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Benoît Brume
Pro highliner
High-line world record holder:
Speed world champion:
"Walking where the birds fly"
Benoît is a world champion speed-liner who spends his time high up in the sky perfecting his craft.
Highlining is slack-lining at elevation above the ground or water.
Many slack-liners consider high-lining to be the pinnacle of the sport. Speed lining is essentially high lining at speed.
We reached out to Benoît due to his constant dedication of pushing boundaries and making every day more exceptional than the last.
Benoît is an incredible guy who truly makes every day exceptional.
We loved interviewing him and learning all about his journey to where he is today.
When did you fall in love with what you do and how did you get started?
The first time I had the chance to try highline was the day I fell in love with this sport. I had already practiced slackline on the ground for many months already, and I knew I had a knack for it. But my first real highline, high in the air with a safety, was amazing. First try I fell from the line, the whole world moved, I screamed and thought I was going to die. But the safety leash did its job as it's supposed to. And after the initial fear, i knew this was going to be my thing.
Who was or still is your mentor?
Tancrède Melet. He was a French highliner who also did a lot of crazy outdoor projects. Slackline/Climbing/Base jump. I actually never had the chance to meet the guy. But I saw his movie with his team, the Flying Frenchie. I can definitely say they inspired me and I’m the one I am today because or thanks to them.
What drives you on?
I’m always trying to find new ways of enjoying my passion. I have one big fear. It’s to lose my passion, to stop enjoying the highline. But I also realised, that the way I practice my sport has already changed and evolved many times, and it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. Right now, I’m becoming a professional in slackline. Some might say selling your passion for money. I say, finding a way of sustainably practice while earning my life decently. It’s a big challenge and definitely not the easiest path. But its super stimulating to sort of create your own job.
Don’t be afraid of shutting the door. I think I lost a lot of time by not committing, because choosing one path would mean renouncing the others. So I would try to keep “doors open” as much as possible. But by trying to keep all those doors open, I would also not make any move in any direction and not commit to one direction or another. And if you don’t commit to what you want, then life will close the path for you. So just go for it, no matter what your relatives or parents say. They will be happy for you in the end.
If there was one-piece advice you could give to people aspiring to do what you do, what would it be?
No line is too big for you. Beginners and slackliners are often terrified of big lines, because highline is an ingrateful sport. At the beginning, it requires a lot of effort for a minimum of results. But after some point, it gets easier, and you can try to do big crossings. And finally, for all beginners who are trying to get rid of their fear. DON’T. Savour your fear, one day it will be gone and you will miss it.
What secret ambitions do you still have?
Mehhh, if I tell you, it won’t be a secret anymore. But let's say, I want to create some projects which are still enjoyable for me, but also enable non-slackliner to discover this magical world.
