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Tightrope Walker Prepares For Challenge At Regatta

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Jul 3, 2009 6:15 pm US/Eastern

Tightrope Walker Prepares For Challenge At Regatta

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― With the wire now suspended high over the Allegheny River, tightrope walker Nik Wallenda is set to entertain local crowds with his daredevil feat as part of the Three Rivers Regatta.

He's from the famous family of Flying Wallendas, but he says this particular stunt is a first for him and quite a challenge.

Wallenda and his crew spent the day making sure everything was just right for his high wire walk across the Allegheny, more than 150 feet up.

"This is the longest walk we've ever done," said Wallenda. "Mentally very challenging, there will be a lot of nerves involved because the distance as well as the way it's rigged. It's kind of unknown when I get to the middle. I don't know what it's gonna feel like."

Workers weighed down stabilizer cables with sandbags. They say the cables are supposed to keep the wire from swaying.

Just last fall, Wallenda broke a world record by riding a bicycle on a wire. On this particular walk, he is expected to take a break halfway across.

"The pole is about 50 pounds, about 24 feet long, so my arms more than my legs will be worn out," he says.

About a quarter of the walk is over land, and Wallenda says even hitting the water could be deadly.

"It's virtually hitting into concrete," he says.

Even though there is danger involved, Wallenda says he has a passion for tightrope walking.

"It's just like an artist, who paints everyday, or whatever their form of art is; it's a form of art and what I love to do," he says.

Wallenda will begin his walk at 7 p.m. And in case, the weather turns ugly, a rain date is set up on Sunday.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.