Wallenda ‘ready’ for Niagara Falls stunt
Posted June 13, 2012 12:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Daredevil Nik Wallenda says he’s ready for his tightrope walk over the Niagara gorge on Friday evening.
“It’s happening. No question,” he told reporters at a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Niagara Falls. ”I feel very prepared, and now it’s almost game time.”
The seventh-generation daredevil and self-described “King of the High Wire,” plans to walk 60 metres above the water across a tightrope running more than half a kilometre in length that will span the United States-Canada border.
“I’m ready. I’m excited. I’d love to get out there right now and test it out if I could,” Wallenda said, adding the stunt has been a dream of his since he was six years old.
“No one in the world has ever done this. We’re making history in two days. I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am.”
The event, which will cost as much as $1.3 million, starts at 10 p.m. Friday and is expected to last about 40 minutes. Wallenda said fundraising is “coming along well” and he’s close to meeting the budget.
The historic walk is expected to draw about 120,000 people to Niagara Falls and will also be televised live to a forecast audience of one billion. If he successfully completes the stunt, Wallenda will become the first person to cross the Niagara gorge.
Wallenda said he won’t eat in the eight hours leading up to the walk and will gather with his family and friends for a group prayer beforehand.
He’ll be tethered during the walk, as broadcaster ABC requested, but says he’s not nervous and would rather not have the safety harness to think about.
His wife and kids will be waiting for him on the Canadian end, and he’ll have his passport on hand since he’ll need to cross the border to the States when he’s done.
“This is going to be big. This is going to be a blockbuster event … and we’re looking forward to opening up the doors and rolling out the red carpet to the rest of the world,” Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said.
A helicopter was used to lift a guide rope over the area to help pull the six-tonne, five-centimetre-thick cable into place on Wednesday. Crews plan to hang weights from the cable to ensure it doesn’t twist ahead of Friday evening’s stunt.
CityNews.ca will have live coverage of the historic event.
For those who want to attend, GO Transit will run a special train from Toronto. It leaves Union Station at 3:30 p.m. Friday and arrives in Niagara Falls at 5:34 p.m. The return trip leaves Niagara Falls at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and arrives in Toronto at 2:04 a.m.
Click here for more information.
