One week before the trip, I didn’t even know I was going to China. I was in Krakow, training together with Filip Oleksik, when a very spontaneous opportunity appeared. Filip couldn’t take his spot at the competition in Chengdu, so I got the chance to go instead. A few days later, I was packing my bags for Sichuan Province.
The event was the 2026 China Slackline Open in Pengzhou, close to Chengdu. It took place in mid-May and brought together athletes for several different slackline disciplines: Speedline Short, Speedline Long, Highline Speedline and Trickline. I ended up competing in all of them. And somehow, after travelling halfway across the world on very short notice, I won the Trickline contest.
Arriving in Sichuan: a completely new world
China felt completely new to me. From the moment I arrived, everything was different: the language, the food, the city, the culture, the atmosphere around the event and the way slacklining was presented there.
I have travelled a lot through slacklining, but this trip still felt special. It wasn’t only about going to another competition. It was about stepping into a slackline scene I had never experienced before.
The scale of the event was impressive. There were around 230 competitors across four competitions, and the energy around slacklining in Pengzhou was very inspiring to see. For me, it was a reminder that slacklining is growing in many different directions around the world. In some places it’s still a small community sport. In others it’s becoming a serious competition format, a public performance, and a show that can attract a big audience.
Competing in four slackline disciplines
At the Pengzhou event, I took part in all four disciplines:
- Speedline Short
- Speedline Long
- Highline Speedline
- Trickline
Each discipline has its own challenge. Speedline is about control under pressure. You need to move fast, but still stay precise. One small mistake can cost you everything.
Highline Speedline adds another layer. It’s not only about speed anymore, but also about handling exposure, height, rhythm and mental focus.
Trickline is different again. It combines athleticism, creativity, technique, timing and performance. You don’t only need to land tricks. You need to build a run, control the energy and perform under pressure. That’s also why tricklining connects so closely to my work as a professional slackline performer. A good trickline performance is not only about difficulty. It’s about creating a moment for the audience.
Winning the Trickline contest
Winning the Trickline contest in China felt surreal. Of course, I was happy about the result. Every athlete loves to win, especially after travelling so far and competing against strong athletes. But what stayed with me even more was the whole experience around it.
I came to China very spontaneously. I didn’t have months to prepare specifically for this competition. I didn’t have a long plan. I just got the opportunity, said yes, travelled there and tried to make the best out of it. Maybe that made the win feel even more special.
It reminded me that all the years of training, routines and repetition are always with you. Even when the opportunity comes suddenly, the preparation has already happened in the background.
Routines build the athlete
I believe a lot in routines. In slacklining, progress rarely comes from one big moment. It comes from showing up again and again. Training when it feels good, but also when it feels frustrating. Repeating basics. Building strength. Building coordination. Building trust in your body. That’s how skills compound.
This is true for tricklining, highlining, performing shows and teaching workshops. The visible moment, the jump, the trick, the show, the competition run, is only the surface. Behind it are years of small steps. That’s also what makes slacklining so valuable beyond the sport itself. It teaches patience, focus, balance and consistency. You learn that progress is not always immediate, but it is always building.
Spontaneity creates the stories
At the same time, this trip reminded me of the opposite side. Routines build the athlete. But spontaneity creates the stories.
If I had only followed my plan, I probably would not have gone to China. I would have stayed in my routine, continued training and missed one of the most unique experiences of my life. Sometimes you need structure. And sometimes you need to say yes before everything makes sense.
This trip to Chengdu was one of those moments. It gave me new impressions, new friendships, a deeper look into the international slackline scene and a memory I will definitely keep for a long time.
Slacklining as sport, performance and connection
What I loved about the 2026 China Slackline Open was seeing how many different forms of slacklining came together. There was the pure athletic side: speed, precision, competition and results. There was the performance side: tricks, energy, audience reactions and show moments. And there was the human side: athletes from different countries, different disciplines and different backgrounds all meeting through one shared passion.
That is what I love about slacklining. It can be a sport. It can be a show. It can be a workshop. It can be a personal practice. It can be a way to connect people.
For me, this is also why I continue to perform, compete and teach. Slacklining is simple at first glance (a line, two anchor points, one person balancing), but the experiences it creates can be much bigger.
What I took home from China
I travelled to China for a competition. I came back with much more than a result. I came back with new inspiration, new memories and a reminder that some of the best experiences start with a very spontaneous yes.
Winning the Trickline contest was a beautiful highlight, but the bigger win was the whole journey: the last-minute opportunity, the culture shock, the international athletes, the competition atmosphere and the feeling of being part of a growing global slackline scene.
Thank you, Pengzhou. Thank you, Chengdu. And thank you, Filip, for the opportunity.