It is illegal to carry out such stunts at the Niagara Falls due to the amount of fatalities the stunt has caused. The Canadian and US authorities have tried to stop people from risking their lives with Canadian officials originally blocking Niks proposal. They relented when he secured US support when Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York passed a bill last September allowing him one year to do the feat. Both countries claim it will pay tribute to the history of daredevil stunts at the historic site.
Charles Blondin (Jean Francois Gravelet) made the first of many successful crossings in 1859 on the 30th of June. He tackled the Falls several other times with each try getting more challenging including a crossing on a bicycle, once blindfolded and another attempt blindfolded while trying to cook an omelette in the middle of the walk.
Nik, 33, will be the first person to cross over the falls if he succeeds. He was born into a family of circus performers choosing to be a tightrope-walker since the age of two. He has dreamed of walking over the Falls from the age of six and his mother has made him special shoes with suede soles especially for the occasion.
"My dream is to walk into the mist, disappear, and walk out the other end".
"Contrary to popular belief, it's very peaceful when I'm on the wire. It's just me and the wire. It's relaxing."
The stunt will be performed without the use of a harness with his rope being strung nearly 70m above the falls, which is higher than most have tried. Whilst Nik Wallenda has been allowed to cross the Falls this one time there has been a motion passed allowing the act to be attempted once every 20 years 'once in a generation'. Nik hopes to follow in the footsteps of Charles Blondin and Maria Spelterini.
The stunt could generate over $100 million (£157 million) in revenue due to additional tourism and the broadcast rights to the live television show.
Article by Michelle
Photo by Sbittante via Wikipedia.
