SpiderCopter

This year, NIKE, is the official Equipment Sponsoring Partner of the Canadian Spiderman – Ivan Kristoff

Ivan Kristoff is one of the most recognized rope-work and vertical access technicians in the world. He is influential, attractive and innovative rope access expert in vertical and aerial operations. He is easily distinguished from the vertical side of extremely tall buildings, dressed in Nike outfit.

Ivan is most widely known as the founder of the first volunteer urban high angle rescue team – the Canadian Highrise Emergency Aerial Response Team (HEART). In Bulgaria, Europe, he found the first volunteer Special Operations Services (SOS) Team.

On a professional basis, he achieved the unachievable by solving the solutions at the unreachable areas (by that time) of tallest Antenna Mast in the world.

At the end of the last century, Ivan set a new category of world records from a private spidercopter. “The Guinness Book of World Records” found the idea to be very innovative. Literally.

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.

His love for exploring new trends in the vertical and aerial environment of his professional field, drove him to organized and complete 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, SpiderCopter 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-copter has shown a talent for raising funds for charitable cause such as the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto, Centenary Health Centre 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,ooo.

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 rappel down  from the roof of the Rogers Centre,  previously known as the SkyDome. At the approximately the same place, a few years before that,  died a stuntman, while trying to test a Tyrolean traverse system.

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

In the last few years Ivan has  decided to contribute his time to charitable causes in support of volunteer rescue units and initiatives.