While the sport of highlining has historically had little competition, competitive disciplines have become established in recent years.
Swiss Highline played a key role in organising the first Highline World Championships in Laax, Graubünden, in summer 2022.
In highlining, a distinction is primarily made between the freestyle highline and speed highline disciplines.
The first is freestyle or trick highlining, where a 50-80 metre long polyamide highline is stretched for tricks. Athletes have to deliver their best show within a defined time frame of 2 to 3 minutes, with a jury judging the rounds.
The world’s largest trick highline event took place on the Molèson in Switzerland for many years.
On the other hand, the fast ascent of highlines has developed further (speed highlines). Here, parallel highlines of the same length are usually set up and athletes compete against each other. The length of the highline can vary greatly from event to event.
In 2018, the first International Endurance Highline Competition (Highline Fundrace) was also held for a good cause, with Samuel Volery, CH and Joshua Leupolz, DE running a half-marathon (21.2km) in 3 days.