Excitement high at Niagara Falls ahead of Wallenda tightrope walk
- 12 years ago
Excitement is in the air at Niagara Falls, just hours ahead of a never-before-seen daredevil attempt to cross the Falls on a tightrope.
Nik Wallenda, part of the famed "Flying Wallendas," is set to walk from the U.S. side of the falls to the Canadian side. His great grandfather Karl Wallenda died in 1978 during a walk between two buildings in Puerto Rico at age 73.
Steven Clark, of Clark Rigging And Rental, who is in charge the crane suspension has watched many of Wallenda's practice walks.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) STEVEN CLARK, VICE-PRESIDENT OF CLARK RIGGING AND RENTAL, THE COMPANY IN CHARGE OF THE CRANE SUSPENSION ON THE U.S. SIDE OF THE FALLS, SAYING:
"You know, he's not going out there to fail. Believe me. He's not the kind of guy that -- I think one of the last things he said to us before we installed this, he said, 'Does anybody see any real danger in the installation of it?' and every man said, 'No, we're ready' and he said, 'If I thought it was dangerous, I wouldn't do it either'."
Onlookers are feeling the excitement.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GREG, NIAGARA FALLS VISITOR, SAYING:
"I think it's awesome. It's scary as can be, but I think it's fantastic."
Wallenda is due to take his first steps on the wire just after 10 p.m. local time.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
Nik Wallenda, part of the famed "Flying Wallendas," is set to walk from the U.S. side of the falls to the Canadian side. His great grandfather Karl Wallenda died in 1978 during a walk between two buildings in Puerto Rico at age 73.
Steven Clark, of Clark Rigging And Rental, who is in charge the crane suspension has watched many of Wallenda's practice walks.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) STEVEN CLARK, VICE-PRESIDENT OF CLARK RIGGING AND RENTAL, THE COMPANY IN CHARGE OF THE CRANE SUSPENSION ON THE U.S. SIDE OF THE FALLS, SAYING:
"You know, he's not going out there to fail. Believe me. He's not the kind of guy that -- I think one of the last things he said to us before we installed this, he said, 'Does anybody see any real danger in the installation of it?' and every man said, 'No, we're ready' and he said, 'If I thought it was dangerous, I wouldn't do it either'."
Onlookers are feeling the excitement.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GREG, NIAGARA FALLS VISITOR, SAYING:
"I think it's awesome. It's scary as can be, but I think it's fantastic."
Wallenda is due to take his first steps on the wire just after 10 p.m. local time.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters