Skywalk 2012 - Jay Cochrane

Skywalk 2012 by Jay Cochrane

Stepping from the top of the iconic Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, Canada, Jay Cochrane opened the Skywalk 2012 summer of performances crossing the 400 meters (quarter mile) distance over 50-stories in the sky on June 29, 2012, ending at the pinnacle of the Niagara Fallsview Hilton Hotel North Tower. In his twelve-week residency, Jay walked the wire 48 times in the greatest building-to-building skywalk in North American history.

Sponsored by The Tourism Partnership of Niagara and presented by the Fallsview BIA, Skywalk 2012 put Cochrane into a league of his own. Jay's highwire extended 396.2 meters (1,300 feet) from the top of the Niagara Fallsview Hilton Hotel North Tower at a height of 177 meters (581 feet) to the top of the Skylon Tower at a height of 160 meters (520 feet) in the heart of Niagara Falls.

Skywalk2012 opening day was featured on NBCnews.com with a homepage link and a shoutout to Jay on the Today Show.

Jay Cochrane, skywalks in front of hundreds crammed into the observation deck of the Skylon Tower for the first day of Skywalk2012 on July 6, 2012. Jay completed his walk to the Hilton Fallsview Hotel, 1300 feet away in Niagara Falls, Canada. ©Mark D Phillips

Jay Cochrane on the second day of Skywalk2012 on July 7, 2012 from the Skylon Tower to the Hilton Fallsview Hotel, 1300 feet across in Niagara Falls, Canada. Leaving the top of the Skylon Tower, the Fallsview District and Casino Niagara look below him on his way to the Hilton Hotel, his final destination.

Cochrane had 80 scheduled performances from June 29 to September 23, 2012, and at the end, was awarded a world record submission of 11.81 miles (62,400 feet) / 19.01 Km (19,019.52 meters) in 48 total skywalks. Jay’s highwire for Skywalk 2012 was visible for miles as a part of the skyline, standing nearly 700 feet above the Niagara Gorge and is longer than the distance across the Gorge, connecting the structures with his "highway in the sky".

"Niagara Falls is the premier venue in the world for Skywalk 2012," said Cochrane of the skywalk. "This walk approaches the grandeur of my Great China Skywalk across Qutang Gorge above the Yangtze River. I'm excited to give a spectacular performance that will draw attention to my home country of Canada and inspire people to visit Niagara."

Media present at the opening night’s walk produced packages that were printed prominently in the London Globe and Mail, China Daily News, Economic Times of India, LaPrensa and ANSA of Italy, The Asian Age, Bloomberg Business Week, Sing Tao Canada Chinese Newspaper, Gandul of Romania, Sabah of Istanbul Turkey, RPP Gruppo of Peru, Joboord of Saudi Arabia/Jordan, Winnepeg Sun, Edmonton Sun, Tube Tamil of South India and Sri Lanka, Media Indonesia, Welland Tribune, Bullet News, ESPN, the Buffalo News, WIVB of Buffalo, Gannett Media Group Television, 9 News of Denver and Yahoo News.

By July 12, 2012, Jay passed the 2-Kilometer mark. On Thursday, August 02, 2012, Jay completed five miles of distance on the wire. As a performer, Jay was celebrating his 50th year as a wirewalker and doing it with style. On August 13, 2012, he passed the 10-Kilometer mark on his 27th transverse. By August 29, 2012, Jay had added 5k more to pass 15 Kilometers, followed by the Ten-mile milestone on September 2, 2012, day 60 of performances. Weather issues caused cancellations of many of the final performances, and on September 17, 2012, Jay Cochrane made his final crossing, finishing with a cumulative distance world record submission of 11.81 miles (62,400 feet) or 19.01 Km (19,019.52 meters).

Following each performance, Jay would sign autographs on the street giving each person a poster in exchange for donations to the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara Falls. The people loved him and he would make sure that every kid who wanted to meet him got that opportunity. His performances over the past decade in Niagara Falls raised significant contributions to local organizations, most notably over C$136,000 for the Tender Wishes Foundation.

For Jay, it was always about the kids, looking to the sky and knowing that anything is possible. You just have to take one step at a time.

Skywalk 2012, Niagara Falls

Jay Cochrane Skywalk 2012 First Day of Setup in Niagara Falls, Canada, with skywalk wire being unloaded from truck. ©Mark D Phillips

Jay Cochrane with the spool of walk wire on June 5, 2012, that will stretch to the top of the Hilton Hotel behind him. ©Mark D Phillips

Jennifer Valentyne and Kevin Frankish with Jay Cochrane on Breakfast Television in Niagara Falls, Canada. ©Mark D Phillips

Jennifer Valentyne and Kevin Frankish interview Jay Cochrane live on Breakfast Television from Niagara Falls, Canada, on June 22, 2012. ©Mark D Phillips

Jay Cochrane stands atop the Skylon Tower with the Canada flag as he begins his Skywalk 2012 performance in Niagara Falls, Canada, on July 7, 2012. ©Mark D Phillips

Jay Cochrane stands beneath the Canadian flag atop the Skylon Tower as he begins his Skywalk 2012 performance on July 7, 2012. ©Mark D Phillips

Jay Cochrane salutes viewers into the observation deck of the Skylon Tower for the first day of Skywalk 2012 on July 6, 2012. ©Mark D Phillips

High above Niagara Gorge and the Rainbow Bridge, Jay Cochrane walks from the Skylon Tower on his Highway in the Sky on July 6, 2012. ©Mark D Phillips

Looking to the pinnacle of the Hilton Fallsview Hotel on July 6, 2012, Jay Cochrane approaches the finish of Skywalk 2012 Day One. ©Mark D Phillips

Jay Cochrane is surrounded on the street beneath the Niagara Fallsview Hilton Hotel on July 6 after completing the first day of Skywalk 2012. ©Mark D Phillips