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Ivan Kristoff

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Ivan Kristoff
File:SpidercopterIvanKristoff.jpg
Born (1968-06-27) 27 June 1968 (age 56)
Bulgaria
NationalityBulgarian and Canadian
Other namesSpidercopter
Occupation(s)aviator, rescuer
Websiteivankristoff.com

Ivan Kristoff (born June 6, 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 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 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 4,500 metres.[2]

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

In 1987-1989, Kristoff was conscripted into the 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 homeland, Kristoff moved to Canada where he attempted to join the Toronto Police force, but was rejected due to his poor English skills.[5] In 1990, he 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 1,725 metres 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.[6]

Kristoff founded of 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 lost of life and to increase the safety ot the public." HEART was created to address the over 12,000 high-rises in Ontario and substandard training procedures for the rope workers, and to prevent accidents for which traditional emergency response teams would not be equipped.

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

As a recognition for Kristoff’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.[11]The event took place at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). For the 2th Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day,[12] At the last and 3th Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day, 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.[13]

In 2001, Kristoff 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.

In the last few years Kristoff 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., the main goal of which is to share new trends to the high altitude vertical and aerial industry.

Guinness world record

At the end of the last century, Kristoff set a new category of world records from a private helicopter for “The Guinness Book of World Records”.[14]

At the beginning of the New Millennium, Kristoff 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[15]. He achieved this successful mission with a police tactical aviation.[16]

Photography

During his studying at the University of Toronto, 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 Kristoff love of mountain climbing and paragliding have resulted in breathtaking aerial visuals.[17]

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.[18] His innovative photographs reveal his interest in documenting innovative aerial and technical operations. [19]

As a member of the Nikon Professional Services (NPS), Kristoff is among the international group of special Nikon photographers.),[20]

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

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[21]

References

  1. ^ "Features - Spider-Man Takes down Wounded from Roof - Standart". Paper.standartnews.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  2. ^ Todor Nikolov - http://caves.4at.info/ (2007-06-10). "Балабанова дупка - http://www.cavesbg.com". CavesBG.com :: Пещерите в България. Retrieved 2010-05-07. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= and |title= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ http://blog.ivan.bg/?page_id=926
  4. ^ http://i41.tinypic.com/a4y1oj.jpg Toronto Sun
  5. ^ http://i41.tinypic.com/a4y1oj.jpg Toronto Sun
  6. ^ "Живот - Паяк качи на върха "Версаче" - Стандарт". Paper.standartnews.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  7. ^ byRozalia Hristova (2002-01-31). "Ivan makes a humble hero - Profile". The Sofia Echo. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  8. ^ M3 Web - http://m3web.bg (2006-04-02). "Spiderman Launches First Bulgarian Search and Rescue Motorized Unit - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Любомир Старидолски - http://paper.standartnews.com (2008-05-31). "Пазят тийнейджъри с камери в небето - Standart Newspaper - Стандарт News Agency". Вестник Стандарт. Retrieved 2010-05-07. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  10. ^ TV Reporter Aliosha Shalamanov - http://www.bbt.tv (2008-06-04). "Aerial video and photomonitoring with Ivan Kristoff". http://www.youtube.com/teamkristoff. Retrieved 2010-05-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= and |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "1st Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day". Verticalrescue.com. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  12. ^ "welcome to the home of IVAN KRISTOFF :: ::|". Verticalrescue.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  13. ^ Славяна Манолова (1999). "http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivankristoff/4338766058/ - Scanned article". Жълт Труд Newspaper. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Unknown parameter |ur l= ignored (help)
  14. ^ CFTO TV, World Beat News. ""Live now to the CNE, where an exiting dare devil record was set today..."". CFTO TV, World Beat News-Live. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  15. ^ Insert footnote text here
  16. ^ Cornell Ass. Prof. Georgi Botev, Dean of the Faculty of Fire Rescue of the Academy of the Ministry of the Interior- http://www.academy.mvr.bg (2003-04). "ФАКУЛТЕТ ПАБ: ПРИЕМСТВЕНОСТ И ТРАДИЦИИ - ЕЛЕКТРОННО ИЗДАНИЕ НА АКАДЕМИЯТА НА МВР /брой 7/". Retrieved 2010-05-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |author= (help); Text "АКАДЕМИЯТА НА МВР" ignored (help)
  17. ^ M3 Web - http://m3web.bg (2006-05-21). "Bulgarian Spiderman Opens Photography Exhibition - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ M3 Web - http://m3web.bg (2006-05-21). "Bulgarian Spiderman Opens Photography Exhibition - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. Retrieved 2010-05-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Obektiv.Info (2006-08-30). "Иван Кристоф представя своя поглед към света - Profile". Obektiv.Info. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  20. ^ Людмила Габровска (2006-05-13). "Иван Кристоф - Човека-паяк: Вярвам в самурайския кодекс - Profile". Novinar Newspaper. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  21. ^ "welcome to the home of IVAN KRISTOFF :: ::|". Eiger.cc. Retrieved 2010-05-05.

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