Vitaly Raskalov is a famous photographer, blogger, ruffer in Russia and overseas, and, as he himself would say, a big problem for the security service of all tall buildings. He was born in Cherkasy region on January 19, 1993. When the whole family moved to Russia from Ukraine, Vitaliy finished his studies in the 6th grade. He graduated from school in Moscow, but did not receive Russian citizenship. Then Raskalov entered the university at the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University, but left him in the first year. He considered this a useless affair and never received a higher education.
How it all began
As a teenager, Vitaly Raskalov liked to take photos, and so he bought a SLR camera. But the matter didn’t go further than this, the young man quickly realized that you won’t surprise anyone with ordinary photographs. After a while, a new idea came to him to click on the camera from the roofs of high-rise buildings. Thus, the guy thought, he will get masterpiece photos. Raskalov is not afraid of the heights, from his words - his fear atrophied. Before the conquest of skyscrapers, Vitaliy was not professionally involved in sports. For his ideas, the rofer mastered the initial stage of parkour, learned how to jump, land, and, of course, run fast, as a chase often occurs. Law enforcement officials and the security service did not appreciate Vitali's hobby. He rises to the roofs of buildings illegally. The guy does not worry at all that he can be expelled from China, the European Union and other countries. It claims that the name and surname are invented.
Roofing
Vitaliy Raskalov is mainly popular in Russia, Germany and Ukraine. They heard about him when a young man created a famous blog where he posted photographs from conquered roofs. He did not chase fees, for him it is more of a hobby, which is closely connected with work. The guy has hundreds of ascents, but he remembered and liked most of all: the main building of Moscow State University, Cologne Cathedral in Germany, the Shanghai Tower in China, the Cheops Pyramid in Egypt, the bridge on Russky Island in Vladivostok.
Ruffer often indulges in memories of how for three years he tuned himself up to the tower of Moscow State University. It seemed to be simply impossible to climb on, since there was a separate elevator in her spire, and there was a combination lock. The next day, Vitaly and the guys puzzled over the password. Helped them, without knowing it, a woman passing by. Raskalov roughly remembered what numbers she was gaining. Another 20 minutes, he collected the mosaic and in the end was able to open the coveted door. Just fantastic! And in order to conquer the famous Egyptian pyramid, he and his friend had to wait about five hours in the tomb, so that they would not be spotted by the guards.
Due to the fact that in China there are very severe laws for ruffers, a crazy “take-off” to the Shanghai Tower, 650 meters high, was an even greater adventure. Raskalov and his friends decided to climb there on Chinese New Year, when law enforcement officers are not so attentive. Their team had a chance to climb one hundred and twenty floors late at night, and then for almost another day to wait there for good weather. At first, Vitaly and his friends climbed to the heights with the help of insurance, but it only disturbed them. Most likely to fall if it is available. They all rely on their own strong hands. But somehow the ruffer almost fell from the roof, and for a moment he became scared. True, this did not last long.
Rufer Vitaliy Raskalov and Vadim Makhorov
Annually, Ruffer Vitaliy and his partner in a mutual hobby upload videos to the public Internet.
Vitaly gets paid to promote brands: puts on clothes and caps with logos and takes pictures, and then puts pictures on LiveJournal and other popular blogs. He has enough money for a comfortable existence, as the guy himself says.
Cooperation with TV channels
On April 4, 2016, on the Che TV channel, they showed the premiere of the reckless show Rufer. The program tells the public about a rather complex sport and the magnificence of attractions in different parts of the world. All the series for the new talk show Vitaly and his friend filmed on their own, so they do not have staged shooting and editing. Viewers get the impression of presence, they can feel the heights and similar emotions that ruffers experience when they conquer skyscrapers. At the moment, Vitaly Raskalov is actively collaborating with well-known television channels NBC, CNN, BBC: he sells them a video where he and the team conquer the heights. They pay a lot for exclusive materials and with pleasure, they are in great demand in the West. But the famous domestic channels, in truth, do not rush to open the wallet.
Journey to the abandoned hangars of the Baikonur Cosmodrome
For Vitaly Raskalov, visiting space was a cherished dream. And after one acquaintance told about his visit to the cosmodrome, the question of how the young man will fulfill his long-standing dream has disappeared. He and 6 of his friends decided to go there for the May holidays. Since Baikonur is in Kazakhstan, the guys flew to the city of Alma-Ata, then to Kyzyl-Orda by train and from there by taxi to the cosmodrome. Vitaly had to play a show in front of a taxi driver so that the man would not ask unnecessary questions. He said that he and a friend are lucky with English photographers who are eager to shoot celebrities in this country (four guys in a company from the UK).
It takes about 2 nights to go to Baikonur. Somewhere nearby was a mine, friends decided to spend the night there. When friends got to the territory they needed, a very difficult journey began. Many buildings and railways appeared. Finally, in the morning they reached the hangars. The sight of the huge buildings was breathtaking. The guys made their way inside and, lighting all the lights around, gasped from what they saw. Then they settled in place and sat down to eat. Vitaliy told a lot of interesting things about hangars. For example, that they can be brought back to life. To clean, to paint - and here it is, tremendous greatness. Nearby, in another hangar, is the Buran missile. In 2002, due to the fact that no one was serving it, the roof of the building collapsed on a rocket and damaged it. Some parts of the space “bird” were sold to China.
Personal life
Vitaly Raskalov, whose biography is full of surprises, conquers new heights all his free time, so he does not think about his personal life yet. Of art, he prefers cinema, and his favorite film is Gattaka. This is an amazing drama that there are no barriers for a person. If he wants to - will do everything for this! Of his favorite literary works, he prefers Remarque, and of modern ones, Gregory Roberts. On weekends, Vitaliy rides a motorcycle and snowboard. Raskalov wants to visit countries such as Australia, North Korea, South Africa, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia.
Back to Ukraine
Once in 2011, when he flew from India, during the formation of new laws, he was deported from Russia and banned from entering the country until the fall of 2016. Ruffer returned to Ukraine, where he later participated in a rally on the Maidan in 2012. From there, he began to travel to different countries: Thailand, China, America. The guy likes to ride a motorcycle in Phuket and study the jungle.
How does the new day of Vitaly Raskalov begin?
Washes, does abdominal exercises. In hot countries, he dilutes morning exercises by jogging, because climbing to a height requires not only courage and confidence, but also good physical preparation. He is also viewing Facebook news feeds. He says almost all of his friends are there. Vitaliy loves to read Wikipedia, a priority publication on countries, architecture and religion. Vitaly’s politics is not of interest.
