You can define tricklining as the practice of as using a slackline like a trampoline to bounce and do aerial maneuvers.
Trickling has branched off from slacklining and has become its own discipline with a unique culture, with many events and competitions held all over the world.
Tricklining can be very dangerous before you attempt any tricks you should spend some time to master the basics slackline maneuvers first, such as standing on the line and walking the line.
How to use this guide
This guide is broken up into a few section,
How to choose the right slackline for doing tricks and what is involved in setting up a slackline
Tricklining safety
How to get started using a slackline, then I show examples of beginner, intermediate and advanced level tricks.
At the end of the guide, I have included additional resources to help you locate a tricklining communitys and continue to learn more about tricklining
How to choose the right slackline for doing tricks
Tricklining has rapidly grown as a sport in over the last few years, so there are many different options to choose from if you are looking to get into trickling.
I wanted to keep this guide simple, so I only picked three of the best slacklines for beginners looking to get into tricklinng in this handbook.
If you are not able to find the slacklines mentioned in this guide here are some of the things you should look for in a good trickline.
Tips for getting a good trickline
Good tricklines should be able to give you a lot of bounce but also be able to absorb your landings smoothly without causing pain.
Double ratchet or pulley systems are preferred because they will allow you to quickly dial in the right amount of tension to the line to get a good bounce.
Choosing the right slackline webbing is important because it can effect how high of bounce you will get from the line.
The Gibbon Andy Lewis Signature Trickline
The sole purpose of this line is to get maximum bounce height for tricklining.
The kit comes with a 2 inch (50mm) wide webbing that is 72 ft. (22M) long and is set up with a double ratchet system and also come with tree protection.
This line also has markings on the webbing so you have a reference to where you can find the best spots to bounce on the line.
THE GIBBON JIB LINE
The jib line in use
The Jib line set comes with a 2 in wide webbing that is 41 feet long and is set up with a single ratchet system.
This line is primarily made to give you the right bounce height for tricklining but is shorter than the Andy Lewis line.
The Gibbons Surfer Line
The X13 Surf line comes with webbing that is 2 inch (50mm) wide 98 ft. (30M) long, a single ratchet that has an extended handle to allow more leverage for tightening up a longer slack line.
This line provides less bounce height than the Andy Lewis trickline but can also be used for getting into longline walking and line surfing
The Andy Lewis signature trickline vs the Gibbons surfline vs the jib line
The Andy Lewis line is the best choice for an overall trickline. The longer length of the webbing will give you more option for setting the line up and types of skills you want to work practice.
Additionally, the double ratchet system will allow you get more tension on the line allowing for higher bounces.
The Jib line is the best choice of a trickline if you are on a budget because it is cheaper than the Andy Lewis line.
The shorter line will give you fewer options for setting it up and types of skills you can practice.
The Jib line only comes with one ratchet, so it will harder to dial in the tension on the line, this will make the line a bit less bouncy.
The surfer line is best to choose if you are looking for a multi purposes line that will also enable you to practice longline walking and line surfing
How to set up a single and double ratchet trick line
In the video below you can what is involved as well as the differences in setting up a trickline with a single and double ratchet system.
For additional tips on how to set up a slackline, check out my slackline 101 guide how to set up a slackline.
Don't worry if you do not have any tree to set up a trickline it, you can still set one up, but it is a bit more complicated.
Check out my guide to setting up a slackline without any trees for some ideas on how you can do it.
Tip for extending the the life of your ratchet when taking down your slackline.
This awesome tip from the people over at slackline.co.uk shows you how to prevent excessive wear to the teeth of your ratchet when you are taking them down.
Tricklining safety
The number one safety rule to tricklining is to always back up your ratches.
Backing up the ratchet is done by tying the ratchet to the tree so in the event of a rigging failure the ratchet does not come flying off and hit you.
For many more tips on slackline safety, check out my slackline safety guide.
This video shows few ways you can back up a ratchet.
There are many different ways you can backup a slackline ratchet; this video shows a few examples.
Example of what can happen if you do not back up your ratchet.
Warning the video shows a split open knee at the end
Tricklining Crash Pads
Crash pads are mats or pads that are placed under the slackline to help soften falls from slacklines.
You can choose from many different brands, but most experienced slackliners use pads made for rock climbing because they can be cheaper and are more portable than gymnastic mats and are designed to be used outdoors.
How to get started tricklining
Once you have mastered the basics skills of walking, standing, and setting up a slackline you can move on to learn some basic tricks.
Some of the beginner tricks are not all that spectacular on their own, but they help build the confidence to attempt some of the more advanced tricks.
Most beginner tricks can be viewed as the building blocks for the more advanced tricks because the advanced tricks use parts of or principals of the beginner's tricks and build off of them.
Beginner trickline tricks
Intermediate slackline tricks
Advanced slackline tricks
additional resources
Meetup.com is a great place to see if there are any trickliners in your local area.
Trickline meet ups are perfect for beginners because you can test out different slackline setups for free, get advice from more experienced trickliners and meet interesting people.
reddit.com/r/Slackline/ Is an online community that is dedicated to all types of slacklining including tricklining.
They have a wealth of information and are friendly about answering any noob questions.
http://slackline.hivefly.com/slackline-tricks-encyclopedia/ is the best resource of slackline tricks I could find.
The site is updated frequently and is working on compiling a video playlist of every single slackline trick out there.
Trickling competitions are becoming more common now because of the growth of trickling, particularly in Europe.
Entering into amateur trickline competitions is a good way to meet fellow trickliners and to stay motivated in your training
If you think anything else should be added or I got something wrong in this guide, let me know in the comment section, I will review your comment and update this guide if necessary because I want all the guides on this site to be as accurate as possible.
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