One thing that was passed on from generation to generation in my family, over seven generations in 200 years, was never give up. That's the way we live.

The main causes of the overrun were the need to produce two custom cables – one for the performance and a shorter one for practice – and the need to hire a new helicopter company to set up the cable at the last minute after the original one discovered they did not hold the necessary licenses. Ultimately he helped generate about $200000 of support from local business associations. Prior to Wallenda the last person to cross the river on tightrope was James Hardy in 1896.

On June 10 2011 Wallenda hung from a helicopter 250 feet (76 m) off the ground using only his teeth to hold on. At age 13 he made his professional tightrope walking debut. In 2011 Wallenda set a world record by performing on the Wheel of Death atop the 23 story Tropicana Casino and Resort.