Nik Wallenda Holds Q&A While Training on the Wire in Sarasota for June 23 Grand Canyon Walk

Nik Wallenda Takes a Break from Training for June 23, 2013 Grand Canyon Walk at Nathan Benderson Park, to Answer Questions by the Crowd, Sarasota, Fla., June 16, 2013

Having easy access to history is pretty cool, which is why I’ve now watched daredevil Nik Wallenda train three times at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla., prior to his June 23, 2013, walk across the Grand Canyon. Each time I’ve gone, the crowd grows a little bigger, the line to meet the “King of the High Wire” grows a little longer and each training has been a little different.

Nik Wallenda Trains for June 23, 2013 Grand Canyon Walk with Two Airboat Fans at Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Fla., June 14, 2013

Q&A with Nik Wallenda on the Wire
Friday, Wallenda trained with two airboat fans in preparation for the anticipated 35 mph winds across the Canyon. He told the group today, during a casual Q&A with the daredevil sitting on the wire and members of the audience yelling out questions, he trained with wind speeds up to 90 mph. He also said the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore will be his weatherman, adding “you can’t get better than that.”

Nik Wallenda Trains for June 23, 2013 Grand Canyon Walk at Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Fla., June 16, 2013

What about those shoes he wears? Wallenda told the crowd his mother made them and are leather upper with elk skin bottom. He wears socks in theme and the soles protect his feet from the heat of the wire, in which he anticipates it will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit for the Grand Canyon walk.

Nik Wallenda Takes a Break from Training for June 23, 2013 Grand Canyon Walk at Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Fla., June 16, 2013

That pole he carries for balance, how much does it weigh? Forty-three pounds.

Does he take in the view while walking? Indeed he does and when possible, he said, he likes interacting with the crowd.

And what’s next? He told the audience he has many more walks planned and when asked if there’s a big walk, he replied he takes each walk seriously. Surprisingly, he said being able to walk across Niagara Falls was something he didn’t think he’d be able to achieve.

So Far, This is One of My Favorite Nik Wallenda Photos I've Snapped, Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Fla., June 14, 2013 — So Far, This is One of My Favorite Nik Wallenda Photos I’ve Snapped, Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Fla., June 14, 2013

Nik Wallenda’s Grand Canyon Walk Training is Winding Down
If you haven’t seen him train yet, you have two more days and four more opportunities before he heads west to the Navajo Nation to acclimate prior to Sunday’s walk.

He’s training Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 19 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park on North Cattleman Road, Sarasota.

Nik Wallenda’s Very Social
Be sure to visit Nik Wallenda’s website, Facebook page,, and follow him on Twitter for all the latest information about King of the High Wire.

Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.