Rooftopping


Rooftopping, sometimes called roofing, refers to the unsecured ascent of rooftops, skyscrapers, towers, cranes, antennas, smokestacks, or other tall structures. Rooftoppers usually take photos or videos of their climbs.
The practice of scaling skyscrapers often results in security crackdowns and arrests. Many people have died or been injured when falling while rooftopping.

Activity

Rooftopping is mainly an activity undertaken by younger people. While similar in some ways to Buildering, it typically involves gaining roof access from within the building using stairs and/or ladders up to the roof access door or hatch.
Rooftopping is an offshoot of Urban Exploration and Urban Climbing and is generally illegal requiring trespassing and often bypassing locked doors.
Rooftoppers usually take photos or videos and panoramic photographs—either a selfie by themselves or with the help of a crew of assistants or accomplices, present on the climb or filming from a distance. Rooftoppers often use helmet cameras for videos. Some also use quadcopter drones for exploration and recording. Because it is often practised in the pursuit of making viral-ready videos or photos, it tends to result in heightened security and greater restriction against access to desirable exploration venues.

Popularity

In one report presented to American Educational Research Association in 1995 participants were suggested as thrill seekers who enjoy "high levels of stimulation and complexity of thinking," although other theories explaining their motivation exist.
There was a rooftopping "craze" in Russia around 2017.

Notable rooftoppers