rockin'robin

As he does every time he climbs on a tightrope, Nik Wallenda will say a little prayer Friday as he mounts the thin steel wire for what could be his greatest aerial triumph.

Perched on an impossibly narrow steel cable some 60 meters (200 feet) in the air, this scion of one of America's first families of acrobats is aiming to do something untried in more than a century: crossing the treacherous Niagara Falls on a highwire.

If he succeeds, the achievement will add to the lore and legend of the renowned Wallenda family, famous over the decades for jaw-dropping stunts executed from dizzying heights.

Wallenda says this coming challenge -- which will be watched live by his three children -- will be his greatest feat yet.

"It's been a dream of mine since I was six years old. Twenty-seven years I've been waiting and to do this, and it finally is coming true," said Wallenda, 33, who has been walking on tightropes since the age of two.

Any attempt to cross the falls is usually strictly forbidden, but an exception was made for Wallenda, who is descended from a long line of acrobats and circus performers.

Wallenda estimates that it should take about 40 minutes to cross from one side of the falls to the other, along the 550-meter (1,800 foot) metal cable on which his life hangs.

Aided by a balancing pole, he will begin his crossing on the American side of the falls, slowly walking to Canada and guaranteed acclaim.

Friday's attempted Niagara crossing is expected to draw thousands of anxious spectators, all glued to his first careful steps.

For the task, Wallenda will be wearing a pair of shoes custom-made in supple leather by his mother.

"They are almost like Indian moccasins with a suede leather bottom: the leather is there to protect my feet from getting bruised by the cable and so that I can feel the wire," Wallenda said.

The "Flying Wallendas" have soared, cantered -- or ever-so-carefully tiptoed -- over the heads of mesmerized audiences for seven generations.

The Wallenda name for generations has been the stuff of legend, astonishing audiences first in Europe, then in the United States with their aerial acrobatics.

Their fame really took off in 1978, when they were made the subject of popular made-for-TV movie, "The Great Wallendas."

But their name is also synonymous with tragedy. Several family members over the years have lost their lives attempting dangerous routines.

Nik's great grandfather, Karl Wallenda, is among those who have died while performing, plunging to his death at the age of 73 as he attempted a highwire walk between two towers in Puerto Rico.

The danger is real in this latest stunt as well, Nik Wallenda said. Although to placate his US sponsor ABC television -- which is planning a three-hour special about the event -- he will be wearing a safety harness.

"I never wore one my in my life or in my entire career," Wallenda told AFP. "I am not excited about it, but I really don't have a choice unfortunately."

In addition to the harness, Wallenda's best protection will be the weeks of relentless training he has put in.

"We set up a cable practically the same distance -- as well as the same tension -- as when I'll be walking over Niagara Falls," he said.

"We also simulated high winds, winds up to 55 miles (90 kilometers) per hour, and a heavy, heavy mist, so I'll be prepared for whatever I face."

But nothing can fully prepare someone for the vagaries of wind and the crashing waters of the tempestuous falls, said to be one of the world's most imposing natural wonders.

"It adds a lot of challenges, not only as the cable will be moving, but there is heavy mist in the air, there can be high winds from multiple directions," Wallenda told AFP.

Still he said, such variables are "all things I've been preparing for, and that's why we trained the way that we did, simulating those worst-case scenarios."

The challenge is particularly difficult because the steel cable, weighing several tons, is somewhat slack, meaning he will likely bob and bounce as he carefully traverses the rushing waters below.

Wallenda is already listed twice in the Guinness Book of World Records for highwire acts while simultaneously cycling.

Tightrope walker to take on Niagara Falls - Yahoo! News

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eirlys

That's crazy.

I sometimes have issues just standing upright (equilibrium issues.. otosclerosis). I can't imagine doing that. I hate being in elevators and those are relatively safe (I'm the girl smashed up in the corner holding the railing with her eyes closed and holding her breath)

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kokonut

yeah...and this is what happens...a Wallenda takes a deadly fall.

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rockin'robin

Oh boy...that's horrific...Believe many people have fell to their death in Niagara Falls....(accidents), and one recently, a young man who had just gotten a job there.

MattyinAus

As I may be heading to Niagara Falls sometime next year if I have enough money to go to Canada. I am not going to attempt the tight rope situations! I just going hike around and explore the beauty of the world's largest waterfall

Reba

He made it!

