Nik Wallenda
Nik Wallenda | |
|---|---|
 Nik Wallenda walks a tightrope at Canada's Wonderland theme park. | |
| Born | Nikolas Wallenda January 24, 1979 |
| Occupation(s) | Acrobat, daredevil |
| Website | NikWallenda.com |
Nikolas "Nik" Wallenda (born January 24, 1979) is an American high wire artist, acrobat, daredevil and Guinness Book of Records world record-holder. A direct descendant of Karl Wallenda (founder of the The Flying Wallendas), Nik is known for performing death-defying stunts on highwire without a safety net. On October 15, 2008, during a live broadcast of Today, Wallenda walked and then bicycled across a suspended highwire 13 and 1/2 stories above the ground off the roof of the Prudential Center in Downtown Newark, New Jersey setting a Guinness world record for longest and highest bicycle on a highwire.[1]
Early life
Wallenda was born in Sarasota, Florida. He began performing with his family at the age of two (dressed as a clown), began walking the wire at age 4, and had his first professional wire performance at 13. In 1998, at age 19, he participated in the re-creation of Karl Wallenda's seven-person pyramid on the highwire in Detroit, Michigan alongside his father Terry and mother Delilah and decided to make a career of it.[2]
Career
Wallenda continued to perform with his family and eventually convinced them to attempt their next monumental feat. In 2001, he appeared at Japan's Kurashiki Tivoli Park in a family troupe that set the Guinness World Record for an eight-person pyramid on the high wire—a feat practiced intensely for over five months.[3] He cited his great-grandfather Karl Wallenda as his primary inspiration for the stunt, stating, "It was a landmark experience for our profession, as well as our family and me personally."
In 2007 and 2008, Wallenda was a featured performer in the Ringling Brothers' production Bellobration, performing with Bello Nock on a newly contrived, double version of the Wheel of Steel. The double wheel of steel was invented, designed, and constructed by Wallenda and Nock.[4]
On June 4, 2011, Wallenda completed a high-wire crossing between the two towers of the ten-story Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a wire stretched 37 metres (121 ft) above the pavement. The crossing was a recreation of the one that killed his great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda who Nik called the "biggest hero in life".[5]
Wallenda has developed many large scale productions for amusement parks and similar venues, including water stunts, diving, and other daredevil exploits. The acts often feature him alongside his wife Erendira. The couple have worked with their respective families on acts including sway poles, the highwire, the wheel of death, incline motorcycles, aerial silk and hoop, the cloud swing, motorcycles in a cage, and even a dog act.
Niagara Falls crossing
Nik Wallenda crossed the Niagara Falls on June 15, 2012. Starting at 10:11 PM Eastern Standard Time. Numerous safety precautions were prepared.
In February, 2012, Nik Wallenda received official approval of the New York state and Ontario provincial governments and their respective parks department to do the stunt. The plan is to cross the Niagara River and its 200 feet (61 m) deep gorge from the American side at Goat Island or at the smaller Luna Island and make his way across the river to land at the Canadian side near the site of Table Rock. The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls will be behind him and to his right, while the Canadian Falls will be on his immediate left and behind.
In preparation for the event, municipal authorities on both sides of the border met to discuss the longer-term economic impact of the stunt, and how to efficiently capitalize on the large number of tourists expected at the falls. Nik Wallenda hopes to eventually make the Niagara Falls region a centerpiece for his business.[6] Local authorities have stated they will allow events like Wallenda's once every 20 years going forward.[7]
On May 11, 2012, ABC and Lincoln Square Productions announced they had secured universal broadcasting rights for the stunt. As part of his contract with the Discovery Channel, the network will have near exclusive rights on showcasing the event on cable television. In Canada, the event will be seen on CTV, which will invoke simultaneous substitution over the ABC broadcast in Canada.
ABC is requiring Wallenda to wear a safety harness during the stunt.[8] Wallenda has stated he would have preferred to work without one (the harness has not been fully tested to be able to work around the counterweights holding up the wire) and will remove the harness if it jeopardizes his safety.[9] The Niagara Parks Commission indicated it was unaware of such a requirement when they were considering approval of the stunt.
Future plans
Wallenda intends to honor the memory of his great-grandfather Karl, and cross the Grand Canyon on high wire. He has already secured the permits.[10]
Personal life
In 1999, Wallenda proposed to his future wife Erendira on bended knee on a wire 30 feet (9.1 m) high during a performance in Montreal, Quebec before a packed house of 18,000 people.[11] Nik and Erendira own and operate Wallendas Inc. They have three children - Yanni, Amadaos and Evita.
References
- ^ http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27178568/
- ^ http://www.darrenruby.com/shrine_circus.htm
- ^ http://www.nervelessnocks.com/FUNWORLD%20Magazine.htm
- ^ Collins, Glenn (March 30, 2007). "With the Greatest of Ease". The New York Times.
- ^ Daniel, Kelly (June 4, 2011). "Nik Wallenda walks high-wire path that killed great-grandfather". Cable News Network. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ http://niagara-gazette.com/local/x638262447/Wallenda-says-walk-just-beginning-of-Falls-partnership
- ^ http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/daredevil-nik-wallendas-unprecedented-death-defying-highwire-stunt-to-air-on-abc/
- ^ "StCat". Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- ^ Specht, Charlie. Will Wallenda unhook the tether? Question of daredevil unhooking tether during walk stirs speculation. The Buffalo News. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
- ^ http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/entertainment-general/index.ssf/2008/10/highwire_daredevil_nik_wallend.html
- ^ Wright, Diane (August 31, 2007). "The daring young men on the flying... Wheel of Steel". The Seattle Times.