S'porean man, 32, seen parkouring over rooftops at RWS hotel, clarifies he was doing it legally

A Singaporean man, 32-year-old parkour practitioner Denester (Koh Chen Pin), was captured on video parkouring over the rooftops of Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) on October 12. Initial reactions were negative, with some criticizing his stunts and calling for the police to arrest him. However, it turned out that Denester was the man featured in the video, performing these acts legally as part of a collaboration between RWS and Red Bull.

Denester, who has been practicing parkour since 2007, revealed in interviews that he first discovered the sport while watching the movie Yamakasi with friends. He later joined an online forum, parkour.sg, where he met other practitioners, or "traceurs." Despite the challenges of learning parkour through trial and error, Denester has since become a certified instructor and runs his own academy, Lion City Parkour, to teach the sport safely and accessibly.

The RWS parkour video featured Denester alongside three other international athletes from Australia, the Netherlands, and Thailand. It took five to six months to produce, with multiple days of filming, safety briefings, and permits. Denester explained that the video was a long-time goal he had pursued, and he was grateful for the opportunity provided by RWS and Red Bull.

Although Denester faces criticism for his dangerous stunts, he remains unfazed, stating that he works hard to protect his body and life. He often posts videos of himself practicing parkour around HDB estates, emphasizing that he takes care not to damage the spaces he uses. Despite occasional backlash, Denester notes that his positive impact on the sport and the public's growing appreciation for it are becoming more evident.