NIK WALLENDA’S STORY

On June 23, 2013, Nik completed yet another life-long dream, this one 6 years in the making, becoming the first person to cross the Grand Canyon on a wire. His network partners, Discovery Channel, allowed Nik to undertake the walk in the Wallenda family tradition, completely untethered, and broke new ground as a network, broadcasting the event live in 183 countries.

At a height of 1,500 ft above the Little Colorado River, Nik faced the challenges of wind gusts measured at 48 miles per hour, optical illusions of the canyon walls, and a dusty and precariously moving cable. Viewers listened breathlessly as Nik described the intense conditions he faced to Terry, his father and safety coordinator, and his Uncle Mike, his lead engineer, and also as he thanked God and prayed for peace in the midst of adversity as he travelled the distance of 1,300 hundred feet across.

After nearly 23 minutes on the cable and realizing the end was in sight, he began to thank those that had made the walk possible, before kneeling to the cable, saluting his fans, and sprinting in the final distance to the waiting arms of family and friends. Through television and other media outlets, the event reached an audience of 23 million in the U.S. along, and millions more worldwide, setting viewing and social media records in the process. Revealing only days later the added adversity of battling and being treated for a severe cold the day of the event, Nik once again exhibited his motto, Never Give Up, and continued in his mission to inspire those around the world to pursue their dreams.