Nik Wallenda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nik Wallenda
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Wallenda in 2014
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| Born |
Nikolas Wallenda
January 24, 1979 Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
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| Other names | The King of the Wire (nickname) |
| Occupation | Acrobat, daredevil, high-wire artist |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | Walking over Masaya volcano in Nicaragua, an 1,800-foot walk, in 2020 in 31m 23s. High-wire act without a net First person to walk a tightrope directly over Niagara Falls |
| Spouse(s) |
Erendira Vazquez
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Delilah Wallenda and Terry Troffer |
| Relatives | Karl Wallenda (great-grandfather) |
| Awards | Nine-time world record holder |
Nikolas Wallenda (born January 24, 1979) is an American acrobat and high-wire artist. He is famous for his amazing high-wire performances, often without a safety net. Nik holds 11 Guinness World Records for his daring acts. He is best known as the first person to walk a tightrope directly over Niagara Falls. In 2020, Wallenda walked 1,800 feet (549 m) on a steel cable over Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. This was his longest walk ever.
Nik is a seventh-generation member of The Flying Wallendas family. This family has been circus performers since the 1700s. He started performing with his family as a child. He made his professional tightrope walking debut at age 13. In 1998, he decided to make high-wire walking his career. He joined his family in a seven-person pyramid on the wire.
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Nik's Family and Early Life
Nik Wallenda comes from a long line of circus performers. His family, The Flying Wallendas, are famous for their balancing acts. They have performed without nets since the 1920s. Nik's great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, was a huge inspiration to him. Sadly, some family members have been hurt or died during performances. In 1978, Karl Wallenda died after falling from a tightrope at age 73.
Nik was born in Sarasota, Florida, in 1979. He started playing on the wire at age two. His father taught him how to walk the wire. His parents even threw objects at him and used a BB gun to help him focus. This taught him to handle distractions. At age six, he visited Niagara Falls and dreamed of walking across it one day. He spent most of his childhood traveling with his parents' circus act.
After high school, Nik thought about going to college. But in 1998, he joined his family to recreate Karl Wallenda's seven-person pyramid on the high-wire. This experience made him choose high-wire walking as his career.
Amazing High-Wire Feats
Nik Wallenda has created many large shows for amusement parks and other places. He often performs with his wife, Erendira, and their children. His youngest child, Evita, started balancing acts at six months old. Nik's shows include water stunts, the Wheel of Death, and tightrope walking. He says he likes to "mix it up" to keep things exciting. His father, Terry Troffer, helps him with safety. Nik has never had a serious accident.
Nik usually performs without a safety net or harness. He believes nets can give a false sense of security. He says he does not have a "death wish." He plans to live a long life. Nik sees his high-wire acts as athletic feats, not just stunts. He trains six hours a day, six days a week. He focuses on both physical and mental strength.
Nik has special tricks he does on the wire. These include making a phone call, sitting, or even lying down. He is very careful about planning every detail of his acts. He loves what he does and says, "Walking the wire to me is life."
Early Career Highlights
In 2001, Nik and seven other family members created the world's first eight-person high-wire pyramid in Japan. They walked across a 30-foot (9 m) high tightrope in six minutes. This set a Guinness World Record. Nik said this was a very important moment for his family and his career.
From 2002 to 2005, Nik performed with his family at different places. One act involved him riding a motorcycle across a high-wire 30 feet (9 m) in the air. In 2006, he and his sister Lijana performed for McDonald's. They met in the middle of a high-wire to drink coffee. Nik even had to rescue his sister when a crane malfunctioned.
The Wheel of Steel
In 2007 and 2008, Nik performed with Bello Nock in the "Bellobration" show. They created a new, double version of the Wheel of Steel. They balanced on twin circles 39 feet (12 m) in the air. The wheels would split, sending them in opposite directions without nets. They had to move together to stay on the device. This act lasted seven minutes.
