瓦伦德计划明年在马蹄瀑布上方走钢丝[最新消息]

消息来源：http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca ... =true&e=3244752

目前他的提案仍遭加拿大尼亚加拉公园管理处否决，但Nik Wallenda说他不会放弃，很有可能明年大家就能看到他在马路瀑布上方胜利挑战瀑布了。关于此事的进展，本帖将及时更新最新消息。

最新消息

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca ... =true&e=3371739

Wallenda won't give up on falls tightrope dream
Parks Commission firm on stunting rules

Both Nik Wallenda and the Niagara Parks Commission are digging in their heels.

Wallenda wants to be the first person in more than a century to walk across the Niagara gorge on a tightrope. The Commission seems determined not to let it happen.

The performer was in Niagara Falls Wednesday morning to make his pitch to the Commission's public meeting. He's already received approval for the tightrope walk from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and he has the support of Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. But without the blessing of the Parks Commission and its chair Janice Thomson, the tightrope walk – as Wallenda wants it – can't happen.

With permission already granted from New York State, Wallenda said the option is there to walk across the American falls. But it's the international crossing over the Horseshoe Falls he really wants.

However, the Niagara Parks Commission banned stunting over the falls more than a century ago, and hasn't budged since.

"We can listen to Mr. Wallenda and listen to his proposal, but (the Niagara Parks Act) is the guiding document for us," said Thomson.

Asked about the suggestion that the decision could be passed over the Parks Commission to the Ministry of Tourism, Thomson said she doesn't see that happening.

"I believe strongly that the ministry has appointed commissioners that they have shown great faith in and that they will let us make the decision as we see fit," Thomson said.

Wallenda's presentation included some new information he hadn't previously made public – including the exact route he would like to take. While numerous daredevils in the 1800s crossed the gorge on tightropes, they were all done further north. Wallenda wants to be the first person to cross the arch of the Horseshoe Falls.

The 2" diameter wire rope would stretch from Table Rock to the the visitor's centre on Goat Island. It would follow roughly the same 312-metre path that John Daly used when he tried to drive a golf ball between the two sites during a publicity stunt in 2005.

Wallenda also used huge economic impact numbers to put the pressure on the Parks Commission. He had a study done by Toronto's Enigma Research that showed an estimated crowd of 125,000 people would result in more than $20 million in short-term spending. On top of that, an already-confirmed deal with the Discovery Network would allow the skywalk to be viewed live by more than 400 million people around the world.


"The numbers don't lie. I wouldn't want to have to answer to the citizens if I was told that someone was willing to bring in an event that would bring in $120 million. To deny that seems a little bit arrogant and foolish to me.

But Thomson said she's not feeling the pressure from the potential benefits of the walk.

"We're committed to doing the right thing for this area and we feel that sustainable tourism is the future in Niagara – not one day activities," she said.


See more in Thursday's Niagara Falls Review.