Slacklining: Three Times World Champion Jaan Roose Thrills Kenyans

NAIROBI, Kenya- Hundreds of Kenyans watched with bated breaths as three-time world slackline champion Jaan Roose performed jaw-dropping stunts at the Village Market in Nairobi on Saturday.

Slacklining is the art of walking, running, jumping or balancing on a suspended rope that’s only three fingers thick.

Babies clung tightly to their mothers’ chests as the global stunt master performed incredible bounces with his chest, butts and back.

Adults hid their faces as the 30-year-old Estonian did hair raising front and back flips on the thin rope tied on either side of very high pillars.

Guards quacked in their boots as he hypnotized them with his static yoga tricks which left him motionless on the line like a god.

“My heart was pumping very fast, I have never seen anything like this before,” Peter Owino who was doing window shopping at the venue underlined after the adrenaline filled showpiece.

Gaudencia Osano admitted she was literally shaking while watching the incredible acrobatic moves which Roose did so easily, just like a cat with nine lives.

Steve Kinuthia found himself swaying to each side that Roose leaned on during the show.

“It was like I was the one performing the stunts, I had this urge in my mind to save him from the fall, in the process I found myself clutching tightly at the rails, I didn’t want him to get injured in my trance,” Kinuthia said.

Esports athlete, Sylvia Gathoni who attended the event was equally impressed saying: “I think Roose delivered to the fans, he has shown us that there are other sports that Kenyans can delve into to win more international accolades than athletics, rugby and football.”

Vienna Mukabanah, a Nairobi based event manager, kept thinking about Roose’s parents whereabouts when the Estonian started practicing the sport she termed very risky.

“My heart was pumping, you could feel it from five meters away, I don’t think this is a game that any parent can just allow their children to embrace so easily,” Mukabanah stated.

Roose says his mission in Kenya is to develop the rare game. He wants the sport to be spread to the grassroots.

“I’m happy with the turnout at the Village Market, it shows Kenyans are very interested in slacklining.

“Plans are underway to execute a very big project on this game with Red Bull in Kenya soon,” he hinted.

When asked his opinion on the development and growth of slackline in the country, Roose said Kenya has potential to make the sport big and attractive to thousands of tourists visiting the nation every year.

“You know, this game is not complicated, just with two trees and a strap-line you are ready to go, it’s so easy to set up, it’s so simple to start and the game can be embraced at whatever age one is,” he explained.

Since jetting into the country a few days ago, Roose has admitted he is yet to meet with any local slackliners but he is hopeful to get one before he departs to his country.

“I think the slackline community is not big in Kenya and if there is any then they need this kind of exposure to be recognized,” he said.

Since he started the game 12 years ago, Roose admits he has sustained injuries, but not major ones because of his cautiousness.

“The fact that I’m very consistent with my practices have made me very perfect in the sport in such a way that injuries have become minimal or things of the past,” he said.

The Hollywood stunt master advises that one has to be prepared physically and mentally at all times in order to excel in slacklining.

“Starting the game is not easy, but once you develop the mental toughness you are so good to go.

“Just take every simple step and grow them gradually until you reach the levels of a professional,” he advises.

And what does it take to be a professional in the sport?

Roose reiterates that one should practice the game daily and religiously so it becomes part and parcel of them.

“Do it every day, practice it daily, be consistent the way I have been for the last 12 consecutive years,” he said.

Despite being a professional in the sport, Roose says he started slacklining by accident after coming across the game on the internet, and since then he has never looked back.

“I was initially doing parkour (acrobatic climbing runs on city walls) and the fitness I had in this game helped me to transition easily into slacklining,” he highlighted.

Roose is grateful to his three-year support from energy drink providers Red Bull, a sponsorship he says has helped him to expand and grow his knowledge in the sport.

He says Red Bull has taught him and other world notable slackliners how to be better in the game through adoption of good nutritional values and physical and mental preparedness.

He is grateful that the game is already taking him places with his greatest cherished moments being able to appear in the Hollywood film, Assassin’s Creed and in the Madonna’s MDNA World Music Tour.

“My first time at Hollywood was very surprising, I just couldn’t believe myself, I never expected this sport to take me to such great heights,” he said.

“I’m happy that my stunts have added spice to the Hollywood movies and music, I believe this is the kind of lather that the viewers want when watching the videos.

“I’m so happy that I have been able to give people this visual spice which soothes their emotions while glued on their screens,” he added.

Jaan Roose slacklining achievements

2019: Champion: World Slackline Masters in Munich, Germany

2016: Champion: Red Bull Airlines championship in Catania, Italy

2011: Champion: King of Slackline competition