Girls Only Slackline Festival 2016

The best yet, and the biggest. 50 women showed up to the Czech sandstones to test themselves on several beautiful highlines. Stay tuned for the film!

Girls Only Slackline Festival III (movie and article)

Girls Only Slackline Festival III from kletterkiddies on Vimeo.

The Girls Only Slackline Festival

Please enjoy this beautiful film sponsored by Kletter Kiddies Productions. Thank you to Josef Nezerka (Himmelreich Cottage) for added sponsorship of the festival. To read a little about the event, please see below.

It is all about balance. This simple phrase permeates life in more ways than one, in the sport of slacklining it can be taken literally, however in the world of outdoor and extreme sports it can mean so much more. Women all over the world are constantly striving to find this balance in their lives, be it in a political sense or in the terms of gender roles. We are different than men, but no less equal, and sometimes it seems the best way to bring balance to something like outdoor sports is to support women separately and create an event just for girls. Tilting the scale is a slow process, and a woman in the world of outdoor and/or extreme sports knows that to practice these activities means being a minority in the gender department. There is no lack of interest from women, however the media seems to constantly portray climbers and other extreme sports athletes as masculine, and highlining in particular fits right in with that symbolism. It is no secret that there are more men than women in these particular activities, but no one seems to know why. As the organizer of the GOSF and one of the few females in the sport of highlining, this question nags at me frequently. I search all aspects of life for the answers, and I constantly come back to pop culture, it's portrayal of women and what is considered feminine, and the harsh reality that we only starting voting legally a century ago. I think many girls underestimate what they are capable of, and what I really hope to accomplish by starting the wave of Girls Only Festivals is that if anything, these girls will dare dream, dare to push themselves, and dare to try something that might appear to be a "man's sport."

In my experience of highlining and climbing, girls have a different energy than boys, and if anything creating a place for girls to be the center of attention, to have as much time on a line as they like and to share the experience with each other, I hoped to create a special atmosphere and a way for girls around the world to see what other women are up to! I organized the first GOSF after several female highliners expressed feeling intimidated by the amount of boys in the sport, their high level energy at the lines and the loud atmosphere they often encountered. I felt like it was a great opportunity to make an event just for the ladies! Not only to give them all the time on the slacklines and highlines they needed, but also to connect girls with each other, promote our gender in the sport, and share knowledge and experience with one another. I had hoped girls around the world might pick up the idea and create their own versions of the event, so on each continent could be a meeting such as this one, and this year there is an All Girls Slackline Festival being held in the USA. There should be no misconception, the idea is not to separate women and men, only to balance the scales and I think creating an event just for women is a step in this direction. Eventually there will not be a need for the "Girls Only" title because there will be enough females to represent themselves equally. I think girls AND boys can cheer for that.

I chose Czech Republic for the location based on the fact that it was the center point between the European countries with the most slackliners and highliners. The location is also a magical forest of sandstone towers, with quite easy access and the added bonus of great Czech food and beer. The focus of the festival is highlining, which is the most difficult level of the sport and the hardest to gain access to because of the intensity of rigging and climbing knowledge. The first year there was only 6 girls who attended, however there appeared to be good progress as the second year of the festival brought 20 girls representing 8 different countries. Now we are on the verge of the 4th annual Girls Only Slackline Festival, and I am excited to see new and old friends! Overall, I am excited to see the progress of females in all aspects of life, especially outdoor sports such as highlining, and I hope girls everywhere can strive and push themselves in whatever they choose to do, because we are strong, and nothing should stop us. 

That Slackline Girl

Thank you to Kletter Kiddies!


THAT SLACKLINE GIRL from kletterkiddies on Vimeo.

New Highline Female World Record

96.5 meters long (315 feet) "Master of the Universe" Highline in Ostrov, Czech Republic
Rigged on double vectran with the SWEL team, sent one direction.

Also established a new 22m long highline, "Czexas" and ticked off another free solo full man.

More info to come soon!

New Female Free Solo Highline Record

There is a nice line in Ostrov that was calling me to solo it. The first experience on this highline was Summer, 2012, when some Czech friends came and rigged it. At 28 meters, it was a couple meters longer than my longest solo, and this intimidated me. I on sighted it in an ankle leash, however it was a shakey walk on strange rigging, and it left me less than confident.