Nik and Bello invented the double Wheel of Steel. They spent nine months building it and four months practicing. The biggest challenge was making the wheels split while spinning. Nik's uncle, a NASA engineer, helped with the design.
Record-Setting Bicycle Ride
On October 15, 2008, Nik performed live on the Today show. He walked and then rode a bicycle across a high-wire 135 feet (41 m) above the ground in New Jersey. The wire was 250 feet (76 m) long. He sat on the wire and called the TV hosts. He then rode a bicycle without tires or handlebars across the wire. He slipped near the end but regained control. This set a world record for the highest and longest bike ride on a high-wire.
Walk Across America Tour
In 2009, Nik took his high-wire act on the "Walk Across America Tour." He performed at ten amusement parks. At Kings Island in Ohio, he walked 800 feet (244 m) at 262 feet (80 m) above the ground. This was his highest walk at the time. He also walked 200 feet (61 m) over the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh. He had to walk in his socks because the wire was oily. This 1,084-foot (330 m) walk was his longest at that point. In 2009, he completed 15 high-wire performances over 100 feet (30 m) in the air.
In 2010, he performed in his hometown of Sarasota. He walked 600 feet (183 m) between two tall buildings.
Bahamas and Wheel of Death
On August 30, 2010, Nik performed at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas. He rode a bicycle 260 feet (79 m) above the ocean. This set a new Guinness World Record for the highest bike ride on a high-wire. Then, he walked 2,000 feet (610 m) over the resort's marine habitat, which had sharks. This was his longest walk ever. His father, who usually helps him, was in the hospital due to heat and stress. Nik performed without him for the first time.
In 2011, Nik performed the Wheel of Death off the 23rd floor of the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City. He walked inside the wheel and then on top of it. He even performed part of the act blindfolded. This set a world record for the highest Wheel of Death performance.
Puerto Rico and Helicopter Hang
On June 4, 2011, Nik walked a high-wire between two towers of the Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This was a recreation of the act that killed his great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, in 1978. Nik's mother, Delilah, joined him. They started at opposite ends of the wire. When Delilah reached the middle, Nik stepped over her. Nik knelt down and blew a kiss to honor Karl's memory. He called this the most emotional moment of his career.
On June 10, 2011, Nik hung from a helicopter 250 feet (76 m) above Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. He hung by his arms, legs, and even his teeth. This set his sixth world record. He said it was his most difficult feat.
Walking Over Niagara Falls
On June 15, 2012, Nik Wallenda achieved a childhood dream. He received approval to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls. This was a huge challenge, taking two years to get permission from both the U.S. and Canadian governments. Many people had tried and failed to get approval since 1971.
The walk was broadcast live on ABC. Nik had to wear a safety harness for the first time in his life. He was not happy about it, but he agreed to it for the TV network. He wore a special waterproof suit and shoes made by his mother.
The wire was 1,800 feet (549 m) long and two inches (5 cm) thick. It was much wider than his usual wire. It also weighed 8.5 tons (7,700 kg). Getting the wire across the Falls was a big engineering challenge. A helicopter flew a rope across, and then a winch pulled the heavy wire.
The walk started at night, at 10:16 p.m. local time. This was when less water was flowing over the Falls. Nik wore a microphone so people could hear him talk to his father. He prayed and praised Jesus Christ as he walked. The first step over the water was the hardest. He said, "Mentally, your mind goes, 'What are you doing?'"
Nik did not stumble during the walk. He admitted he felt "drained" and "weak" near the end. He stopped, knelt, and blew a kiss to the crowd. He finished the 25-minute walk at 10:41 p.m. Nik Wallenda became the first person to walk directly over Niagara Falls on a high-wire. He also set a world record for the longest walk over a waterfall.
The event was a huge success. Over 120,000 people watched from the Canadian side. Millions more watched on TV around the world. It was ABC's highest-rated Friday night program in years. Nik said the walk was harder than he expected because of the mist and wind. He also said the moving water below made it hard to see the wire.
