Two high wire artists cross Victoria Falls on slack line

VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Two high wire artists, German student Lukas Irmler and Austrian journalist Reinhard Kleindl, crossed Victoria Falls on a slack line after two years of training.

Slack lining is different from tightrope walking as a slack line isn't as rigid and has more bounce. People who practice this are called slackers but, contrary to the title, they are anything but as they must maintain a greater focus and balance than those who walk on tightropes.

They did the walk with safety lines for support, but did not slip as they crossed the 108-foot long gap.

"t's like waves, they try to drag you, so it's really difficult for the optics and obviously everything is very heavy because it's soaked with water," said Kleindl.

They are the first people to cross the gorge walking upright.