Cirque artist Guillaume Fontaine managed to remain in balance on his hands for 58 seconds on a slackline suspended at 40 meters on Sunday in Limoilou.
During the vertigo event on the bell towers, presented at the Saint-Charles-de-Limoilou church, Fontaine set a new world record Guinness in the main balance on the hands for 58 consecutive seconds on a slackline, thus breaking the former 47-second record of Switzerland Samuel Volery.
Photo provided by Michaël Pineault
“I created a new world record and added some fantasies. I rolled in monocycle by juggling and I juggled with a soccer ball with my feet. It was really great! ” explained the artist of Quebec.
Depending on the definition, slackline is a sporting practice that is similar to tightrope walking. However, it is distinguished by the use of an elastic strap and by an absence of stabilization of the strap.
In front of public
Installed more than 40 meters high between the two bell towers of the church, Guillaume Fontaine executed this performance in front of a crowd gathered in large numbers on the forecourt and in the streets.
Photo provided by Michaël Pineault
The sports component of performance should not be overlooked. The level of difficulty remains unknown to the general public.
“Most people can’t stand on their hands on the ground, head upside down. So on a slackline, it’s really hard. And super high between two bell towers, it’s even worse. The visual landmarks are far away and there is also public pressure. I succeeded in the second attempt, but I don’t think I could have tried a 3e times, ”said Guillaume Fontaine.
Over the seconds that flow, the body absorbs the effort and the effects are actually felt.
“It’s a lot of endurance training. The shoulders get tired quickly. At the end, the elbows want to flank. Everything is so committed that I had small lightnings in the forearms at the end. It burns a lot. “
This spectacular moment will not be ephemeral. It was immortalized by ground and drone cameras. The record will be broadcast as part of a future television series.
Between Quebec and Lévis
This record marks a milestone in the career of Guillaume Fontaine and crosses several months of preparation carried out with the circus machine team. Founded in Quebec in 2013, Cirque Machine presented more than 2,000 shows in 25 countries, joining more than a million spectators.
Fontaine now caresses an ambitious project to install a slackline between the two banks of the St. Lawrence River.
“I will continue to make shows. From Château Frontenac to the Quai Paquet in Lévis, that would be a 3e Temporary link! It’s 1.5km and it is not impossible to do. Between two hot air ballooners, it has never been done in Canada either, ”finishes the artist.
