Photo: Guinness Worlds Record
The achievement was confirmed by Guinness World Records, February 18, 2026 which recognized the crossing as the highest slackline ever walked above a waterfall. The line measured 148 meters (486 feet) in length and hung 1,008 meters (3,307 feet) above the base of the falls.
Angel Falls, known locally by its Indigenous name Kerepakupai Merú, plunges 979 meters (3,212 feet) from a towering tepui inside Canaima National Park in southeastern Venezuela. The remote jungle location turned the record attempt into a demanding expedition requiring days of trekking and complex technical preparation.
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Six-Day Jungle Approach
The six-member team — five Germans and one Brazilian — spent months planning the project. Among them were German slackliner Lukas Irmler and Brazilian highliner Rafael Bridi.
Before the first step could be taken on the line, the group completed a six-day journey through dense rainforest to reach the canyon. Indigenous Pemon Kamarakoto guides assisted in transporting equipment across rivers, muddy trails and steep rock faces.
Organizers said hundreds of kilograms of gear were required to secure anchor points and tension the webbing safely across the chasm. Weather windows were carefully monitored, as shifting winds and heavy mist from the waterfall could make the crossing impossible.
The slackline was named “Amanöm,” a word in the Pemon language meaning “the most beautiful,” as a tribute to the surrounding landscape and the local community.
“The Most Beautiful Line”
Irmler described the crossing as the highlight of his career.
“Finally, I have the answer to the question: which is the most beautiful line I’ve ever walked?” Irmler said in a statement released after the record was certified. “It clearly is this walk above Angel Falls. This line has everything I am searching for: a crazy exposure and an unmatched height, a stunning landscape and a wild adventure to even get there.”
Bridi emphasized the mental intensity required to complete the walk.
“At this height, you cannot allow yourself a second of distraction,” he said. “Every movement matters. The wind, the humidity, the exposure — everything is amplified.”
Video released by organizers shows athletes stepping carefully onto the narrow webbing, arms extended for balance as clouds drift past and mist rises from the falls below. Though each walker wore a safety harness attached to the line, the extreme exposure demanded total concentration.
Highlining is a form of slacklining performed at significant heights, with participants secured by a leash clipped to the line. While the safety system prevents fatal falls, athletes say the psychological challenge remains intense.
The record was ratified in cooperation with the International Slackline Association, which verified the measurements and safety standards. Officials confirmed the 1,008-meter clearance above the base of the waterfall establishes a new global benchmark for highlining over waterfalls.
Organizers described the project as both an engineering feat and an athletic one. Securing stable anchor points in a remote canyon required careful assessment of rock integrity and load distribution. The team also implemented measures to minimize environmental impact inside the protected national park.
Spotlight on Canaima
Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its ancient tepuis — flat-topped mountains considered among the oldest geological formations on Earth. Angel Falls remains one of South America’s most iconic natural landmarks.
Local tourism representatives expressed hope that global attention surrounding the record could encourage sustainable travel to the region.
For the athletes, however, the journey itself was as meaningful as the record.
“This was never just about the numbers,” Bridi said. “It was about the team, the culture, and the respect for a place that feels almost sacred.”
After dismantling the line, the group retraced their path through the jungle, leaving the canyon once again dominated only by the thunder of falling water.
With the record now set, highliners around the world are already looking ahead to new challenges. But for now, the walk above Angel Falls stands as one of the most visually dramatic and technically ambitious achievements in the sport’s history. (Wage Erlangga)
