ORLANDO, Fla., April 29 (UPI) — A massive new attraction in Orlando, Fla., earned record-making status Wednesday when daredevil Nik Wallenda scaled it live for the Today show.
The Orlando Eye, set to open to the public May 4, is the sister to London’s slightly larger equivalent reaching the staggering height of 400 feet. Wallenda, 36, successfully walked along the ferris wheel as it spun Wednesday despite questionable weather forecasts.
In an interview Tuesday, Wallenda expressed concerns about forthcoming wet weather. “[The structure] has a very fine finish on it, almost like a car, and it’s very very slippery,” he said. “So my concern is, as I make my way to the rim, not even getting to the rim, that I could lose my grip and in the end, I could fall to the ground.”
That didn’t happen, however, and the weather was dry albeit gray as he tackled the stunt live.
“This is a very unique walk for me because I’ve never walked any observation wheel, let alone one that’s moving that I have to keep up with,” he told Today.com. “I’ve never walked without a balancing pole in public and I’ve also never had to duck under obstacles as I was walking.”
Walking the wheel marked a handful of firsts for the professional high wire artist, who is part of a long line of legendary acrobats, the Flying Wallendas.
“I’m living out what my family has done for over 200 years. To be able to fulfill these life-long dreams is an awesome feeling of accomplishment.
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