Philippe Petit performed unauthorized high-wire walks between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on the morning of 7 August 1974. For his unauthorized feat 1,312 feet above the ground – which he referred to as "le coup" – he rigged a 440-pound cable and used a custom-made 30-foot long, 55-pound balancing pole. He performed for 45 minutes, making eight passes along the wire.
