Northwood just set up a new slackline in front of the academic building, and people are running to try it out. “I enjoy the slackline because it is an easy and fun way to practice my balance for snowboarding,” Maxwell Mortimer ’29 said. Students are finding it a blast, with groups flocking over to try the slackline out and using it to their advantage for sports as well.
NYSEF Freestyle coach Jackson Deeney on the red slackline. Photo: Nate Benjamin ’26.
This slackline consists of a ratchet strap wrapped around two trees: one easy red slackline that is only 15 feet in length, and a difficult purple slackline that is over 50 feet long. Both are relatively difficult for the Northwood community. Only a few have completed the red slackline, and the purple slackline has yet to be completed by a single Northwood student or faculty member.
The slacklines, built by the Northwood Adventure Sports Program (NASP) crew and freestyle skiing team, have gained significant popularity in just one week, rivaling the excitement of some events held at Northwood.
If anyone thinks Northwood’s slack lines are unsafe, rest assured it is safer than any sport that takes place at Northwood, with it being only two feet off the ground at its highest point. The slacklines are in the best condition, making the experience even safer.
Though this slackline has only been up on campus for a week, it has become a great symbol in the Northwood school community. This slackline brings the whole community together from all sports teams to enjoy a fun, laid-back challenge and experience. So, if you want to give this a go, it is between the West Dorm and the academic building. NASP hopes everyone has an exciting time on the Northwood slacklines.