Nik Wallenda ready to traverse Grand Canyon on high wire
On Sunday, June 23 at 8 p.m., the unthinkable is planned. Nik Wallenda, known throughout the world for his death-defying acts of bravery, will traverse the Grand Canyon on a high wire. The tightrope challenge will happen 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River, and Discovery Channel will be there for a live taping.
Most people know Wallenda from his other tightrope adventures, including last year’s walk across Niagara Falls. This year’s event is called Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda, and he sees the walk as a chance to honor his great-grandfather, a famous tightrope walker who died during a walk in Puerto Rico.
Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Wallenda as he prepared for the walk.
How does one prepare for such a large tightrope crossing?
A lot of training and mental preparation! During my training in Sarasota, I visualize myself over the Grand Canyon and a successful crossing each time I walk across the cable. When I step out over the Canyon, I will visualize myself successfully crossing the cable during my weeks of training.
How does this event honor your great-grandfather?
I feel like I’m carrying on his tradition, hopefully honoring my heritage as his great grandson, taking on the challenge of something that no one else has done before, much like he did.
What goes through your head when you’re up there? Nervousness? Serenity?
There’s nerves, but it is really more of anticipation leading up to the start of the walk. If it were up to me, as soon as I reached the start point of the cable, I would take my balancing pole, step on the wire and go. Due to the nature of live TV, I have to wait on the cue to start. Once I step on that wire though, it’s all concentration and focus.
Why do this in the first place? What does it mean to you personally?
I think my great grandfather Karl said it best, “Life is on the wire, everything else is just waiting.” I started walking the wire when I was 2, and I have a passion for what I do.
What will be the challenges of this walk across the Grand Canyon? How is it different than other walks?
The height of the walk is 3 times higher than I’ve ever attempted, so that would likely be one of the biggest differences. As far as challenges, the unpredictable winds are likely the biggest factor. At the canyon, it is more than just wind speed. The wind patterns that are experienced in the canyon are simply different than anywhere else.
Do you ever think about death and what might happen if you make a mistake? What does your family think about this?
As I mentioned, much of my preparation for a walk of this nature is mental. My focus is on the positive, and not just for this walk, but about all things in life. I do not let my mind focus on the negatives. I have years of training for how to react in for the worst case scenario, and we have the proper safety precautions in place for this walk as well. Again, I focus on the positive, on envisioning the successful completion of the walk. My family is very supportive. This is a part of our life together as a family. My wife’s heritage goes back 8 generations in the performing world, so though she might be nervous like any wife might be, she also has that understanding and perspective of what I do. I kiss my wife goodbye, hug my kids, and tell them all that I love them each time that I leave the house. When I leave for the starting point of the walk, I will do the same, and I look forward to hugging them all again when I reach the finishing point.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda airs Sunday, June 23 at 8 p.m. on Discovery Channel.
Wish you the best of luck on your walk! I hope my family and I make it out there to watch. 🙂 God bless!