A tightrope walker of the extreme walks between two hot air balloons at over 4,000 meters altitude

While ground acrobatics are already dangerous, those performed in the air are even more so. Yet, this French highliner did not hesitate to execute an impressive speed maneuver between two hot air balloons at an altitude of over 4,200 meters, thus setting a new record.

We all know about tightrope walking, an artistic and athletic practice that involves walking, dancing, and even performing acrobatics on a taut rope above the ground. Typically, tightrope walking is done at heights fairly close to the ground. However, there exists an extreme version of this discipline performed at very high altitudes, known as highlining. French highliner Julien Roux is a well-known figure in this sport, and he recently achieved a remarkable feat in this field. Already holding a length record in highlining, he has now set a new record for height.

To establish this new record, the highline legend walked on a 19-meter slackline stretched between two hot air balloons at over 4,200 meters. This incredible achievement took place in November 2024 in the district of Fribourg, Switzerland. He succeeded despite challenging weather conditions. At the time of this daring maneuver, strong winds, low oxygen levels, and extremely cold temperatures of -14 degrees Celsius prevailed. After completing the feat, the highliner jumped from the midpoint of the line with a parachute.

Interestingly, this high-flying acrobatics was inspired by the Disney animated film Up and took two years of preparation. Additionally, suspended in a hot air balloon, he performed BMX tricks at 600 meters above the ground.