Nik Wallenda, “king of the high wire,” attempts tightrope performance 50 stories above Chicago

October 2014 - Nik Wallenda, a seventh-generation tightrope performer, plans to walk 50 stories above Chicago’s skyline Nov. 2. A member of the Flying Wallendas, an acrobatic performance family, Nik is no stranger to a challenge like this, which only adds to his forefathers’ lore.

Wallenda will walk more than two city blocks uphill, climaxing at a 15-degree angle, from Chicago’s Marina City’s west tower to the Leo Burnett Building. He will do so without a net or a harness to protect him. Adding to the challenge, Wallenda will be blindfolded for a portion of the stunt, fighting against a steep angle and the city’s notorious winds. 

As a metals trade magazine, our first question was, what is the tightrope made of? Sure enough, it’s crafted from steel. Modern Metals spoke with Wallenda to learn more about his latest project and the materials necessary to foster success.

“I’m excited. Chicago has been alluring to me for maybe five years or longer. Believe it or not, the most attractive thing is not just the skyline but, of course, the name Windy City. Most people would think wind is a wire walker’s worst enemy. That is true but, for me, I love the challenge, and that’s the reason I thought, why not Chicago,” says Wallenda.

Both the tightrope and the rigging’s preparation are imperative for Wallenda’s feat. Wirerope Works Inc., a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based wire products manufacturer for applications in elevators, mining and other industrial specialties, supplied the wire rope for Wallenda’s gear. 

To hold Wallenda’s weight and withstand the tension between each building, the tightrope was made from Bethlehem Wire Rope, “a high-strength cable, made of six bundles consisting of seven wires wound together tightly. A ¾-inch wire rope was then rolled through a compressed tool and die, which actually adds strength to the [wire rope] as well. 

“It is completely load-tested and pre-stretched to bring it up to at least 70 percent of its weighting to a minimum 40,000 pounds of tension, so it’s not going to be stretched again once it’s put over the city of Chicago,” he says.

Checking and rechecking safety measures are a key component to ensuring Wallenda’s secure ascent. “I do a lot of the inspecting myself and go over everything. Then my head safety coordinator looks over everything and finally my uncle, who is an engineer, looks at it," says Wallenda. The wire rope is inspected every step of the way, from the moment it is laid out on the street to its attachment, he says.

Diligent safety precautions harken back to past Wallenda performances gone awry. Nik’s great-grandfather, Karl, attempted a high wire walk in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1978 but, due to bad rigging, fell to his death at age 73. 

Wallenda completed the same walk his great-grandfather had attempted in San Juan in 2011, honoring his legacy by having his mother, Delilah, join him on the wire as well. 

Wallenda looks forward to walking across the Chicago River, adding to his death-defying résumé. He has simulated the walk with his team various times under conditions similar to what he is likely to experience in Chicago. “I had my team challenge me,” Nik says, having them throw at him every possible weather condition, all with 50-pound equipment and a blindfold on. 

Wallenda aims to push himself farther with each challenge and prove that the implausible is not really impossible.

Catch the live event Nov. 2 on the Discovery Channel. Fans can also visit www.SkyscraperLive.com for a 360-degree virtual walk and 3-D interactive tour of Wallenda’s thrilling journey. MM

Photos courtesy of Discovery Channel