Walk the line

Although it’s not Niagara Falls, Eric Kostiuk will be setting his own record by across the Sleeping Giant gorge on his slack line.

The 25-year-old from Burlington Ont. started his career by teaching rock climbing but soon changed his focus when he tried slack lining. From then on, it became his passion. The sport has taken him from his hometown to Thunder Bay where he hopes to cross the Sleeping Giant gorge.

With nothing besides the one-inch line, a safety harness and his feet, he said his attempt will be more difficult than the historical accomplishment of Nik Wallenda who tight roped walked across Niagara Falls.

“It was an awesome feat that he did that legally but I’m looking to do better,” Kostiuk said.

“Tight rope and slack lining I see as two completely different sports. With one you are walking on a solid wire that doesn’t move with the aid of a balance pole where’s with slack lining there’s no aid and it’s just you and an one inch line enjoying the breeze. “

Kostiuk wasn’t sure the exact distance across the gorge but he estimated it was around 140 feet across. He wanted to go 200 feet so he said they will have to find a way so that he can accomplish that.

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But the distance isn’t a problem for him -- he said he has gone as far as 350 feet on a wire. Instead, the biggest challenge will be the elements.

“The line itself should be pretty easy to walk. It shouldn’t be any big deal,” he said. “Biggest challenge is going to be coping with the winds up on the Sleeping Giant. Hopefully it’s going to be Ontario’s highest and biggest highline.”

Once he has accomplished his record across Sleeping Giant, he said he’ll then go to British Columbia to set another record.

He said slack lining is becoming more popular as people start to hear more about it although the sport is popular in the United States and in Europe.

He said he has done a lot to advocate for the sport and has tried to bring more attention to it.

“It’s very addictive,” he said. “This is my job and I love it. It’s a lot of mine and body strength because you have to be able to use that to walk across the line. I slack line every day. I can’t get enough of it. “

Kostiuk wasn’t sure when he was going to cross the gorge added he prefer not to have an audience because of safety reasons.