A UW-Stout student – who has a sense of balance better than most – is making others do a double take! The freshman participates in slacklining, a sport that takes him a few feet off the ground.

Step by step, 19-year-old Dan Noll is creating quite the scene on campus.

"People stare a lot,” Noll said.

And for good reason! Noll is demonstrating what’s called slacklining – a 20-year-old sport invented by some rock climbers.

"If you can't climb, go slackline,” Noll said. “All you need is two trees, so it's really easy to set up and you can do it anywhere you want."

Noll says slacklining looks a lot like tightrope walking, except…"it's not like a rope,” Noll said. “And clearly it's wider than a rope so there's a little more to walk on."

That’s if you can even make it up there! Fellow student, Shawn Maguire, has tried slacklining before – and says finding your footing is easier said then done!

"Once you stand up on it, it's just really hard,” Maguire said. “Like, I can stand on it, but when I try walking, like my feet start to shake."

And in the world of slacklining, a little shake can lead to a big fall! Despite the occasional tumble, slacklining is helping Noll expand his social circle.

"I think it's a good way to meet people 'cause they're definitely interested in what he's doing,” said Maguire.

"Most people try it,” Noll said. “If they're that interested I just tell them to hop right on and give it a shot."

Noll says he’s never gotten seriously injured while slacklining, but he admits his feet do sometimes get cut up.