Athletes Navigate 2-centimeter Wide, 1-kilometer Long Rope in 'Slackline King' Contest, Held in China
The Slackline King Championship returned for its eighth edition this August, attracting elite athletes from around the globe to the picturesque Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Central China. This annual event, held since 2018, showcases the competitors' skills in a display of courage, wits, and balance, as they navigate a challenging slackline course set at an altitude of 1,092 meters above a Chinese gorge.
The competition features a 1-kilometer long slackline, suspended between two towering mountains. The course is no easy feat, as the slackline is only about two millimeters thick and an inch wide. Competitors are allowed a maximum of three falls while completing the course, and the winner is determined by the fastest time to cross the 1,000-meter slackline with three or fewer falls.
This year, the event saw the participation of approximately 20 athletes from countries including China, United States, France, Argentina, and Brazil. The 2025 champion was Luxembourg's Archie Williams, with second and third places taken by athletes from Poland and China respectively.
The Slackline King Championship is known for its challenging conditions and high altitude, making it one of the most difficult and complex highlines in the world. The competition takes place at the Huangshizhai scenic spot in central China's Hunan province, where the athletes face the daunting task of crossing the 2-centimeter-wide rope while maintaining their balance and composure.
Elite athletes are limited in the number of falls they can make while attempting to cross the slackline. The person who crosses the slackline in the shortest time receives a cash prize of 100,000 yuan and a gold medal, making the title of "Slackline King" a highly coveted one.
Since its inception, the Slackline King Championship has become an annual global phenomenon, showcasing the best slackliners in the world in a thrilling display of skill and determination. The competition continues to push the boundaries of what is possible on a slackline, providing an unforgettable experience for both competitors and spectators alike.