After the walk, Nik said he lost money on the event. But he felt it was "clearly worth it" for the long term. He hopes to have a lasting presence in Niagara Falls.
After Niagara: More Daring Walks
After his Niagara Falls walk, Nik continued his amazing feats.
Atlantic City Beach Walk
On August 9, 2012, Nik walked 1,300 feet (396 m) across the Atlantic City beach. He was about 100 feet (30 m) in the air. Ocean winds made this walk challenging. He also found sand sticking to the wire, making it slippery. He completed the half-hour walk without problems. Crowds of 100,000 to 150,000 people watched.
Canyon Walk
On June 23, 2013, Nik Wallenda high-wire walked across the Little Colorado River Gorge. This was near Grand Canyon National Park. The event was called Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda and aired live on the Discovery Channel.
To prepare, Nik practiced on a 1,000-foot (305 m) wire in Sarasota. He used wind machines to create gusts up to 91 mph (146 km/h). He even practiced during a tropical storm. The walk was 1,500 feet (457 m) high, about seven times higher than his Niagara crossing. He walked 1,400 feet (427 m) in 22 minutes, 54 seconds. He used a 2-inch (5 cm) thick wire and a 30-foot (9 m) balancing pole.
As he started, Nik realized the wire was dusty and slippery. He spat on his hands for grip. He also stopped to crouch down because of strong winds. He prayed throughout the walk. Nik ran the last few steps and kissed the ground. He became the first person to high-wire walk across a Grand Canyon area gorge. He said it was more difficult than he expected. Skywire Live was the highest-rated live program in Discovery's history.
Skyscraper Live
In November 2014, Nik performed Skyscraper Live in Chicago. This special aired on the Discovery Channel. He completed two tightrope walks and set two new Guinness World Records. One record was for walking the steepest tightrope incline between two buildings (19 degrees). The other was for the highest tightrope walk while blindfolded.
Volcano Live
On March 4, 2020, Nik Wallenda successfully walked across the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. This was his longest stunt in terms of time on the wire. Before his walk, his wife Erendira performed an aerial routine over the volcano's mouth. Both wore gas masks and goggles to protect from the fumes. Nik had to use a guide wire for this stunt. He was visibly affected by the wind but completed the walk.
D'Youville College Walk
On June 17, 2021, Nik Wallenda performed a high-wire walk at D'Youville College in Buffalo, New York. This was for the grand opening of the Health Professions Hub. He walked 320 feet (98 m) on a wire 5/8 inch thick. The wire was five stories high. His tether got stuck near the end, so he removed it to free walk the final steps.
Future Plans
Nik Wallenda wants to achieve global fame. He dreams of walking across the Bosphorus in Turkey and near the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. He also wants to perform at the Eiffel Tower and Egypt's pyramids. Nik hopes to "reinvent the circus." He also plans to create a long-term tourist attraction near Niagara Falls to honor stuntmen like his family.
Personal Life
In 1999, Nik proposed to his future wife, Erendira, while on a wire 30 feet (9 m) high during a performance in Montreal. He knelt on the wire and asked her to marry him in front of 25,000 people. They were married a week later. Erendira also comes from a famous circus family.
Nik believes his success comes from God. He grew up in a religious family and describes himself as a "born-again Christian". His faith is the most important part of his life. Before every walk, he prays with his family and wears a cross. He says he is always praying. Nik believes that with hard work, anyone can achieve their dreams. He wants people to see him as a regular person.
Images for kids
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Wallenda walking the high-wire at Kings Island on August 15, 2009
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Wallenda practicing for his Niagara walk at Seneca Niagara Casino
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Wallenda surrounded by the mist of Niagara Falls, midway through his crossing
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The crowds present at Wallenda's tightrope crossing.
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Wallenda Training for Canyon Walk
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Wallenda walks a tightrope at Canada's Wonderland theme park
