TWO WORDS: WIRE WALKING

Have you heard of Nik Wallenda - daredevil funambulist (high-wire artist, aka tight rope walker). Walking across terrifying gaps that leave onlookers in angst and awe, his is a world more zany, crazy and downright bonkers than most.

In June 2013 he walked across the Little Colorado River Gorge (Grand Canyon) with no harness or net. It was shown live on Discovery. I watched and have to say I felt quite sick for the whole 22 minutes and 54 seconds. Real life and death television. If he was to fall, it would be bye-bye Nik.

The wind was way more menacing than he was expecting, with gusts of up to 80kph. His jeans were flapping and the cable was moving about. Even though he had practised in rain and with wind machines creating gusts up to 150kph (who can even stand in that, letalone walk a wire!?), he had to draw on every ounce of mental and physical stamina to get himself to the other side where his anxious family was waiting. He prayed aloud virtually the entire way, had to crouch a few times to steady the cable, reneged on a planned mid-walk interview, and at the end spoke of optical illusions as the wire moved one way, the stability pendulums moved the other and the rock faces seemed to move of their own accord.

Earlier, in June 2012 he walked across Niagara Falls. He was required to wear a harness for that one and even though he didn’t falter, he did say it was more difficult than he expected, with thick mist and wild wind gusts. Having experienced the force and spray and sound of those falls from the safety of the viewing platforms, I simply can’t imagine the terror of walking across and over it … all in a day’s work I guess, when you’re one of “The Great Wallendas”.

In 2014 he completed two wire-walks in Chicago (coinciding with the All Blacks’ game there). He set two new Guinness world records: one for walking the steepest tightrope incline between two buildings and the other for the highest tightrope walk while blindfolded – both without a harness. He had originally wanted to do a walk between the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in New York, but the NYC would not grant permission. So Chicago was the chosen city for his skyscraper walk.

Seriously bonkers, but brilliant!

It’s really all about balance, which requires a combination of visual, inner ear and nerve‑ending signals working together. If one aspect is off-kilter, then your balance will be too. Nik apparently can operate perfect balance without all three being in operation, something pretty unique.

You can see the Grand Canyon walk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_jFK9Zf5k

Check out more at www.nikwallenda.com

Talking of BALANCE - Here’s a test ...

Try standing on one leg with the other leg raised up and at right angles like you are stepping up high. Hold your balance, use your arms to steady yourself. Now ... close your eyes and see how long you last - it won’t be very long!! Nik Wallenda has balance skills way beyond most humans. He can hold this pose, with his eyes closed, standing on a spongey mat, for way longer than most of us could hope to hold it with our eyes open. That’s why he can walk across great lengths at great heights on a thin cable. Blindfolded.

Madness! And brilliance!