Extreme surfers and skiers alike are familiar with the term ‘No Fall Zone.’ The term is perhaps more applicable in the sport of slacklining, and Joshua Leopolz, a well-known German slackliner, just gave us all the proof we needed. Leopolz took the internet by surprise recently by stringing a massive zipline between two large rock outcroppings off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. The line sat high above waves crashing into the rocks, promising certain death if he were to slip up.
Photo: Redbull
This Man Slacklined Over Extremely Violent Waves in Portugal and We Can't Even Watch
This seems like a fool’s errand – which may be the driving force for the progression of slacklining in recent years. Leopolz set out on his way across the epic 100-foot-high slack. Confidently making his way from one side to the other, he didn’t fall.
But once wasn’t enough. In a die hard’s example of “What the heck, I’m here,” Leopolz stated that he completed the slack two more times, making his way over waves smashing into the rocks holding his line and safely arriving on the other side. If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen — and that’s why there’s this cringeworthy video.
Nazaré is a town of under 20,000 people but is certainly no stranger to extreme athletes. The city is about 1.5 hours north of Lisbon, and has for years been a dream destination for big-wave surfers. Atlantic winds push massive waves towards the region’s rocky coastline, creating extremely large waves which draw pro surfers into the water and tourists, cameras in tow, to the beach. In 2011, the legendary surf break drew surfer Garrett McNamara, who surfed a 78-foot wave. Leopolz’ stunt stands as the city’s first major stamp on the slacklining scene, however. 