History of the Women's Highline Meeting
The birth of the festival derived from an organic desire to create a female-driven festival that engaged and connected women from around the world in a shared interest in the sport of Slackline and Highline. The point of the festival is far from segregation, but rather the chance to create a space by women and for women. The sport of Slackline and particularly it's more extreme extension of highlining was and is a male dominated endeavor; and this festival gives women the chance to be a majority, an opportunity rarely realized within the highline community.
The organizer Faith Dickey started out as the sole female on most of her highline projects, and soon realized that not only was she treated differently than her male counterparts, yet it was difficult to find other women to highline with. Upon conversing with a few such women, they expressed a frustration at being a minority and feeling that they needed to "change who they were" in order to receive adequate time on the highlines they shared. It seemed simple; why not create a festival just for women?
The first festival for women was called the Girls Only Slackline Festival, a play on the theme of a "Girls Only Clubhouse" that kids often designate with a hand painted piece of wood nailed to a tree. In September of 2009, in the lush sandstone valley of Ostrov, Czech Republic, six women gathered to walk two highlines together. Unable to find another female able to install highlines, the organizer had to ask her boyfriend at the time to help. The festival has come a long way since then, with over sixty women attending and six highlines ranging from twelve meters to ninety-six meters in length. Nowadays, women come from upwards of eight different countries, some with their own equipment to help install more highlines. The level of ability ranges from complete beginner to those cruising the 230m highline.
Somewhere along the way, wearing dresses and costumes became a tradition at the festival, perhaps if nothing more than to poke fun at stereotypes often assigned to women, and well, because it is fun to highline in a dress.
As no event is complete without some fun games and prizes, a Saturday evening "Boulder the Table Competition" took shape during one particularly rainy weekend, and it stuck. The competition enables everyone to take part, climber or not, and as each participant struggles to get a leg or a hip around the edge of a slippery table using nothing more than brute strength and balance, the crowd cannot look away.
Why Women Only?
Think of it this way: If there were twenty or thirty men highlining on some cliffs, would anyone walk up to them and ask why there are only men? Undoubtedly, no one questions a group of men participating in outdoor sports, and yet it is still novel and remarkable to see a group of women doing the same thing. We aim to change public perception, and show that these outdoor spaces are for everyone.
One of the most notable differences in a scenario where it is only women is that there is no competitive energy present. The atmosphere is supportive, encouraging, and women respond to seeing other women do things. It truly encapsulates the word 'empowering.'
Perhaps one day the gender of Highliners will even out and designating a meeting for women only will seem outdated, but until that happens it is a necessary space to hold.
The Meeting aims to cultivate independence and sharing. It is peer-to-peer encouragement, leash checking and knot tying, taking turns on the line and supporting one another that makes this meeting special. There is no staff to babysit every attendee, and that encourages each woman to make friends, bridge international gaps and learn from one another.
Can I attend this festival?
This festival is open to anyone who identifies as a woman, nonbinary/genderqueer, or feel that a women's space is where they belong. While we have had to navigate men trolling our event every year, we have for the most part created a safe space without problems. If you think you belong at this event, but are not sure, please use our contact form at the bottom of the page.
Meet the Creator...
Faith Dickey discovered highlining by chance and quickly filled a role as a pioneer for women in the sport. Entering the highline world at an opportune moment, filled with passion and drive, she leveled the playing field for men and women and quickly proved that gender is no disadvantage. Faith single-handedly held every female world record in the sport of slacklining for upwards of six years straight.
After experiencing sexism within the sport she loved, Faith was motivated to be an outspoken advocate of gender equality and women's rights within the outdoor community, hoping to lead by example and break down walls that we are conditioned to believe exist. By starting the Womens Highline Meeting, she hoped to help more women become involved in the sport of highlining, learn to setup their own equipment, and believe themselves capable of it all. Faith hopes that bringing women together will help inspire women and girls to get outside and try anything they dream of, as representation matters.
Faith was based in Europe for 4 years, and frequents Ostrov, where the festival takes place. She is now based in Moab, Utah, and runs her own Highline, Climbing and Canyoneering Guiding Business called Elevate Outdoors.