The next time it was rigged I did not even walk it in an ankle leash; I was scared enough in a swami and listened to my intuition to wait a bit longer. The line is called 28 Hertz, walked first by Kwjet (from my somewhereelseland team) when we rigged it's longer neighbor, Electro Boogie (36 meters). It is inside a kind of cove of sandstone towers, and therefore feels protected, yet it does not lack in exposure. In the middle of the line you are very aware of the drop beneath you, and you feel the whole valley on the side sucking at your being. The line is beautiful. I think at it's highest point it is 30 meters, but I need to laser this to be sure.

Being a highline free soloist you meet many different reactions to taking this "risk." It is continually a controversial topic in the slackine realm, despite the fact that climbers have been soloing for ages and are for the most part respected as masters of their craft. I consider myself an ethical free soloist for the most part, I am not reckless or soloing for attention, it is a personal experience and while I never want to "subject" someone to witnessing me leash-less, in some cases you feel the moment the solo beckons and you must answer at that moment. I suppose soloing is very much about living in the moment, you must be completely aware of every atom in your physical being, aware of every reaction your body makes to the situation. For me, it is the purest form of highlining. Something that is special for me is that free solo is teaching me how to differentiate between fear and intuition. I have only backed off of one or two solo's before, and there is no regret. I want to clearly see what I am capable of and not push myself to a point of danger, but learn how to control my fear to the point where I can progress without risk.

Soloing in Moab, photo Scott Rogers

I would never suggest free soloing to anyone. When I started highlining, free solo was so far out of the realm of possibility, I swore I would never embark on such a mission, but 5 months into my highline career I found myself walking leashless, and it opened a door for me which lead to a new form of human experience. I have created this catalyst for self understanding, and I hope I never injure or kill myself in the pursuit of ultimate mind control; however I accept the risk.

What many people fail to remember is just how dangerous most "normal" things in life are. How many people are in car accidents? How many people crash on their bicycles, or catch the flu? What about cancer? There are a million things that can kill us in this world, and most are totally out of our control. Free solo is totally in my control. Yes, it is a selfish pursuit, for if something was to happen I will be inflicting grief on those who care about me, and yet I will be dying for something I love and find worth in, so it will not be a mistake. I am unattached now, so this is the time for me to pursue such things. I believe that when you have a family your responsibility is much greater, but until that point I will continue seeking the meditative, mind and body control that soloing is a vessel for. I should probably write a will about all my gear, huh?

I am on a tangent---back to the point of the post!
During the Girls Only Slackline Festival this year (the third edition!) I rigged a 15 meter long highline for the beginners, which was good solo preparation. I felt entirely calm and unaffected by going without security.

Photo by Kletter Kiddies

Behind this line was the 28 Hertz, my free solo project. With threaded tubular and polyester backup and perfect tension, I had the feeling that it would be the weekend. The atmosphere was perfect---girls everywhere, trying hard and overcoming their fears, while trusted photographers were there to document the festival. I was not worried about lack of documentation as there were about 6 girls around to witness anyways! I asked them first, and said if anyone was uncomfortable to watch a free solo to please leave temporarily. After multiple ankle leash crossings, I felt that I knew the movement of the line well enough.

Photo Kletter Kiddies

I trusted the rigging, and the clouds covering the sun gave for the perfect lighting. I took the leash once more to the far tower, untied the bowline from my ankle and scooted out. Immediately my body was tense, and though my mind felt strong some inner conscience was very aware I was in "danger." Deep breaths, the right songs playing on my mp3 player, and I was standing up from the chongo, taking my first step across the 28 meter (92 feet) highline. My muscles were vibrating, a shake that transferred to the line to create a fast wobble. I was shouting at myself like on a long highine, "Come on! Come on Faith! Keep walking!"

Photo by Fly

I could see a few girls on the other anchor staring at me, huddled around the tower top not moving an inch. I felt the silence despite the music in my ears. I thought about how everyone there wanted me to make it to the other side, and this thought was uplifting. My mind passed between thoughts of nothing and thoughts of what I was doing. The middle of the line was a challenge, it shook but I kept my back straight and remembered the technique I had spent 3 years developing. It seemed endless! Stepping onto the other rock I was smiling, letting out the breath of fear from my lungs, vitality! This was not the last free solo, but it was an important one---it made me realize that I don't need complete stillness and calm to stay in control, I only have to keep walking through the vibration of fear in my body.

Photo by Fly

The leash was on the other side, so after a sip of water and a quick rest, I soloed back to get it.

Photo by Kletter Kiddies

After walking the line full man free solo, it seemed silly to tie an ankle leash on, so I removed it from the line and carried it around my torso, free soloing for a third time. The nervous vibration remained for every walk, but was less on the last one. I felt so happy. Endorphins? Is it all completely scientific and boring? Or is there something spiritual in that experience---of standing in space, balancing, using every iota of my being to LIVE?!

