Wallis Thomson, Thomas Flahr and Aidan Middleton spend a lot of their evenings at the park or the beach and they usually draw a crowd. They set up their slacklines and soon tourists are taking pictures and the curious come over to ask questions.

Wallis says she often practises at Klahani Park and children end up hanging out with her.

害羞草研究所淭hey come and take over the slackline and that害羞草研究所檚 OK,害羞草研究所� says Wallis. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 funny how fast they pick it up.害羞草研究所�

Slacklines are anchored between two trees and have less tension than tightropes, making them stretch and bounce more like a long and narrow trampoline.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been doing this since mid-May,害羞草研究所� says Wallis. 害羞草研究所淭homas introduced me to it. My friend lent me her line and I go out almost every day. As soon as I was able to stand and take a few steps, I couldn害羞草研究所檛 stop thinking about it. I had to keep trying.害羞草研究所�

She says it害羞草研究所檚 addicting and Thomas and Aiden agree, even though they all are sporting bruises on their arms and legs.

害羞草研究所淚 was climbing and then I started slacking. I still climb but I slackline more,害羞草研究所� says Aidan.

Thomas saw people doing this at the beach last year. Soon after he owned his own line and was practising daily.

There are many different ways to mount and Thomas is practicing a 害羞草研究所榮it mount害羞草研究所�, sitting on the line with one leg bent and the other straight. After getting his balance, he slowly gets into a stand position.

He has his line about five feet off the ground. Aiden has his about eight-feet high and Wallis害羞草研究所� is about three, but they go back and forth on each-other害羞草研究所檚 lines depending on what they want to work on. (Aidan practises walking blindfolded on Thomas害羞草研究所� line.)

Aidan says one thing he likes about it is that it害羞草研究所檚 social and personal at the same time. He explains that everyone goes through the same learning curves 害羞草研究所� there are no superstars.

害羞草研究所淣o one is naturally good 害羞草研究所� everyone sucks so hard at the beginning 害羞草研究所� it feels impossible. You can害羞草研究所檛 even walk five metres, and then it害羞草研究所檚 doable.害羞草研究所�

Thomas likes seeing the progression.

害羞草研究所淵ou stand and fall off, and then you start seeing results as you put more time into it. I have goals, I害羞草研究所檓 building my way to highlining.害羞草研究所�

Aidan has done some highlining over 害羞草研究所楾he Chief害羞草研究所� in Squamish. He was fully equipped with safety gear, but he did cross the 64-metre gap at the north gully of Chief mountain, 290 metres off the ground.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 terrifying, but you know you害羞草研究所檙e safe in your heart 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 all mental. I sat there for 10-15 minutes害羞草研究所� then I walked it and then I got off and was done for the day. I was so amped,害羞草研究所� he says in his animated way.

So far, Wallis has no desire to try highlining, but she likes increasing her difficulty and challenging herself.

During the day, Wallis is at the tennis courts 害羞草研究所渆ither playing or coaching,害羞草研究所� and in the fall she plans to go to UBC in Vancouver to get a Bachelor of Science, majoring in astronomy.

Thomas is going to Acadia University in Nova Scotia in September. He plans to take engineering and start a slackline group.

Aidan will be going back to UBC (where he is president of the university slacklining club) and continue studying biology.

害羞草研究所淚 want to end up teaching 害羞草研究所� but that害羞草研究所檚 all subject to change.害羞草研究所�

But one thing he is sure of: 害羞草研究所淚 want to walk bigger lines.害羞草研究所�

If you see Wallis, Thomas and Aidan with their slacklines set up at Canoe Beach, or any of the parks, they are happy to let people try out the line.