Ivan Kristoff

Ivan Kristoff is a rope access expert in vertical and aerial operations. He has developed various solutions to improve the safety of vertical and aerial rope manoeuvres. 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 and later joined caving club, including the Speleo (caving) Club. During one of these underground explorations in the western part of Bulgaria, he discovered new extensions of the Cave “Goliamata Balabanova”. The club began mapping the new areas and extended the cave by more than 4500 meters.

He started solo climbing and joined and alpine club with the goal of escaping from the communist regime.

In 1987-1989, Ivan Kristoff joined the mandatory Bulgarian Army. Upon his discharge, he joined a national expedition and climbed Mt. Elbrus (5,621m.) in the Caucasus, Georgia.

Career

After the fall of the communism in his country he moved to Canada where he established himself in Canada and in 1990 started his business for vertical access on the exterior sides of high-rise buildings in Toronto. His professional reputation is built over the years by completing some of the most challenging rope access projects in high-rise environment. One of them is the first exterior repair at 1725' during winter extreme conditions and winds above 60 km/h. Up there, in 2003, he solved the problems at the unreachable areas of CN Tower Antenna Mast.

Ivan founded of the first volunteer urban high angle rescue team – the Canadian Highrise Emergency Aerial Response Team (HEART), a non-profit organization whose aim is to "minimize the lost of life and to increase the safety ot the public." He created his organization because he felt that with over 12,000 high-rises in Ontario and substandard training procedures for the rope workers, accidents were bound to happen for which traditional emergency response teams would not be equipped.

In Bulgaria he found the first volunteer Special Operations Services (SOS) Team. He organized and completed the very first aerial video surveillance from a helicopter in real time.

As a recognition for Ivan’s contribution to the Emergency Services community in Canada, the Organizing Committee of the Metropolitan Toronto Police invited him to be part of the 1st Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day. The event took place at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). For the 2th Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day, Kristoff demonstrated his donation of emergency vehicles to the Search and Rescue motorized unit of HEART. At the last and 3th Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day, Ivan Kristoff was given the honor to be leading the parade of the event along with his pears from the Royal Canadian Mounting Police (RCMP) and members of the leading Canadian law enforcement.

In Canada the self made Spider-man has shown a talent for raising funds for charitable cause such as the Hospital for Sic Kids in Toronto, Centenary Health Center Foundation, Mount Sinai Hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, the Community Association for the Riding Disabled, the Rouge Valley Hospital Health System Foundation, and the Canadian Liver Foundation. During the 8th, 10th and 11th Annual Lastman Classic Golf Tournament at the Lionhead Golf and County Club in Mississauga, Ontario, Ivan together with Mel Lastman, the Mayor of Toronto City raised $445,000.

In 2001, after the events of 9/11, Ivan was chosen by the Toronto’s community as one of its Unsung Heroes. The same year he was given the honor to open officially 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. At the same location, a few years before prior to that event, a stuntman was killed while trying to test a Tyrolean traverse system.

With his fellows motorcycle riders he contributed to the Ride for Sight events and raised money in support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

During the few years Ivan has decided to contribute his time to charitable causes in support of volunteer rescue units and initiatives. In the last few years Ivan has decided to contribute his time to charitable causes in support of volunteer rescue units and initiatives. Currently, he is working on the idea to create an International Vertical Access Network called I.V.A.N., which main goal is to share new trends to the high altitude vertical and aerial world.

In 2001, after the events of 9/11, Ivan was recognized by the Toronto’s community as one of its Unsung Heroes. Along with a Police officer, a Firefighter, a paramedic and a Doctor, Ivan is chosen as one of the "EVERYDAY HEROES, As a tribute to men and women who risk their lives each day in aid of others..."

Guinness world record

At the end of the last century, Ivan set a new category of world records from a private helicopter for “The Guinness Book of World Records”. At the beginning of the New Millennium, Ivan set a new world records for the longest ascending on a rope, suspended by a military helicopter. Just a year later he conducted the very first technical demonstration and aerial rope rescue from the vertical wall of a tall building. He achieved this successful mission with a police tactical aviation.

Photographer’s biography

During his studying at the University of Toronto, Ivan Kristoff’s interests have aimed at blending new heights in photography with new dimensions in his vertical operations. His passion for helicopters, paragliders and motorcycles illustrates his never abiding focus on pursuing the element of danger. His photographs illustrate his motus vivendi and vividly exhibit how Ivan‘s love of mountain climbing and paragliding have resulted in breathtaking aerial visuals.

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, etc.

Leading Fortune 500 companies including IBM, Sony Ericsson and Canon have showcased Ivan’s project in their marketing advertisement. His innovative photographs reveal his interest in documenting innovative aerial and technical operations. The secret of his success is the ability to never accept conventional thinking and traditional routes in achieving his goals.

As a member of the Nikon Professional Services (NPS), Ivan is among the international group of Special Nikon Photographers.

Aerial events and demonstrations using a helicopter

1st Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day

• Place: Ontario Place, Toronto, Canada
• Date: August 21–22, 1997
• Helicopter: Eurocopter AS355 F1 TwinStar. Rappelling from a centre positioned hoist system.

The 8th Annual Lastman Charity Golf Tournament

• Place: Lionhead Golf & Country Club, Mississauga, Canada
• 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.

The 10th Annual Lastman Charity Golf Tournament

• Place: Lionhead Golf & Country Club, Mississauga, Canada
• Date: September 7–8, 2002
• Helicopter: Eurocopter TwinStar. Rappelling from a lateral positioned anchoring system.

The 11th Annual Lastman Charity Golf Tournament

• Place: Lionhead Golf & Country Club, Mississauga, Canada
• 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

• Place: Sofia, Bulgaria
• Date: May 30, 2008
• Helicopter: Eurocopter Dauphin

Demonstration of an aerial water and rope rescue from the side of a cliff

• Place: Arbanisi , Bulgaria
• Date: May 30, 2008
• Helicopter: Enstrom 408B

Part of aerial demonstration with hot air balloons organized by Ivan Kristoff

Aerial Acrobatics from a balloon

External links

TV

• Bulgarian National TV, Иван Кристоф показа уменията си във Велико Търново и Горна Оряховица
• BTV TV, Българският Човек-паяк е решил да постави рекорд

Media

• Cover Pages of Canadian and Bulgarian Magazines and Newspapers
• The Sofia Echo Newspaper, Ivan makes a humble hero
• Standart Newspaper,Иван Кристоф е луд по маркови часовници и джунджурии
• Steve Payne, "Spiderman ...on a wall near you" The Toronto Sun newspaper, 22June, 1995
• News Agency,Ivan Kristoff - Spiderman Launched Patriot Initiative
• Standart Newspaper,Ivan Kristoff Attempts Guinness Record
• Standart Newspaper,Spider-Man Takes down Wounded from Roof
• Obektiv.info, Иван Кристоф представя своя поглед към света
• Иван Кристоф за инициативата "Canadian Superbike Championship" 2005
• Иван Кристоф: “Има моменти, когато си герой и когато се чувстваш като герой!”
• Government Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, ШОУ НА ИВАН КРИСТОФ В НЕБЕТО НАД ТОРОНТО
• Government Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, ВЕЧЕ НИЩО НЕ МЕ МОТИВИРА В КАНАДА, ДИНАМИКАТА Е В БЪЛГАРИЯ

Other

• Expo Safety & Security
• Ivan Kristoff's official website
• International Vertical Access Network
• Vertical Rescue
• Aerial Rescue