Monday 17 March 2014

High Wire Adrenaline Junkies

 


 
 






So, this is how adrenaline junkies relax! Fearless daredevil takes a break and LIES DOWN on wire 3,000ft above the Rio skyline

  • The group of highliners walked above the famous Brazilian city
  • Andy Lewis, a member of the group called The Moab Monkeys, even dangled upside down 850m above the city attached to the line by just an ankle strap
  • The stunning images were taken by fellow group member Scott Rogers
  • The Moab Monkeys travel the world to partake in the extreme sport

By Becky Evans

PUBLISHED: 20:00 GMT, 24 March 2013 | UPDATED: 09:08 GMT, 25 March 2013



Carefully tiptoeing almost 3000ft above Rio de Janeiro on a thin wire got a bit too much for this adrenaline junkie - so he decided to have a lie down.

Fearless Brian Mosbaugh is so used to the perilous heights he decided he deserved a short break and relaxed over the famous Brazilian city.

Balancing his whole body on the wire, he lies completely horizontal on the precarious rope before getting back up and strolling across the rest of the highline at Pedra da Gavea.


Fearless: Brian Mosbaugh takes a breather as he crosses the high line about 850 metres above the city

Fearless: Brian Mosbaugh takes a breather as he crosses the high line about 850 metres above the city

Among the clouds: Fearless Mosbaugh walks almost 3,000ft above Rio de Janeiro with only a waist-tied harness

Among the clouds: Fearless Mosbaugh walks almost 3,000ft above Rio de Janeiro with only a waist-tied harness

Having a rest: Mosbaugh balances cross legged during the dare devil stunt

Having a rest: Mosbaugh balances cross legged during the dare devil stunt


Fellow daredevil Andy Lewis went one step further.

He dangled almost 2,800ft above the ground attached to the line by only an ankle strap.

 

The pair were joined by fellow Americans Hayley Ashburn and Scott Rogers who together call themselves the Moab Monkeys.

The group travel the world discovering new highlines and BASE jumps.

Highlining is considered the pinnacle of the slacklining sport, in which people prove their balancing skills by walking across a polyester or nylon wire is fixed at two points.

Andy Lewis is a proponent of 'free-solo' slacklining, where no safety harness is worn.

Unique view: Mosbaugh gazes at the sky as he lie among the clouds above the famous Brazilian city

Unique view: Mosbaugh gazes at the sky as he lies among the clouds above the famous Brazilian city

Paradise: Mosbaugh lies completely horizontal on the highline at Pedra da Gavea

Paradise: Mosbaugh lies completely horizontal on the highline at Pedra da Gavea


The mind-blowing feats of the group were captured by Mr Rogers, from Utah, U.S., who risks his own life while photographing the incredible moments of bravery.

He said: 'On a scale of one to ten, highlining is actually pretty safe - but when you do it without a leash, or with only an ankle leash like Andy, the danger level can reach nine or higher.

'We're very experienced so like to think the risk is fairly low but we all know the consequences are very high - instant death in the case of a fall freesoloing or with the ankle leash slipping off.'

He said Mr Lewis had to pull himself back onto the line after dangling upside down.


Hanging around: Andy Lewis hangs upside down over the Rio skyline while tied only by his ankle

Hanging around: Andy Lewis hangs upside down over the Rio skyline while tied only by his ankle

He said: 'To get back up from hanging on the leash Andy had to reach up, grab the leash, and climb up to the line which is pretty difficult and requires a lot of practice and upper body strength.

'But I have known these guys for years and they are the best out there - they have some amazing skills and the massive Brazilian slacklining community were loving every minute of it.

'It's great to travel around the world and quite literally hang out with your friends meeting new people and watching how they react to you.

'These were some of the most spectacular surroundings we have seen and being so high above the city I doubt people could even see what we were getting up to.'

Terrifying: Andy Lewis walks precariously across the thin line in front of the amazing backdrop

Terrifying: Andy Lewis walks precariously across the thin line in front of the amazing backdrop






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