The most important canyoning event of the year
FIC - Federation for International Canyoning
The Federation for International Canyoning is an organization that groups recreational canyoning associations from around the world. It was founded in 2014 as the International Amateur Canyoning Association (IAAC) in 2016 renamed into FIC, “Fédération Internationale de Canyonisme” in French, “Federation for International Canyoning” in English, using in all cases the acronym FIC.
Its main goals are to facilitate networking of canyoneers around the world and to develop international canyoning, acting as a support for national associations. Of primary importance is the promotion of the Rassemblement Internationale de Canyon (RIC).
RIC - Rassemblement Internationale de Canyon
The first international canyoning meeting was called “RIC,” acronym French “Rassemblement Internationale de Canyon” (International Canyoning Meeting). In 2003, Rich Carlson, from USA, and Koen Viaene, from Belgium, wanted to create a space where canyoneers from around the world could meet and share information. Koen then organized the first two RICs in Europe, while Rich managed the first one for North America, in Mexico (2005). Since then, several canyoneers have co-organized, together with FIC, annual canyoning meetings all over the planet. About 200 people from at least 15 countries usually attend these events.
The annual RIC meeting is an opportunity for the FIC to convene its annual assembly and hold meetings and discussions on topics of interest to canyoners; ideally, the national associations the national associations that join the FIC participate in these, with the intention of creating a common basis on which to direct current and future canyoning.
AIC - Associazione Italiana Canyoning
The AIC is the Italian Canyoning Association. Founded in 1998, it was the first national association to deal exclusively with amateur canyoning in all its aspects. And also the first to set up a National Canyoning School. To date, AIC and its SNC school are a point of reference for canyoning in Italy. It deals with training and safety, dissemination and environmental protection, with initiatives and projects aimed at improving the knowledge and ethics of canyoning. It has been a full member of the FIC for several years.
Every year, since 2003, AIC organizes in Italy the AIC International Meeting, attended by about 300 canyoners mainly from Europe, but also from other continents, being the most attended and eagerly awaited canyoning event in Europe every year.
RIC 2025 - Ossola Valley
For 2025 the FIC and AIC have collaborated to bring back the RIC in Italy, after the 2010 edition, unifying in a single event the RIC and the AIC Meeting. AIC can bring to the table its long experience and tradition in organising international meetings involving, as usual, local administrations, organised rescue, tourism bodies and agencies and the local community. All to create an engaging and exciting event, full of activities and especially canyons to descend for passionate canyoners from all over the world.