On a Lifeline

I’ve been walking the wire since the age of two. My mom would hold my hand and walk me back and forth. At 13,I started performing on the wire in front of an audience. My family,all seven generations now,has been walking the tightrope. My great-grandfather and grandfather brought our family to this level. They didn’t do the ordinary.

What goes on in your mind while you are walking the rope?

My greatest challenge has been to give up what we do. So once I am on the wire,I find peace. Most people think that it would be stressful,that I’d be nervous and anxious,but I’m by myself and it’s actually very relaxing.

Where do you plan to walk next?

My next target is the Grand Canyon and I already have the permits.

Why don’t you use the safety net?

Walking the tightrope has been in my family since the 1780s,so I am trained for the worst case scenario. Before going high on the wire,I train hard in a safe environment,and that gives me the confidence to get up high in a real situation. Now,we also have devices that tell us exactly how much tension and pressure a cable can hold. Everything is pre-engineered.

How do you prepare yourself to walk the tightrope? Is there a secret mantra or exercise?

Training and preparation is a big part of what I do. For instance,for the Niagara Falls walk,I actually trained on the same cable. We would stretch it between two cranes,stay low to the ground and I’d train with heavy winds as well as heavy mist because over the Falls,there is a very heavy mist in the air. Assuming that on a bad day the winds over the Falls are 60 miles an hour,I trained myself with 60 miles an hour wind.

Do you walk to make records,or you walk just because there is an urge,a temptation?

It comes from within. I’ve done this my entire life. My great-grandfather said that life is on the wire and everything else is just waiting. It’s so true.

Will you let your children do it?

To be honest,as a parent,I don’t want them to follow in my footsteps. We encourage them to do whatever they want. Who wants to see their kids risk their lives on a daily basis? Not me. As a father,I want to see my kids safe at home every night after they leave work.

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