In June I packed up my apartment and caught a flight to Denmark with a one-way ticket. I had been invited to teach slacklining workshops at a festival in Denmark called Move Copenhagen and had friends in the area from the Turkey Highlining Carnival. So, up and away.

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Temporary slackline park

My first week here was spent rigging a temporary slackline park with giant cement blocks and 2x4s for anchors. When we weren’t doing handstands and swimming, that is. With twenty primitive slacklines, as well as a four way space line and a half dozen tricklines, each workshop taught from 20-100 participants many of them completely new to slacklining. And for those more advanced, a-frames were used with the same anchor systems to set up four longlines ranging from 40 to 130 meters in length. One of my favorite things about being a slackliner is watching someones face the first time they step on a line, that realization that their feet aren’t doing what their brain is telling them to do, that smile. Everyone smiles. 

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Nothing like a hug after your first whipper, Emily Baxter

I also got to help rig (and walk of course) the indoor highlines housed inside of an old shipbuliding facility 60 meters tall. The old industrial building is now under the management of the Urban Ranger Camp, the worlds highest indoor high ropes course. They are gracious enough to allow the local highliners access to the rafters. With four 14 meter lines (50 meters high), two with top-ropes for the less adrenaline inclined, each workshop provided twelve participants a chance to step off that solid beam and onto a bit of webbing. For the more experienced highliners, a 50 meter line was also rigged across the width of building, a very playful thing with double core 2 webbing. I’ve yet  to learn how to play well with that line. But I will. 

It’s not all about slacklining, despite my personal preferences. Move Copenhagen is a unique festival, focused on “celebrating the diversity of movement” by combining slacklining, climbing, yoga, acroyoga, and dance. With nearly five hundred participants, five major disciplines, and a slew of workshops over two and a half days, Move was easily one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. The week wrapping up with a phenomenal bonfire for the summer solstice celebration, complete with juggling, skinny dipping in the bay, and barefoot dancing around the flames.

This is what life looks like when adults get together to play.

I don’t know where I’ll be living a year from now. I’m quite enjoying my nomadic slackline focused lifestyle for now. But I do know that one way or another, I’ll be at Move Copenhagen 2015. Come join me.

More photos can be seen in my album.

– S