Tightrope walker Nik Wallenda has hilarious dad!
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Imagine being on a tightrope hundreds of feet in the air and having the support of your father as you cross.
Then he says something that many people wouldn't expect...
Wallenda successfully crossed the 454ft-long wire from Marina Tower West, located along the north side of the Chicago river, up a 19-degree incline to the Leo Burnett building on the South side.
He had already conducted high-profile walks across the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls within the last two years, added another first to his record: it was the tallest skyscraper walk for anyone in his family, known as the Flying Wallendas.
The first walk took just over six minutes. The more than 60,000 people who were crowded inside downtown streets roared when Wallenda, dressed in orange, first stepped out on the wire; waves of vocal support crested while Wallenda made his way slowly across the river.
In the breathtaking moment, there were bursts of other noise: not-too-distant police sirens and the heavy rumble of the nearby Chicago L train.
Once the first walk was complete, Wallenda then walked across the Dearborn Bridge back to the Marina building. There, he walked a wire another 94ft to the top of a second tower, 588ft (179 metres) above street level, while blindfolded. That walk lasted two minutes.
Talking with reporters after the walk, Wallenda revealed that with about 25ft left to travel during the first walk he was already thinking about the second. He also said he found himself struck by the unique vantage point.
“What an amazing, beautiful city. The skyline is so unreal to take in,” he said. “I was ready to take a selfie. I was so bummed that I didn’t.”
He said that noise from the crowd also helped build his confidence. “I was born to perform before an audience ... when I first heard that roar and heard 65,000 screaming for you, it was just unbelievable.”
As for a next walk, Wallenda said he wanted to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his great-grandfather’s 1973 walk over Tallulah Gorge, a 1,000ft-deep gorge in the mountains of north-east Georgia. “I get goosebumps thinking about it. I really really want to do that walk,” he said. He also said he aimed to have a similar walk in New York City.
I love the relationship that these two have and also how it shows that we can focus and use those thoughts in a postive way. How many parents would have been terrified and passed that horror on to their children and made them worry? Nik Wallenda just says he isn't going to do it and in that moment it is clear that they have a great relationship.
Well done to them both...but mostly Nik!