[WRE UPDATE | BUSINESS] Te highest line Kingston has walked was at Taft


Point, in Yosemite, California, where he crossed 170 feet at a height of 3,200 feet. Te longest high line he has walked is 250 feet, but his longest low line crossing without a harness is 666 feet and he has walked many lines ranging from 40 to 330 feet in length. Lines are anchored across canyons and rocks on bolts or natural features. Kingston explained that if four glue-in eye bolts are on one side of a canyon, he builds an anchor to equalize them and share the load. Each bolt is also backed up to the master point individually so if one bolt breaks the master point would not extend or change position. Slackliners walk on a single piece of webbing that is taped to a backup line. Kingston uses two forged titanium 22,000-lb. rings that follow as he walks and attach him to a harness with a leash. He said: “Walking the lines is the safest part of the day because once it is set up you are actually tied in. Sometimes during the set-up, scrambling to the tops of the rocks, that isn’t always the case. Some of the hikes and climbs to the tops are definitely more dangerous than the sport itself.” Slackliners are increasingly utilizing Straightpoint force


measurement technology with its Wireless Handheld plus units. Kingston said: “Te wireless option is beneficial since I normally tighten my lines on the opposite side of the gap to where the load cell or load shackle is rigged. We


“I REALLY ENJOY THE RIGGING PROCESS. I AM KNOWN FOR MY SAFE AND STRONG RIGGING TECHNIQUES IN THE SLACKLINE COMMUNITY.”


usually walk lines with anywhere from 500 lbs. to 1,000 lbs. standing tension. Using Straightpoint equipment I can create a graph and actually see data related to peak loads.” He added: “I really enjoy the rigging process. I am


known for my safe and strong rigging techniques in the slackline community. It’s great to have a dynamometer in the system that adds length to an anchor so we don’t have to jump when we walk off the line. Te ends of the lines are the most dangerous because if you fall you have to catch the line, as ending up on your leash can swing you into the rocks.”


Kingston concluded: “I enjoy walking on the slacklines and high lines because of the mindset that one has to adopt. You have to be completely focused on the task at hand. All your thoughts about daily life disappear and at the same time you become hyper aware of your surroundings and body. You can feel yourself moving at light speed and be motionless at the same time when you need to be.” y


WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE MARCH–APRIL 2017 77


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84