Make your passions part of your everyday life…or part of your decor
With spring underway and the weather improving, I am looking forward to setting up my slackline and enjoying fresh air and sunshine while I balance. Before trading my indoor practice sessions for outdoor ones, I want to take a moment to appreciate how much I’ve accomplished through the winter on my indoor homemade training toy: my practice pipe.
Last year, knowing that my access to slacklines and handrails would end with the onset of winter’s snows, I built a balance pipe/tightwire simulator--an idea from wirewalker Matthew Wittmer's website--with the help of my father and grandfather:
Fifteen feet (three sections) live in the spare room of the basement for long training sessions. The final five feet function as permanent décor in my bedroom:
Yes, I traverse the distance between my desk and my closet on my balance pipe, and I willingly admit that I still get a kick out of that fact. It’s definitely quirky but, after all, it is a great way to pack in a few extra seconds of balance training every day. My passion has definitely become part of the landscape of my life...and that's how it should be.
I've learned and improved quite a bit through the winter--reassuring evidence that much can be accomplished even with limited space, simple equipment and through the cumulative effect of even small snatches of practice.
Last year, knowing that my access to slacklines and handrails would end with the onset of winter’s snows, I built a balance pipe/tightwire simulator--an idea from wirewalker Matthew Wittmer's website--with the help of my father and grandfather:
 |
| Conduit pipe, straps, 2x4's,
and conduit connectors. |
 |
| Modular pieces makes for flexible lengths. Mine can be 5 – 20 feet long. |
Yes, I traverse the distance between my desk and my closet on my balance pipe, and I willingly admit that I still get a kick out of that fact. It’s definitely quirky but, after all, it is a great way to pack in a few extra seconds of balance training every day. My passion has definitely become part of the landscape of my life...and that's how it should be.
I've learned and improved quite a bit through the winter--reassuring evidence that much can be accomplished even with limited space, simple equipment and through the cumulative effect of even small snatches of practice.
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