Beachcomber Magazine 02

B eforeflyinghighabovethe planet,here’sabitofvocabu- larytohelpyoukeepyourba- lance.Slackline,asitsnamesuggests, isalengthofflatwebbingthatisloosely putundertensionbetweentwoanchors, allowingyoutocrossthesteepest valleys-anemanationoftheinitial tightropeor“highline“.“ Paradoxically, the line needs to be supple to be controlled. it bounces less quickly and absorbs the movements better ,” explainsNathanPaulin.Slacklinersbrokeofffromtightrope walkersin2005andthefirstbig eventtookplacein2009,whenthe charismaticAndyLewiscrossedthe gorgesdelaJonteinFrance:a“flight” 60metreslong.InJune2015,Nathan PaulincrossedReunionisland’sEast Rivercanyon,403metreslongand 250metreshigh.Theexploitmarked theofficialbeginningofwhatNathan callsan“undisciplineddiscipline”.In June2017,hepushedbackthelimits yetmorewitha1662-metreline600 metresabovetheCirquedesNavacelles inFrance.AN AESTHETIC DISCIPLINE Nathanspeakscalmly,reservedly, andwithprecision.He’snotlikethe others.First,hedoesnothavethe buildoftraditionalcircustightrope walkers.His6ft5inwouldmakean excellentrugbyforwardorbasketball winger.Second,becauseheinitially turnedhisnoseupattheslackline thatwouldchangehislife.Thedaya friendofhisbrother’scameandhunga slacklineinthePaulins’garden,Nathan wasn’tinterested.Buthedidn’tsleep thatnightand,assoonasheawoke, herushedtothegarden.Hemastered  REUNION ISLAND THE ART OF DISCOVERY 54