The wire-walking daredevil is prepared to attempt two back-to-back skyscraper crossings over the Chicago river.
- Nov 1, 2014
AceShowbiz - Nik Wallenda of the famed Flying Wallenda family is ready to perform two back-to-back skyscraper crossings on Sunday, November 2. Nik held a press conference on Friday to talk about his upcoming walk across the Chicago River on a tightwire between the Marina Towers and the Leo Burnett Building.
"Wow, what is happening in Chicago today? I'm glad I'm not walking today, that's for sure," he told reporters with Chicago's chilling winds howling in the background. He then recalled a similar windy weather he had experienced six months before his Grand Canyon's walk. "That's one of the challenges of what I do. It's easy to get concerned early."
He continued, "I can look out the window and go, 'Wow, how am I going to walk in this?' But I'm pretty calm and confident the weather is going to be better."
There will be no safety net, but Nik said he could grab onto the wire and hang if he loses his balance and falls. "If it gets bad enough, I go down to the safety of that wire, and I'll wrap around and wait for help," he said, "I've got an amazing rescue crew. That's how I can go out there so confident. That cable is always at my feet and I can always grab that and hold on."
Nik will first walk 454 feet from the west tower of Marina City to the Leo Burnett building on a 15-degree incline. He then will walk between the two Marina City towers wearing a blindfold. The event will be broadcast live by Discovery 4 P.M. PT/7 P.M. ET.
