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Wallenda finishes last practice walk Next up, the real deal
(Above) Video frame of Nik Wallenda on his last practice walk in Florida before traveling to Chicago. (Click on images to view larger versions.) 28-Oct-14 – Nik Wallenda took his last practice walk on a high wire in Sarasota, Florida, on Monday morning. His crew then packed up the rigging to bring to Chicago for a stunt that could earn the daredevil two more world records. From the wire, which was at a relatively low height but still overhead of a crowd that showed up at his practice facility to watch, Wallenda spoke live to a television news show in Tampa. He says the biggest challenge about Chicago is going to be the weather and in particular, the wind. “I have trained immensely here in Sarasota and am more than prepared physically and ready to go. But the unknowns are, of course, Mother Nature and that’s really the one thing that we can’t control. I do my best to train in it here in ‘real world’ weather. I’ve trained in 20 to 30 mile an hour winds. We’ve brought in wind machines and created 60 to 80 mile an hour winds. So, I’m feeling very, very confident.” Extreme weather is not in the forecast for Sunday’s walk across the Chicago River, followed by a walk between the two towers at Marina City. Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel, who will co-host the live broadcast on Discovery Channel with two NBC News personalities, has told Wallenda “things are looking good.” “I won’t take that first step on the wire,” says Wallenda, “if the winds are over 50 miles per hour. We’re going to be well under that.”
(Above) Nik Wallenda on the roof of Leo Burnett Building on September 16. The top of Marina City’s west tower is at left. Wallenda says he walks to inspire others. “Not necessary to walk the wire but continue to push themselves to be better at whatever they do. If I want to inspire others then I better continue to push myself to be better.” Last Sunday, lightweight wires on which cameras will ride were strung between Marina City, Leo Burnett Building, and AMA Plaza. The main cables for the walk will be installed on Thursday night.
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