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TXgolfer

So...no need to watch it in my time zone then!

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rockin'robin

OMG...He did?...Did he break down and wear the safety harness?....got the link for this?

Chevy57

He didnt have safety harness with for highwire but Nik now has it. Good!

rockin'robin

Got a link please?

Reba

Yes, he wore the harness.

I saw it on live TV, as it happened.

rockin'robin

Found it.....

Stuntman Nik Wallenda completes tightrope walk across Niagara Falls

By Neale Gulley | Reuters – 32 mins ago..

NIAGARA FALLS, New York (Reuters) - Nik Wallenda, a member of the famed "Flying Wallendas" family of aerialists, completed a historic tightrope crossing through the mist over Niagara Falls Gorge on Friday, stepping from a 2-inch wire onto safe ground in Canada to wild cheers from a crowd of thousands.

Wallenda made the walk from the U.S. side of the falls to the Canadian side, a journey of 1,800 feet over treacherous waters and rocks, in a little more than 25 minutes.

More than a century ago, an aerialist known as the Great Blondin walked a high wire strung farther down the gorge, but a trek over the brink of the falls had never before been attempted.

Along the way, suspended over the falls, Wallenda, 33, took small, steady steps on a slick cable through swirling winds.

"Oh my gosh it's an unbelievable view," he said as he crossed over the falls. "This is truly breathtaking."

ABC, the television network that broadcast the event with a five-second delay, occasionally interviewed him along the walk, asking him about conditions and how he was coping.

"That mist was thick and it was hard to see at times," he said later in the walk, when he was asked about the greatest challenge. "Wind going one way, mist another. It was very uncomfortable for a while."

The network had also insisted he wear a safety tether - a first for the performer - that would connect him to the cable should he fall, and said it would stop broadcasting if he unhooked it.

Wallenda fought the condition at first, eventually agreeing. But he gave himself an out: he would unhook only if directed to do so by his father, who designed the harness and acted as his safety coordinator.

As it turned out, the tether was never tested. Wallenda walked the wire with what appeared to be perfect balance and confidence.

There were 4,000 tickets that sold out in less than five minutes when they went on sale in recent weeks, and crowds began gathering early on Friday.

"Hopefully it will be very peaceful and relaxing," Wallenda said beforehand. "I'm often very relaxed when I'm on the wire." He added, "There may be some tears because this is a dream of mine."

Since the Great Blondin took his high-wire walk, a ban had been in place on similar stunts over the famed falls. Wallenda waged a two-year crusade to convince U.S. and Canadian officials to let him try the feat. A private helicopter rescue team was part of the $1.3 million that Wallenda said he had spent on the walk.

Kathy Swoffer, of Port Huron, Michigan, who had set up a lawn chair hours before the event, said she had seen the Wallendas perform years earlier in Detroit.

Kathy Swoffer, of Port Huron, Michigan, who had set up a lawn chair hours before the event, said she had seen the Wallendas perform years earlier in Detroit.

"I think it's a person wanting to do what they do for a living and fulfilling a lifelong dream," she said.

Wallenda's great-grandfather Karl Wallenda died in 1978 during a walk between two buildings in Puerto Rico at age 73. Wallenda repeated that walk last year with his mother.

Wallenda said he had obtained permits for a future walk over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, which would be the first ever attempted and roughly three times longer than the walk over Niagara Falls.

Stuntman Nik Wallenda completes tightrope walk across Niagara Falls - Yahoo! News

Chevy57

Nik Wallenda had upset about tethered high-wire TV walk. ABC have told the high-wire walker he must wear the safety device out of consideration. If he won't use it, they won't pay $1.3 million for him.

kokonut

Daredevil walks tightrope across Niagara Falls

Yeah, and I didn't see the article in the beginning in this thread. He had a harness attached to the wire should he fall it would catch him. Not exactly a risky attempt. Not exactly a daredevil, either.

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Reba

If it's not risky then more people would be doing it.

It's not something just anyone can do. I cheer his accomplishment.

rockin'robin

Likewise....As for myself ...my balance is really off track. KoKo...you wanna try this?...Believe not!

kokonut

If I know I am secured while wearing a harness attached to a wire, sure, I'd try it. Might be fun. Without it? No WAY!

