Santa and one of his elves have rung in the New Year in central Moscow.
Eyewitnesses spotted one of the daredevils walking the tightrope on Tverskaya Ulitsa this weekend during a practice run before the big day.
Perched on a highline and dressed in an elf suit on New Year’s Eve, highliner Maxim Kagin entertained passersby with a Chicken Dance.
Videos posted on social media showed Kagin and his partner, Munich-based slackliner Friedi Kühne, dressed as Santa and braving the elements to make it back and forth across the 20-meter-wide avenue.
In an Instagram video showing the completion of his walk, Kagin wished his followers “balance, health, projects, dreams and all the best in the new year.”
Highlining is becoming increasingly popular among young people who rave about the meditative and relaxing effects as well as the adrenaline boost they get from the sport. The thick lines are secured by a mountain climbing rope, and the highliner is secured to the line by an additional rope.
Reuters contributed reporting to this article.
