This review was written by trail runner Sarah Barber who was provided a GiBoard by ATRA member Elliptigo at no charge to test and provide feedback.
Defining Balance
“balance [ ba len(t)s ] noun: physical equilibrium; stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis; mental and emotional steadiness…”
If Webster carries any authority at all, every definition of balance should matter to trail runners. Not only does balance keep us upright on sketchy terrain, but along with our running habit itself, it’s part of what keeps us psychologically well. However, many harriers take their balance for granted, expecting it to show up on command when crossing a creek atop a fallen log or sidestepping stones that clutter the trail. Newsflash: balance takes effort, and exceptional balance is worth extra effort.
Inspired Design
Enter the GiBoard (say it “gib board”). While it looks a little like a snowboard without bindings, the design was inspired by GIBBON founder and CEO Robert Kaeding who is considered the pioneer of slackline training. Thanks to Kaeding and his followers, it’s not unusual to see a length of semi-stretchy webbing tensioned between two trees in a park, gangly teenager tight-roping along it like it’s no big deal. The GiBoard’s webbing spans the up-turned ends of the snowboard-like base, anchoring the webbing several inches above the ground. Originally intended to facilitate the development of better balance for slackliners, it turns out to have an array of applications, some of which probably have yet to be imagined.
GiBoard’s website offers a generous assortment of how-to videos to address various uses of the board, ranging from foundational balance drills and fitness routines to advanced tricks that would impress any sidewalk surfer.
Ready to test
Having had some recent experience with slickrock in Moab and rain-soaked tree roots in Golden Gate Park, I immediately saw the value in this contraption. I mostly ignored the cautionary leaflet that accompanied my neon pink GiBoard, as it arrived fully assembled and ready-to-use. However, the bold print line, “Make sure that no objects or people are within 6 feet of the GiBoard when in use,” was the one I took to heart. No problem—we’ve spent the past couple years perfecting our ability to maintain a six-foot distance from others.
But then I read on: “Because it is a balance board training device, the user is likely to lose their balance while using the GiBoard. Keeping at least a six-foot distance between the user and any spectators and obstacles reduces the likelihood that a spectator will be injured or the user will hurt themselves on an object when in an uncontrolled fall.” Yikes. Maybe I should wear a helmet? But part of the GiBoard’s charm is that you can put it wherever you want so that you’ll never be more than a couple inches off the ground or more than an arm’s length from the wall. Surely this makes the risk of concussion quite low.
Placing the GiBoard securely on a hardwood floor, I tentatively stepped my right foot onto the webbing, feeling it sag slightly under my weight. I raised my left foot into the air while my right ankle wobbled uncontrollably for about two seconds before my flailing arms clutched the wall for support. Like most athletes who primarily move in the sagittal plane, my transverse stabilizer muscles are lazy, but regular drills on the GiBoard seem like an obvious path to improvement. And GiBoard has minimized obstacles on that path by designing a colorful, easy-to-store gizmo with instructions for re-tensioning the line when repeated use loosens it over time.
Varied Workouts
If balance drills become daunting, an innovative core workout levels up the standard planks and glute-bridges with the element of instability. For the T-Rex runners among us, a professional slackliner demonstrates how an arm workout can also engage the entire body—including the brain. Need more emphasis on relaxation? There’s also a yogi-inspired routine in which the GiBoard replaces blocks and bolsters as a yoga prop. In other words, I haven’t seen this much versatility in a piece of exercise equipment since perhaps the Bowflex—which does absolutely nothing for your balance. Infomercials can step aside. Just know this: when you see me prancing like a mountain goat along the edge of a rocky cliff, you’ll know how I got there.
