Mohammad Reza Abaee

Arak, Iran

Mohammad discovered slacklining as a young climber in the Nomarz climbing team after watching climbing movies and youtube videos. Determined to try this silly sport himself, but having no equipment, Mohammad started slacklining by walking on a dynamic climbing rope hand tensioned between two trees. He successfully walking this short ‘line’ by mimicking the slackliners in internet videos on only his second attempt and Iran Slackline was born in 2009. The first person in Iran to slackline, Mohammad had no gear or information, only climbing equipment and the internet. The lack of appropriate gear and rigging knowledge led to a few injuries, but he’s stubborn and kept trying. In 2012, during the Bisotun rock climbing festival, Mohammad and crew met three highliners from France (Theo Sanson, Robin Exertier, and Jean-Charles Fayard). Together they established the first highlines in Iran. Mohammad walked the first line during the second day of the festival to become the first Iranian highliner. That line was 25m long, a respectable highline, in spite of the fact that his personal best on the ground was only 20m at the time. This performance impressed the French slackers who left behind their highline rig for the use of the Iran Slackline team.

After the festival, slacklining and highlining became the focal point of Mohammad’s life, establishing new lines, photographing and filming the expeditions. In early 2013 Mohammad was invited to the first international Turkey Highline Carnival as the official videographer.

Mohammad holds the record for longest highline send by an Iranian at 40m (longest send in Iran is 89m by Theo Sanson). His lowline personal best is 95m, also the Iranian longline record. Additionally, he once spent 2 hours walking a total of 1.7km straight. With the help of his team, Iran Slackline has established 6 more highlines since those first 3 lines with the French climbers. Currently, Mohammad is focusing on expanding slacklining throughout his country, gaining exposure with local tv programs, interviews, and developing the Iran Slackline website with the help of the Nomarz climbing team.

Iran Slackline Website

Iran Slackline – Facebook Page