slackrope

Hello Nic,

You might want to start here:

http://www.juggling.org/help/circus-arts/slackrope.html

-=+=- Phil Bartel -=+=-

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>-----Original Message----- From: unicycle@tartarus.uwa.edu.au
>[mailto:unicycle@tartarus.uwa.edu.au] Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 09:50 To:
>Felipe Subject: slackrope
>
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> Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 23:46:17 +0800 (WST) From: Nicholas Seow Chiang
> Price <unicycle@tartarus.uwa.edu.au> To: unicycling@winternet.com
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> Chiang Price <unicycle@tartarus.uwa.edu.au>
>
>OK, I know it’s not about unicycling, but given the recent thread about flying
>/ balancing / unicycling, it’s reasonably relevant.
>
>I’ve just restarted learning how to stand on a slackrope. At present I can stay
>on for over a minute and can take a few steps forwards and juggle a little bit,
>but my legs are really really tense, and get quite sore. Does anybody have any
>experience / advice on slackrope, or know who I should ask?
>
>As for the awareness of balance issue. On a slackrope, the concept of how you
>stay upright is just as crazy as on a unicycle. Basically very small body
>movements and arm movements keep your centre of balance over the rope, which is
>only a centimetre wide. I doubt I could do i blindfolded, because I am
>completely dependent on visual cues for focussing my mind and body. I think
>that your brain responds a lot faster to visual rather than inner-ear balance
>cues, and since there are direct reflex connections in your brainstem between
>your visual cortex and motor centres, it’s (almost) evident that visual cues
>are very important for maintaining balance.
>
>As with all balance things though, it’s best to let your body and brain
>subconsciously work it all out. Thinking about it just makes you fall over.
>
>cya nic
>
>
>

OK, I know it’s not about unicycling, but given the recent thread about flying /
balancing / unicycling, it’s reasonably relevant.

I’ve just restarted learning how to stand on a slackrope. At present I can stay
on for over a minute and can take a few steps forwards and juggle a little bit,
but my legs are really really tense, and get quite sore. Does anybody have any
experience / advice on slackrope, or know who I should ask?

As for the awareness of balance issue. On a slackrope, the concept of how you
stay upright is just as crazy as on a unicycle. Basically very small body
movements and arm movements keep your centre of balance over the rope, which is
only a centimetre wide. I doubt I could do i blindfolded, because I am
completely dependent on visual cues for focussing my mind and body. I think that
your brain responds a lot faster to visual rather than inner-ear balance cues,
and since there are direct reflex connections in your brainstem between your
visual cortex and motor centres, it’s (almost) evident that visual cues are very
important for maintaining balance.

As with all balance things though, it’s best to let your body and brain
subconsciously work it all out. Thinking about it just makes you fall over.

cya nic