Rui Mimoso, competing for Portugal at ESC 2019

Rui

Mimoso

Rui

Mimoso,

from

Protugal

Wildcard #1

A bit About Him

We asked Rui Mimoso a few questions to get to know him a litle better and anticipate a bit of what he will brig us in august, during the Slackline European Cup in Fornos de Algodres, Portugal.

How do you find out the slackline?

I discovered slackline through two friends, who challenged me to try it! The first impression of the sport was that it wat very difficult and annoying, because the beginning of the slackline practice requires a lot of insistence and dedication to win the balance needed until you actually start enjoying the line. But from there, I got hooked and never stopped!

How and when do you start slackline?

I tried it out for the first time in late 2012, when I went to meet two friends of mine, in a park in Covilhã, who had a slackline mounted and were trying to balance themselves up there. But when I really wanted to practice slackline was when I met trickline. At that time I was practicing climbing and in an event of this, there were some guys doing slackline, but they were doing something I had never seen, jumps and acrobatics on the line, which immediately aroused my attention and desire to do the same. In the same end I bought my first slack kit and never stopped again.

What was your first personal victory in the slackline?

My first big win was when I became a national champion in 2014, on the ASPT national circuit. It was a very special moment and I got even more motivated to look for more.

With this victory came the opportunity to participate in international competitions and join one of the most important teams in the world.

How did slackline change your routine and body?

I have always been a sports practicer and competed in various sports, but never competed in any that made wich to reach the top, to fight for the maximum possible evolution, until I met the slackline and everything changed!

Basically, slackline is different from other sports I’ve known and practiced, it’s a great personal challenge, where we have to overcome ourselfs each passing day.

In addition, the community is fantastic, we are like a family, it is a huge pleasure to share the line with someone.

The best you can feel is the fact that in competitions there is no rivalry but mutual aid and mutual support among all participants, even in the most important competitions in the world where there is much in play!

Regarding my body I feel great balance at the postural level, with more strength, muscular power and corporal notion in the space. Although when you train and compete at a high level, you may end up having some injuries as a result of pulling our body to the limit, looking for increased performance and evolution.

Wich was your worst injury?

I have had several injuries, unfortunately, since dislocations, sprains, strains, fractures, but my worst injury was when I went to an international competition for the first time. We were in 2015, in Richmond, USA, for the first time among the best slackliners in the world, when in my first round of the competition I fractured the left forearm, breaking the radius and ulna, when trying a mojo flat spin.
I was soon assisted in the place, later taken to the hospital, where I receive the news that I had to be operated, because otherwise I would never be able to turn my arm again. Luckily it went well, continuing today to compete at the highest level, to make a normal life, despite having a “almost” like robocop arm! eheheheh

What were the main competitions in which you participated and which was the most important to you?

I have participated in many competitions, many in epic events such as Gopro Mountain Games in Vail, USA, in two World Championships, one in Brazil in 2015, and another in Japan in 2017.

But the competition that marked me the most was the world’s biggest extreme sports event, the XGAMES in Austin, USA. It was a pleasure to have been there for two consecutive years, being the first Portuguese to compete in Xgames, it was good to be part of history, an event that I had seen since childhood and that I had a great desire to go and see, but I would never think it would be possible to be on the other side, competing!
It was a dream tha came true!

How have you met Monkeybiz?

Monkeybiz monkeys, I met them at the climbing event I spoke about earlier, it was them who were promoting slackline there, they walked, jumped, did tricks and stunts. I went crazy and that’s when I said to myself, this is what I want to do! It was from them that I bought my first slack, since that time they kept challenging me and nowadays besides great friends, they are my sponsors. I am very proud to be part of this team of monkeys, because they have always done a great job in promoting and revitalizing the sport.