Sonya IversonHighliner, Teacher, Traveler, Storyteller

Turkey

Sonya Iverson, PhDHighliner | Teacher | Traveler | StorytellerUsing Slacklining to Connect Cultures

Home Bases: Bay Area, CaliforniaBozeman, MontanaCopenhagen, Denmark

Hats: Founder – Crossing Lines: US & Iran Slackline ExchangePresident – Slackline U.S. (501c3 Non-Profit)President – International Slackline AssociationBiotech Consultant – in vivo Designs

Height: 5’7” / 170 cmWeight: 127 lbs / 58 kg

Telephone: +1 406 209 9692Website: www.crossinglines.us/sonyaEmail: sonya.iverson@gmail.comInstagram: @slackerscientistCurrent Sponsors: Mountain Hardwear

Poland Turkey Norway

Denmark

Czech Republic China

California Montana

Colorado

Oregon

4/7/2017

Utah

Massachusetts

Utah

The StoryCrossing Lines: US & Iran Slackline Exchange began as a project between two American women and two Iranian men with a plan to visit each other’s homes to highline, make a film, and share our view of each other’s countries. We picked up a couple extra members and in 2014, we traveled to Iran to join our Iranian teammates. During that 3 week trip, we established new highlines with the Iran Slackline team and hosted the first Iranian International Highline Festival, in collaboration with the Iranian Mountaineering Federation.

We’re planning a return trip to Iran for October 2017 and making arrangements to bring the Iranian team to the U.S. to highline in Yosemite and Moab, the places where highlining was born and evolved. Now we’re working with an amazing production company to share our story (Wingate Motion).

Sports offers a unique medium for communication; adventure sports even more so. There is art in what we do. Inherent symbolism. Highlining is an especially artistic, visually striking medium that never fails to start a conversation. A photo or video of Americans highlining in Iran initiates a different conversation about a difficult topic.

With Crossing Lines, we are changing the conversation. We’re using highlining to connect the western world with the true Middle East; the beautiful landscapes, the incredibly hospitable people, and friendships that cross borders.

Iran

Iran

Now we’re expanding Crossing Lines to help those displaced by the Syrian civil war.

In 2008, before the war began, I spent three months living in Aleppo, Syria as a visiting scientist at an international research station. For the past 6 years, the city has been a war zone. More than 5 million people from Syria are registered refugees, having fled the war that has wreaked havoc on a beautiful country.

We believe slacklining can help refugees integrate into their new countries by connecting them with local slackliners and bringing them into a vibrant, healthy, and accepting community. Learning a sport with a mixed community also offers a playful atmosphere to practice language skills and learn about each others cultures.

We started in Lebanon, teaching slacklining to approximately 150 students in Beirut at a school full of Syrian refugee children and low-income Lebanese kids, through a partnership with a local circus arts program. Now we’re coordinating with slackline teachers and organizing partnerships with refugee resettlement organizations to continue this effort worldwide.

March, 2017

Teaching slacklining at a school of refugee and low-income children in Beirut, Lebanon

Slacklining is more than just a balance art or sport. It is also a wonderful community builder. Slacklining offers a challenge, encourages playfulness, and is a great way to connect diverse communities.

Lebanon

Lebanon

Invited Guest / Speaker: Youth in Action, Switzerland (2015)Bern City Slackline, Switzerland (2016)Urban Highline Festival, Poland (2015, 2016)China Shenjianxu Highline Meeting, China (2016)Highline Access & Anchors in America, California (2016)SlackFlix & Chill, Oregon (2016)

Multiple invitations for 2017

Other Events Attended:GGBY, Utah (2012, 2016)Bern City Slack, Switzerland (2015)Trans Alp Waterline Tour, Switzerland (2015)Girls Only Slackline Festival, Czech Republic (2015)Cosumnes River Gorge, California (2015)Joshua Tree New Year’s, California (2015)Turkey

Festival Rigger / Organizer:Iran Crossing Lines Highline Festival (2014)Turkish Highline Carnival (2015, 2016)Urban Highline Festival, Poland (2016)Move Copenhagen, Denmark (2014-2017)

Other Rigging Experience:Malmo Festivalen Performance, Sweden (2014)Bella Sky Highline Performance, Denmark (2015)

Teaching:Move Copenhagen, Denmark (2014-2017)Roskilde Festival, Denmark (2014)Midi Music Festival, China (2016)Teach weekly classes during summerEstimate 3000 people taught over 6 years

Denmark

Outdoor Retailer Daily Winter 2017

Danish National News, DRwww.dr.dk

www.bostonmagazine.com

www.snewsnet.com

Outdoor Retailer Daily Winter 2017