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rockin'robin

I'm terrified of heights....and parking garages....would never attempt to be a tightrope walker, feel it's an art only "mastered" by a select few...Wouldn't be surprised if Wallenda doesn't attempt to try the walk again over Niagara Falls without the harness. The wind and fog/mist factor has to be taken into consideration also, hence the need for the harness, or a sure death would have ensued.

Hanalei

Hi Eirlys. I am a mom of a son with auditory neuropathy. Have you always been deaf? My son was born hearing, but lost his hearing when he underwent strong antibiotics after being born due to his premature lungs which caused him to develop a blood infection and jaundice due to the unavailability of an incubator in the hospital I gave birth in. He was rushed to a far away hospital which I have no clue why. He is now 7 years old and a healthy boy. The only sad thing is we are not able to communicate clearly because of our significant communication differences. We are sometimes worried because we don't know how the deaf or HI will be able to reach their goals in a generally hearing world. How have you been able to cope? Has it been hard for you? Do you have a hard time making friends? How do you communicate with the hearing world or when you want to ask something at a store? Please tell us more about yourself. Thanks and take care.

Tousi

This Wallenda family for 200 years has done these daredevil stunts for 200 years. It was the governments of the USA and Canada who forced him to wear this harness. This was a first for him and he was uncomfortable wearing it.

So now it is on to the Grand Canyon for a walk three times longer. Imagine an hour and a half on a 2 inch wire, fighting the elements. Need to find out if he can do this one without that harness.

Tousi

He reluctantly used this harness because the governments of Canada and the USA would not let him attempt this without it.

kokonut

How would the National Park officials feel with people associating the Grand Canyon with that of Wallenda who tried to walk across Grand Canyon but fell to his death....with cameras following his long...long.......long fall to the bottom?

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rockin'robin

Horrible, of course!...But this is what the Wallenda family does......just don't understand why ur raining on their parade!...Sure, it's a dangerous stunt, one that takes a very long time to study and attempt....Very few people would attempt to do it...even know how to do it.....but they will and their success is to be applauded!

Look at our athletes in all sports....what they do is very dangerous, could result in their death, but we cheer them on when they succeed....Look at the race car drivers....boxers...football players....they know that just one incident could result in their death.

Tousi

Well, in the case of the Niagara Falls stunt, his father(they were able to communicate during the stunt)was responsible for his son's safety and if they felt the harness somehow compromised what he was doing during the stunt, the Dad would ok him unclipping himself from this harness BUT ABC said if that happened, they would stop filming whether or not he fell.....

kokonut

Wasn't intending to rain on their parade. Wallenda has a history of successes and their share of tragedies. My question for the Niagra Falls tight rope walk was that tight rope walk is meant to be a dangerous profession and that's where the thrill is. People watch because some want to see him succeed...others like a bad fan at a motor speedway....wants to see an "accident" and see him fall. People have their reasons to watch a guy walk on a tight rope over a long distance. If it's about endurance, then great. The Grand Canyon one would be the thing to prove and not fall. But a part of that thrill goes away when the walker is harnessed to the wire or have a safety net below which reduces the chance of death to almost no risk at all. Just like the Niagra Falls walk. He's tethered to a safety line to the wire should he fall the line will stop that.

As for the Grand Canyon, I think they may want to ask the same thing. No walk unless he's tethered to the wire he'll be walking on. I don't think the National Park officials want a bad publicity should a Wallenda fall to his death, again, for over a mile on the way down....with cameras rolling capturing his plunge to the very bottom. We'll have to wait and see if park officials will bite or not to let Wallenda go without any safety features that could arrest his fall.

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kokonut

They may stop filming but you'd have hoards of people with their own personal cameras with them.

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Jiro

oh my! koko - you jealous? I'm sorry if your little hiking at some high-altitude mountain in Washington did not gain any attention and "woooow amazing" reaction as Wallenda did.

but truth be told... your hiking escapade didn't really impress me. just a simple hiking that just about anybody can do it heck... I didn't even think me finishing a 10-miles Vermont Tough Mudder race thru mud, snow and icy cold water in 30-degree May while wearing only shorts and shirt was newsworthy

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