Record attempt - Adventure athlete crosses the Strait of Messina on a slackline
Slackliner Jaan Roose was the first person to cross the Messina Strait between Sicily island and the Italian mainland on a rubber band. The 32-year-old from Estonia balanced over 3.6 kilometers on a specially tensioned band about two centimeters wide across the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the time he was about 250 meters above sea level.
However, an entry into the Guinness Book of Records was not enough for him: Roose lost balance about a hundred meters before the finish and fell off. The adventure sportsman was, however, held by a safety line and was able to continue his way on the slackline. The current slackline record is 2710 meters. If he had succeeded, Roose could have registered 3646 meters for the stretch from San Giovanni in Sicily to Messina on the mainland.
The Messina Strait is 32 kilometers long and between three and eight kilometers wide. There is no bridge there. The spectacle was sponsored by an energy drink company.
People around the world were intrigued by Jaan Roose's record attempt to cross the Messina Strait. Despite being from Estonia, Roose had chosen to attempt this feat in Sicily, Italy. The Messina Strait, known for its turquoise waters and the majestic Mediterranean Sea, added a new layer of curiosity to Roose's record attempt. At one point during his leisure time, Roose decided to break the existing record of 2710 meters by crossing a staggering 3646 meters from San Giovanni in Sicily to Messina on the mainland. However, despite the 32-kilometer-long strait being devoid of a bridge, the slackliner from Estonia encountered challenges. Despite losing balance close to the finish line and falling off, Roose managed to continue thankfully to the safety of a safety line. The failed attempt still garnered attention, as it was sponsored by a popular energy drink company, highlighting the spirit of adventure and adventure sports.
