The history of the Fédération Internationale de Canyonisme (FIC) begins with the desire to have an international canyon festival. The first international canyon festival was named “RIC” which stands for three French words: “Rassemblement Internationale de Canyon.” In 2003, Rich Carlson, USA and Koen Viaene, Belgium wanted to create a venue wherein canyoneers from around the world could come together and share information. Koen set about organizing the first two RICs in Europe. Rich organized for North America in Mexico. Since then, various canyoneers have been co-sponsoring canyon rendezvous around the planet annually. The RIC organizers connect with local canyoneers in a particular location: wishes are made, people get excited, plans develop and voilà, a RIC is born. Typically, about 200 individuals from at least 15 countries attend these events.

2003: Aragon, Spain / coordinated by Fédération Française de Spéléologie (FFS) – École Française de Canyonisme (EFC) & Federacion Aragonesa de Espeleologia (FAE)

2004: Aragon, Spain / coordinated by FFS – EFC

2005: Monterey, Nuevo León, Mexico / coordinated by ACA & FFS – EFC

2006: Mirtros, Crete, Greece / coordinated by ACA & FFS – EFC

2007: Loutra Ypatis, Greece / coordinated by American Canyoneering Association (ACA), Hellas Canyon & FFS – EFC

2008: Escalante, Spingdale, Utah, USA / coordinated by ACA

2008: Méaudre, Vercors, France / coordinated by FFS-EFC

2009: Santa-Antao, Cabo Verde / coordinated by FFS – EFC, Federación Española de Campings (FEC) & Federacio d’Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya (FEEC)

2010: Sardinia, Italia / coordinated by Associazone Italiana Canyoning (AIC)

2011: Nepal / coordinated by Nepal Canyoning Association (NCA), Himalayan Canyon Team (HCT) and X- Canyoning Team

2012: Minas-Gerais, Sierra da Canastra, Brazil / coordinated by Grupo Brasileiro de Canionismo (GBCAN)

2013: Madeira, Portugal / coordinated by FFS – EFC

2014: Baleares, Mallorca, Spain / coordinated by Balearik & FFS – EFC

2015: Ouray, Colorado, USA / coordinated by Ouray Canyon Coalition, Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) & FIC (then named International Association of Amateur Canyoning, IAAC)

2016: Sant-Cruz-das-Flores, Flores, Azores, Portugal / coordinated by CIMA (Canyoning International Meeting in the Azores), Associação Desportos Aventura (Desnível) & FIC

2017: Réunion Island, France / coordinated by FFS – EFC & FIC

2018: Tenero, Ticino, Swiss / coordinated by Canyonland & FIC

2019: Taparto, San-Félix, San-Carlos, Jardin, Antioquia, Colombia / coordinated by Colombian Canyons, Asociacion Colombiana de Canonismo, ASOSUP (ASOciacion Colombiana de SUPerviviencia), Canyoning Antioquia, GIIAA & FIC

2020: Ierápetra, Crete, Greece : cancelled

2021: Sant-Joan-de-les-Abadesses, Catalunya, Spain : cancelled

2022: Praia-Grande, Santa-Catarina, Brazil / coordinated by ATKanyon & FIC

2023: Sant-Joan-de-les-Abadesses, Catalunya, Spain / coordinated by FCE (Federació Catalana d’Espeleologia) & FIC

2024: Agua-Blanca-de-Iturbide, Hidalgo, Mexico (1-10/11/2024)