bbb Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Hasnt this already been done before ? I think Blondin and others went over the gorge in the 1800s, but not over the Falls.
truth on hold Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Blondin went to the United States in 1855.[2] He was engaged by William Niblo to perform with the Ravel troupe in New York City and was subsequently part proprietor of a circus.[3] He especially owed his celebrity and fortune to his idea of crossing the gorge below Niagara Falls on a tightrope, 1100 feet (335 m) long, 3¼ inches in diameter, 160 feet (50 m) above the water. This he accomplished, first on 30 June 1859, a number of times, always with different theatric variations: blindfolded, in a sack, trundling a wheelbarrow, on stilts, carrying a man (his manager, Harry Colcord) on his back, sitting down midway while he cooked and ate an omelet and standing on a chair with only one chair leg on the rope.[4] http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Blondin#section_1 I wonder exactly where this crossing was made
EndZoneCrew Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 That was crazy when they had the copter shots of him from above.....teether or not, that takes STONES
truth on hold Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 no It's ok when I read about the tether requirement took a lot of the interest out of it. Really what was the point? See more impressive acts from gymnasts on balance beams.
bbb Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 That was crazy when they had the copter shots of him from above.....teether or not, that takes STONES It was really great footage. I'm scared of heights, and for good reason - my balance isn't super good......So, this doesn't even register as possible for me.
boyst Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 It's ok when I read about the tether requirement took a lot of the interest out of it. Really what was the point? See more impressive acts from gymnasts on balance beams. I would have walked it with a leash. Why not. Not like it is dangerous?
ajzepp Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 It's ok when I read about the tether requirement took a lot of the interest out of it. Really what was the point? See more impressive acts from gymnasts on balance beams. I completely lost interest when I saw the tether, as well. Fig Newton pointed out in the shoutbox that it was known a week ago that he would have it in place, but I guess I was still going on what was discussed earlier than that where he was saying no net, no tether. I certainly don't want to see anyone hurt or killed, but that was sort of like taking all the risk and intensity out of the stunt for me. As I mentioned in the shoutbox tonight, there is a reason why when you go to the circus they make a big deal about telling you the trapeze people don't use nets. Of course nobody wants anything bad to happen, but when the lack of safety measures is what takes the stunt or act to a whole new level. It felt a bit like a bait and switch to me, cause the only promotion I'd seen up until the show tonight indicated he would be doing it with no tether in place. How intense can it really be when he's literally having a chat while walking the tight rope? Anyway, I'll definitely keep tabs on his progress with the Grand Canyon thing...
Jim in Anchorage Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 It's ok when I read about the tether requirement took a lot of the interest out of it. Really what was the point? See more impressive acts from gymnasts on balance beams. Yep. Like watching Evel Knievel jump mattress instead of buses.
bbb Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Alan Pergament just posted about that: http://networkedblogs.com/yPsJd
ajzepp Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Yep. Like watching Evel Knievel jump mattress instead of buses. lol, exactly. It's funny, cause if you watched those "top 20 stunts of all time" before the walk last night, those were some pretty intense acts!! The one guy who was a "solo rock climber" or whatever gave me a pit in my stomach watching him....no gear at ALL, just a guy climbing up the side of a huge rock. Then the other guy who did the same with buildings, even climbing up the friggin Burg Dubai!!! That is truly CRAZY, but also entertaining and absolutley unbelievable. That's what I was ready for...some guy gonna risk life and limb crossing the very falls that I've visited on numerous occasions and am COMPLETELY intimidated by. I still remember the first time I stood along the rail watching and sensing the force of that water...truly incredible. So to all of a sudden see the guy with the training wheels on just threw me for a loop. If I would have known he was going to wear it beforehand, it wouldn't have been a problem. But to have all the build up about how risky this would be, and then being primed for the walk by having ABC show all those videos of amazing stunts, just really made for a big let down.
stevestojan Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 The views were awesome. But I agree the tether ruined it. He made it, yes. But his mind last night was "if I make it, great. If I don't I look silly hanging upside down." Not being tethered makes it an infinitely more difficult mental challenge. With the tether, it's a cool ride at Six Flags.
UConn James Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 What I may remember most about last night was a palpable level of phony-ism. All the "Thank you, Jesus!" and the like... and then the slip-up moment where he says the weather gear he had to wear he felt like a "jerk-off" before he caught what he said and tried to soften it. And then back to the Jesus stuff. The over-hyping of this reached new heights of futility. It was like an hour and a half of happy-talk like when the local station has a minute to fill at the end of the newscast, and 30 minutes where something actually happened, tho with all of the drama sucked out of it. And I'm sorry, but his family was Stepford-like.
bbb Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Yeah, it's phony to be praying when you're up on a wire.
NoSaint Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 The views were awesome. But I agree the tether ruined it. He made it, yes. But his mind last night was "if I make it, great. If I don't I look silly hanging upside down." Not being tethered makes it an infinitely more difficult mental challenge. With the tether, it's a cool ride at Six Flags. I'd say there's still a bit of pressure - if he falls on his biggest national stage, it's not death but its worse than a simple "aw shucks.
John Adams Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 1339879521[/url]' post='2487615']Yeah, it's phony to be praying when you're up on a wire. And if you fall, you tumble 3 feet. BFD.
zow2 Posted June 17, 2012 Author Posted June 17, 2012 I don't think it was lip service saying he never wanted the harness. you could tell he definitely didn't need it. He would've aced that thing with no tether. I gotta give the guy much respect for that. He not only made it look easy, he did it with SWAG...having a nice little conversation with TV and having his dad yap in his ear the whole time. I was thinkin, let the guy concentrate and get to the other side for G-sake!
stevestojan Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 I don't think it was lip service saying he never wanted the harness. you could tell he definitely didn't need it. He would've aced that thing with no tether. I gotta give the guy much respect for that. He not only made it look easy, he did it with SWAG...having a nice little conversation with TV and having his dad yap in his ear the whole time. I was thinkin, let the guy concentrate and get to the other side for G-sake! But the argument can be made that the reason he made it look easy, the reason he did it with "SWAG", the reason he was able to have a conversation was because if he messed up, he flipped upside down. To say he would have aced it without the tether is something we will never really know.
Recommended Posts