balancing aid. &amp;quot;You can use that foot as a way to catch yourself,&amp;quot; Greenwood says. &amp;quot;You&amp;#039;re walking, start to wobble, and if you take one foot off, you&amp;#039;ll be able to stop the wobble.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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