Ivan Kristoff

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Ivan Kristoff
File:Ivan Kristoff.jpg
Ivan Kristoff, aka The Canadian Spiderman
Born (1968-06-27) 27 June 1968 (age 55)
Bulgaria
Nationality Bulgarian and Canadian
Other names The Canadian Spiderman
Occupation aviator, aerial and vertical rope rescuer,
Website ivankristoff.com

Ivan Kristoff (born Ivan Hristov, June 27, 1968) is an aviator, rescue worker, and rope access expert in vertical and aerial operations. He has developed various solutions to improve the safety of vertical and aerial rope access manoeuvres.[1] His work in vertical and remote access in extreme conditions and heights has contributed to the development and improvement of safety standards.

Early life

At the age of 15 Kristoff made his own improvised climbing tools and started rock climbing and rappelling. He later joined caving and climbing clubs, including the Speleo Club. During caving activities in the western part of Bulgaria, he discovered new extensions of the Cave "Goliamata Balabanova". The club mapped the new areas and extended the explored area of the cave by more than 4,500 metres.[2]

He started solo climbing[3] and joined an alpine club with the goal of escaping the communist regime.[4]

In 1987–1989, Kristoff was conscripted into the Bulgarian Army. Upon his discharge, he joined a national expedition and climbed Mount Elbrus (5,621 metres (18,442 ft)) in the Caucasus, Georgia.

Career

After the fall of communism in his homeland, Kristoff moved to without knowing any English Canada, where he attempted to join the Toronto Police Service, but was rejected due to his poor English skills.[5] In 1990 he started a business for vertical access on the exteriors of high-rise buildings in Toronto. He has completed some challenging rope access projects in the high-rise environment. One was the very first rope access work and exterior repair in 2003 of the CN Tower antenna mast at 526 metres (1,726 ft), during extreme winter conditions with winds above 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph).[6]

Kristoff founded the first volunteer urban high angle rescue team – the Canadian Highrise Emergency Aerial Response Team (HEART),[7] a non-profit organization whose aim is to "minimize the loss of life and to increase the safety of the public." HEART was created to address the needs of over 12,000 high-rises in Ontario, to improve training procedures for rope workers, and to prevent accidents for which traditional emergency response teams would not be equipped.

In Bulgaria Kristoff founded the first volunteer Special Operations Services (SOS) Team.[8] He organized and completed the first aerial video surveillance (from a helicopter) with the technology of 3G and 4G in real time.[9] The event was documented with an expert from VIVACOM (a GSM operator in Bulgaria), a TV crew from BBT TV, and Krasimir Svrakov, Chief of Photography of The Standart.[10] The project was developed by Ivan Kristoff and experts in mobile computing and IT communications. Over a one-year period, these experts, along with a representative from Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria, worked together with Kristoff to find the most advanced equipment and wireless video broadcast technology (including IP cameras). These information systems can be used in remote areas during crisis situations.

In recognition for Kristoff's contribution to the emergency services community in Canada, the organizing committee of the Toronto Police invited him to be part of the first annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day.[11] The event took place at the Canadian National Exhibition.[12] At the third Appreciation Day, Kristoff was given the honor of leading the parade, along with members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other Canadian law enforcement agencies.[13]

In 2001 Kristoff was chosen by the Toronto community as one of its "Unsung Heroes". The same year, he was given the honor of opening the CFL playoff game between the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes. He rappelled down from the roof of the Rogers Centre, previously known as the SkyDome.

Kristoff contributes his time to charitable causes in support of volunteer rescue units and initiatives. Currently, he is working on creating an International Vertical Access Network called I.V.A.N., the main goal of which is to share new trends to the high altitude vertical and aerial industry.

Photography

During his study at the University of Toronto, Kristoff pursued his interest in photography and participated in a photography exhibition in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.[14]

His projects have appeared in Toronto Computes, Computer Player, Quebec Micro, The Athlete, Bulgarian Army Newspaper, National Post, The Toronto Sun, The Globe and Mail, Town Crier, Mississauga News, Mississauga Business Times, and others.

Fortune 500 companies including IBM, Sony Ericsson, and Canon have used Kristoff's work in their advertisements.[15] His photographs document innovative aerial and technical operations.[16]

Kristoff is a member of Nikon Professional Services, an international group of special Nikon photographers.[17]

Aerial events and demonstrations using a helicopter

  • 1st Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day
  • 8th Annual Lastman Charity Golf Tournament
    • Place: Lionhead Golf & Country Club, Mississauga
    • Date: September 2–3, 2000
    • Helicopter: Eurocopter AS355 F1 TwinStar. Rappelling from a centre positioned hoist system
  • Specialized tactical training with the Bulgarian Police Aviation Unit
    • Place: Bulgarian Red Cross building, Sofia, Bulgaria
    • Date: February 2, 2000
    • Helicopter: Mi-17. Rappelling from the center hatch opening
  • Two new categories for the Guinness Book of World Records
    • Place: Madara, Bulgaria
    • Date: May 7, 2002
    • Helicopter: MI 17, Bulgarian Air Force. Rappelling from a lateral positioned rope system
  • 10th Annual Lastman Charity Golf Tournament
    • Place: Lionhead Golf & Country Club, Mississauga
    • Date: September 7–8, 2002
    • Helicopter: Eurocopter TwinStar. Rappelling from a lateral positioned anchoring system
  • 11th Annual Lastman Charity Golf Tournament
    • Place: Lionhead Golf & Country Club, Mississauga
    • Date: September 6–7, 2003
    • Helicopter: Eurocopter AS355 F1 TwinStar. Rappelling from a lateral positioned rope system
  • Showcasing innovative video and photo monitoring from the air
  • Demonstration of an aerial water and rope rescue from the side of a cliff
  • Aerial demonstration with hot air balloons organized by Ivan Kristoff
    • Aerial acrobatics from a balloon[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://ivankristoff.com/free-solo-climber/
  4. ↑ http://i41.tinypic.com/a4y1oj.jpg Toronto Sun
  5. ↑ http://i41.tinypic.com/a4y1oj.jpg Toronto Sun
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

TV

Media

Other

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