Record-setting athlete Jaan Roose of Estonia has completed his most difficult project to date - an astonishing slackline walk between two moving objects. The feat, which saw him make a challenging descent between a parasail and the boat towing it over the waters of the Maldives, was like nothing he'd ever attempted before.
Known for pushing boundaries, Roose has won three world slackline championships and pulled off jaw-dropping firsts in the sport: making the world's first intercontinental slackline walk in Turkey, crossing Italy's Strait of Messina, completing stunning skyscraper projects in Dubai and Qatar, and spanning iconic Kenyan rock formations, to name a few.
But conquering a slackline as it bounced between a wave-tossed motorboat and a wind-vulnerable parasail was "a very unknown world," said the athlete. "Would it be possible to walk a parasail slackline? How? And how much?"
To find out, the Estonian and his team partnered with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC)’s tourism brand, Visit Maldives and spent a week at Siyam World Maldives, Noonu Atoll, one of the biggest resorts in the country, innovating techniques and equipment.
"Setting up a slackline between unusual vehicles - one in the air, the second on the water- makes this my most unique project in terms of rigging, because the angle points are totally different," Roose explained. "Usually slackline projects are between two static points. Here we have two objects moving, in every direction, at the same time."
Roose conceived and tested various ideas for the slackline system, finally modifying the boat with bungee rigging that absorbed most of the instability created by the waves, while also changing the connection at the parasail. He also added control toggles that gave the pilot of the parasail - usually an uncontrollable canopy - some means of directing it.
Meanwhile, the captain of the boat had to re-think everything he knew about towing a parasail, having never done it with someone standing on the line.
Most crucial of all, after 15 years practicing his sport, Roose had to learn to balance on the slackline in a whole new way, saying, "A big part of this project was definitely the physical challenge, because it's hard to get on the line and to find a moment to start walking. And when I was walking, to adapt my body, my knees... I had to follow the behaviour of the boat AND feel what was happening behind my back with the parasail."
Roose found that the most important factor was changing his natural timing. Normally he focuses on each step individually, but because the elevation of the parasail slackline was constantly changing, he found that a doubled rhythm was best, taking two steps at a time.
Of the whole experience, Roose said, "It was a very intense, long journey. Incredibly challenging - and successful! Each day, we were getting better and better until we could just play together like an orchestra."
A critical moment came at the very end of the effort when — with his body already cramped - Roose had to contend with a significant increase in the wobble and movement of the slackline system as he neared the boat. Only sharpening his focus even more allowed him to execute the last few steps.
When the audacious walk was completed, an elated Roose said, "Proving that having a slackline attached to moving objects can be done - and that it's possible to maintain balance while walking on it - is pushing the sport technologically and performance-wise. We showed that the body actually can balance in a such a challenging environment: the world's hardest slackline."
As the destination partner, the Maldives offers a breathtaking backdrop to host such extraordinary feats as a versatile and global travel destination. The Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of MMPRC, Ibrahim Shiuree, highlighted this sentiment, stating,
"As the World's Leading Destination for the past 5 consecutive years, the Maldives is not just a destination for relaxation, it's also perfect for unparalleled experiences and groundbreaking achievements. We are always thrilled to welcome such innovative projects that showcase the diverse appeal and boundless possibilities our beautiful islands offer to the world."