Elevator surfing, also known as lift surfing, is an activity involving riding on top of elevators, rather than inside them. More advanced surfers may also attempt riskier maneuvers like jumping between moving elevators and riding the elevator's counterweight. It is typically considered a form of urban exploration, more aligned with investigative experiences like rooftopping and tunnel hacking rather than adrenaline-inducing urban sports like train surfing. While elevator surfing was most prominent as a subculture in the United States and United Kingdom in the 1990s, it made a comeback in the late 2010s, with partakers often posting footage of their adventures on YouTube and similar platforms. Entry into the elevator shaft is often achieved using an elevator key -- like those carried by first responders and building maintenance staff -- to open the outer doors. Alternatively, participants may utilize lock picking techniques or use tools like coat hangers to force the elevator car's doors open between floors and unlatch the outer doors from the inside. Elevators surfers usually can't use the emergency hatch in the roof of the elevator to access the shaft, as these are designed for first responder use and can't be opened from the inside. Elevator surfing typically occurs in skyscrapers or on college campuses, especially those with tall buildings. Participation is often illegal, and, if caught, surfers may face other charges like trespassing. Origins Although the first instances of elevator surfing are unknown, by 1990, the activity was noted for its popularity among children in New York City public housing projects. Children as young as six partook in the activity, often as a game of chicken. During the same time period, elevator surfing became popular on college campuses, especially along the East Coast. Hazards Elevator surfers can be crushed between the elevator and the top or sides of the elevator shaft, be struck by the counterweight, or slip and fall to their deaths. The surfer has the ability to stop the elevator by pressing the emergency stop button on the roof of the elevator car, decreasing the risk of being crushed against the top of the shaft. Injuries and deaths In November 1989, twelve-year-old Walter McMillan of Harlem, New York City, was found dead on top of an elevator car in a local housing complex where he had been playing; his legs had been crushed between the car and a beam, resulting in his death. Walter had