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A man named Nik Wallenda is one of the world’s most daring tightrope walkers. He will traverse a taut line stretching between two buildings in the city of Chicago.
He will be attempting the impossible as he slowly makes his way across a wire tightly transfixed between two buildings approximately 50 stories up in the air. And the venue will be Chicago or Wind City.
According to Time, the media is trying to understand the motive behind this maniacal scheme which this bold and daring man is about to attempt for the first time. He is a member of the Flying Wallendas, an entire family of daredevils. Yet he will be trying to surpass them in his boldness and daredevilry. For half the route he will climb a steep path and for the other half he will be wearing a cloth on his eyes.
The Discovery Channel is going to be broadcasting this event live. It is going to be a part of its portrayal of life and death acts that it is currently showing its audiences. Earlier, a jump with a winged glider from Mount Everest proved to be a failure after a severe landslide caused the process to be aborted.
Wow, an incredible honor! Presented with my own watch today! Special edition Nik Wallenda! @jrwatches pic.twitter.com/8Qel90qWgA— Nik Wallenda (@NikWallenda) October 31, 2014
Wallenda is not averse to such events that test the limits of one’s balance and kinesthetic sense. He has crossed the Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon before. But now he is willing to gothe whole hog and hopefully he will be hogging all the limelight. His challenge will begin nearly 600 feet above the Chicago River. He will be walking a fine line on an incline for half the route.
The length of this midway journey will be about two city blocks. As for the second half ofhis journey, it will be even more dangerous and adrenaline-fueled. He will not be able to see what is in front of him or below. That is because a blindfold will be tightly wound around his line of vision. This is the part where many people will hold their breathing in check as they see Wallenda try the untried.
Press conference today! pic.twitter.com/oNw2ZdgUSH— Nik Wallenda (@NikWallenda) October 31, 2014
An interview was conducted with Wallenda and he was asked several questions regarding why he was putting his life in jeopardy. According to Nik, his mom and dad tried their best to discourage him from choosing their line of work. They were having a difficult time and were mired in poverty too. They wanted him to be a pediatrician.
But somehow, fate and luck brought him into the very thick of the profession of being a daredevil. He started the whole act at a very precocious age. His uncle asked him if he wanted to be a part of the human pyramid and he consented. He soon discovered that he had an acumen for this sort of work.
That was when he started preferring the performances instead of going to sit in boring lecture rooms in college. By now Wallenda has become a part of the family business. He is in a way carrying forward the name of the family. He remembers his ancestors and elders with pride since it was on the base they built that he is currently doing his work.
“What seems impossible to most, isn’t impossible……” - @NikWallenda
#SkyscraperLiveAsia #WallendaLive pic.twitter.com/vLEkzfavFt— DiscoveryChannel SEA (@DiscoverySEAsia) October 29, 2014
Were it not for them he would be nowhere. Wallenda contends that he is literally standing on the shoulders of giants. This attempt by Wallenda will be a first for him alright. The incline walk will mess us his sense of balance and he will have to be extra careful. Meanwhile, the part where he won’t be able to see will be a big challenge too.
To take away one’s vision is like a handicap that can disorient one badly. He is confident that he can do it. But it won’t be easy and will take every ounce of muscle memory Wallenda has at his disposal. Chicago is his choice for now and he has his eyes set on the Wind City.
And while the approval he sought for the performance is guarded, his record is so clean and perfect that the mayor and government approved in the final analysis with a smile. Wallenda has a passion for his work. He is not doing it for kicks. At the end of the day he has a wife and kids waiting for him at home.
