Dangerous Shot: Sitting precariously on top of the 43-storeyed Al Dar Tower is parkour artiste David Nelmes, who says years of training and experience are necessary for safe stunts.
Dubai - A professional parkour artist for six years, Nelmes admitted that the climb in Dubai was the most dangerous stunt that he's pulled off in recent times.
Published: Mon 25 Dec 2017, 11:00 PM
Updated: Tue 26 Dec 2017, 8:19 AM
Freerunner and daredevil parkour artist David Nelmes visited Dubai a few weeks ago for the first time. Unlike other visitors who stick to dune bashing on visiting 'On the Top' in Burj Khalifa, Nelmes went ahead and free-climbed and dropped 43 storeys of the Al Dar tower in Dubai Marina.
A professional parkour artist for six years, Nelmes admitted that the climb in Dubai was the most dangerous stunt that he's pulled off in recent times.
"The climb was easy and not hard to do, it was just sketchy and extremely dusty. So, I had to take my time and go slow. I also practised this climb a dozen times without the drop - the climb curves round onto the roof where it is safe to try," he told Khaleej Times.
More men and women - of all age groups - are getting into the challenging sport of parkour or free climbing. Millennials are often seen posting pictures and videos on social media networks standing at the edge of a dangerously tall skyscraper or hopping from one ledge of the building to another. Nelmes firmly said that rooftoppers are not parkour artists.
For professional cityscape photographers like Daniel Cheong 'unprofessional' rooftoppers and YouTubers have become a menace as he is finding it harder to get permissions to gain access to building rooftops for pictures. Cheong is best known for taking majestic shots of the Dubai city skyline.
Cheong said that he was commissioned by the office of the Crown Prince of Dubai to shoot pictures of the Dubai cityscape.
However, with the increasing number of incidents, it has become harder for photographers to gain access to high rises. "I've heard cases where youngsters, looking to make a quick buck by creating viral content, break locks off doors to the rooftops to shoot videos and take pictures," he said.
Unfortunately, a Chinese national plunged to his death from a 62-storey building after a stunt went wrong. Nelmes insists that there is a risk involved in every sport. "There have been many deaths involved with even the common sports such as football," he said.
Nelmes stated that inexperienced people must not attempt parkour. "I can't speak for random people who climb buildings without parkour training as they don't have our mindset or skill level. I hope the public is smart enough not to confuse rooftoppers for parkour practitioners.
"Nowadays, it has become a big thing and people without training, are trying things they aren't capable of," he said referring to the death of the Chinese rooftopper.
"People don't seem to realise, when we are performing these stunts at height, we have calculated every single risk, and checked every surface, the grip, and performed the same stunt a thousand times at ground level. We have years of experience and training which not only allows us to be able to attempt these 'stunts' safely."
He recommends that anyone, young or old can get into parkour. "It's a safe sport and the community is one of the best in the world. It'll change your life for the best," said Nelmes.
"I'm always in control when I'm on a rooftop. I check every surface before I step on it. For example, with the strides on the Al Dar Tower, I jumped the smaller gaps and slowly built up to skipping a gap with each step. I also did it over the safe drop over the roof before moving to the 'death drop'. It becomes easy and comfortable.
"I've never failed or come close while being at height or on a rooftop. While training at ground level you tend to push yourself more as it's not a high risk if you fall. I've had a few injuries from that."
Meanwhile, Cheong takes into account all aspects of safety, including a harness for himself and his equipment. "We are a small group of professionals who take serious consideration of safety," he added.
However, Cheong's advice to rooftoppers is to stop looking for viral content for YouTube or Instagram, and exercise caution. "Use safety equipment," he said.
Know parkour, freerunning
Parkour is efficient movement to get from point A to B as fast and safely as possible. Freerunning is more about freedom of movement and it has no fixed style or restraints. You can combine parkour, dancing, martial arts, tricking etc. and that can be called freerunning.
KT Nano Edit
No cakewalk, this
You need to think on your feet when indulging in sports such as parkour, or face grave repercussions. There are an awful lot of incidents to prove that. People have fallen to death in their quest for easy bucks, viral videos. The flawlessness of moves and clinical performance come with rigorous practice. It ain't a cakewalk, and shouldn't be indulged in without practice.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
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