Estonian athlete sets new slackline walking record in Qatar
Estonian athlete sets new slackline walking record in Qatar
Jaan Roose walked a distance of 150 metres on a LED-lit slackline between the iconic Katara Towers in Lusail, Qatar, setting a new world record.
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Jaan Roose is a three-time World Slackline Champion, and now holds the record for the longest slackline walk in the world [Getty]
An Estonian athlete has set a new world record for the longest slackline walk in Qatar, having walked a rope tied between the Katara Towers in the Gulf country’s city of Lusail.
Jaan Roose, a three-time Slackline World Champion, covered a distance of 150 metres as he walked between the two towers, 185 metres above the ground.
The crescent-shaped Katara Towers, located in Lusail Marina, are home to the Raffles and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
They were opened in 2022 as Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup in November and December last year.
Roose's feat was completed in partnership with Visit Qatar, the country's main tourist information centre, and was among the many international sporting events set to take place in the Gulf country this year.
The jaw-dropping achievement was completed upon Roose’s first effort, which he said required a lot of work in order to find the "perfect moment" to attempt the walk.
The razor-thin, LED-lit Sparkline rope was also just 2.5 centimetres wide and it was his highest urban walk so far.
"I am overjoyed with how it played out. It was a true test of my skills and determination," he said following his record-breaking accomplishment.
In an interview with the Visit Qatar website prior to his record-breaking feat, Roose said when he saw the Katara Towers, he knew he "had" to attempt to walk between the two towers.
The athlete also said that the Qatar slackline is unlike any other slackline he has walked before, due to the unusual set-up and location.
The athlete also spoke of the unusual weather conditions he knew he had to face, such as excessive heat and strong winds, which he described as "not a friend of slacklining".
He also discussed the many obstacles a slackline climber may face, such as wind gusts coming from different directions, which could impact the gear which is used in the event.
"An athlete, I am always looking to push myself further and defy the odds. In this case, the heat and wind conditions added a different element that I needed to react to and manage spontaneously while I was on the slackline," the sportsman stated.
"The Iconic Towers are an incredible place to completing this feat and mark a very special visit for my first time in Qatar," he added.
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