Talking about the feeling. Photo by Kletter Kiddies

In relation to this post I have added my TED talk about Fear:

                                             

Moving to the "Island" of Ostrov

For Sure Highline from faith dickey on Vimeo.

This year turned out to be kind of apocalyptic after all. Tumultuous changes turned new leaves, and I moved away from Poland. Spring was slow coming, and the bitter cold left me impatient for it's arrival. I needed a place to live, and in the humble life path I had become accustomed to living the slacklife, I was unable to rent a flat somewhere. Somehow, the idea of moving to Ostrov seemed like a good one, and my good friend Pino at Autokemp Pod Cisarem welcomed me with open arms and work to keep me busy until the warmth arrived. It was bitter sweet to pack as much gear as I could carry into my two Deuter backpacks, hit the road with my thumb and finally see the sign of one of my favorite places on earth; Ostrov. 

 

The camp was waiting as simply and beautifully as I remembered it, an old pub that is as outdoor-punk as I am. 

My room was a shared one with the other seasonal employees.

Pino had plenty of work for me to stay busy with, helping him mill wood, varnish it and repair the cabins. I enjoyed this work, laborious but with lots of learning involved.

After a day of labor in the cold Spring, coming inside to a warm fire and good goulash was as much as I could ask for.

Besides working and trying to highline, I found extreme joy in exploring the still Wintery landscape all around me. The forest and rocks were so incredible in this scenery, a magical and unreal universe.

I experienced my first completely solo highline mission during this time in Ostrov. I had a non slacklining friend visiting from Ireland, so she came along, however rigging and walking was completely up to me. It was so liberating to be solely responsible. I had to organize and sort gear beforehand to be sure as not to forget something, then upon arriving at the towers of choice I needed to climb up both sides repeatedly to complete the process of slinging the towers, making the anchors, dropping the lines to the ground, tying them together, pulling the line up and tensioning. 

A local family with a vacation home in Ostrov have a daughter who slacklines named Hannah. She was eager to try highlining and I naturally jumped at the chance to potentially get more girls in to the sport. She learned the chongo (sit start) on the highline! It was incredible! After several good tries she called it quits, but I think if she is ambitious she would be a great highliner!

I left this line up (called For Sure Highline, 18 meters in length, I nabbed the first ascent) for days, enjoying the ability to take a short hike up and highline at will. I walked in various leashes, trying to come back to highline shape after a big break. The rigging involved about 12 meters of slings on one side (the anchor shared with NarcoBaron) and 10m on the other side. Both sides are accessible without rope.

Ankle leashes are one of my favorite ways to walk highlines, and as you can see I had a blast doing it on this one!

I had a feeling while rigging this line that it would be a soloable one, and after a day I had the pleasure of walking it with no leash. There was no one around, I was completely alone. The cold Spring kept most tourists and climbers away, so I only had the natural sounds of the forest for company. It was beautiful. I was at my own will completely, with no one else around to distract me or for me to be concerned about. 

The solo was perfect, one of the easier ones which reminds me why I find such joy in the experience. I was stable, smooth, in complete control of my fear and my muscles. My thoughts were clear and I could fully enjoy the full man walk. Thanks to a borrowed GoPro I was able to capture it. 

Sometimes fellow highliners would come on the weekends and install their own lines, which was always great for me! I could roll out of bed, stroll up to an already rigged line, and have a walk! On one such occasion my Czech friends came and rigged a 47 meter line in Himmelreich area, which I had never walked before. They finished late in the day so I was unable to walk it, and I had to depart the next day very early. I swore I would wake up at 7:30am in order to walk the line, and no one believed me as apparently I have a reputation for enjoying my sleep (who doesn't?) I am stubborn and enjoy saying "I told you so," therefore I did wake up early, had a tea and took Pino as company to walk the highline. 47m in length is no joke, and I was pretty rusty after my break, so I was unsure of the outcome. In addition, it was freezing cold with snow! I hiked up to the line, climbed the chimney of rock to get to the anchor, and in multiple layers quickly took off my socks and shoes. My feet were not happy to greet the bitter cold, but I was determined to walk the line. 

                                             

            

                                     

It was a fight but I managed to walk the line first try both directions! Thank you Pino for the photos. 

In my spare time I strolled around the vacated area, exploring several of the empty houses. Here are a few photos of the haunted looking places, houses I dream of restoring.

So, Ostrov became home. I traveled away often but every return was comfortable, and I think I will be returning to Ostrov for the rest of my life. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.