Luca Chiarabini Memorial Photo Contest is an idea and initiative of Luca’s close friend Marco Leonini with the support of Luca’s family, aiming to promote and stimulate that same active spirit, adventurous life, and photographic sharing that were Luca’s passions during his life.

The photo contest is held at all RIC annual events worldwide that volunteer to host it. All participants at the RIC are invited to immortalize the beauties of the host region as well as the beauties and peculiarities of the Canyoning during the week that it takes place.

An international jury of canyoneers, chosen from different canyoneer federeations, will evaluate the best photo and award the winner/s a monetary prize during the closing ceremony of the RIC event.

The 1st classified photo will also be awarded an exclusive sculpted by hand trophy for each annual contest.

We deeply thank all RIC organizations that have hosted or are going to host the Photo Contest in memory of Luca Chiarabini.

AWARDING CEREMONY: 5th Oct 2019

TROPHY

WINNERS

#1: Yunior Rondon – VENEZUELA ,  posted on Instagram, photo 2

#2: Samuel Pérez – MÉXICO, posted on Facebook

#3: Ilia Garza – MÉXICO, posted on Facebook

link to high resolution images

All photos taking part in the contest are accessible in the link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DUY4n2GuuzcYakTe8

THE WINNER: Yunior Rondón

My name is Yunior Rondón, 34 years old, from a town called Lagunillas in the state of Mérida – Venezuela. My profession is Geographer, graduated from the University of the Andes ULA – Mérida Venezuela. I am Working with the Tropical Andes Program Foundation, it develops community-based tourism projects for the development of remote communities and awareness and preservation of nature.

What encouraged me to go to the RIC?
It’s a crazy thing to describe. A friend invited me a week before the event. So I had to run to find the money and plan the trip. I borrowed the money because I did not have it at hand. Several friends gave me a hand and I went on adding funds little by little, until I reached the goal.
I want to highlight that the organization of the event also helped me, that’s why I want to thank RIC2019 Colombia and RIC in general, very grateful to Rafael Berdugo and his team for believing in Venezuela.
I also had to borrow equipment to come to the RIC, because I do not own.
The bus trip to came to RIC Colombia was quite long and arduous, specially the border crossing and and the connections that must be made. But we did not care it took so long on the road, because the experience was very rewarding. We did not mind waiting 6 hours to get the passport stamped and wait a long time to make the connection from Cúcuta to Medellín,
The whole bus trip to arrive was more than 35 hours 😢 but it was worth it!

Since when do I do canyoning?
I am new in this sport for less than 4 months and I had only 2 canyons before the event, with the canyons visited in Colombia it would be 7.
Canyoning has always attracted my attention, but it is difficult to obtain the equipment in our country. So I thank my partner Hernan Peña who encourages me to practice it and lends me his equipment.
For the short time that I have known the canyoning before RIC, I practiced it near the city in a national park called Sierra Nevada de Mérida.

What encouraged me to participate in a photo contest?
I have always liked photography and even more the one that has contact with nature, I have not had the opportunity to train professionally but I learned by practicing and applying logic.

How was the time to capture the photo?
Again, it was very crazy. We went to the San Francisco location, in the first long rappelling we were doing. I was very scared but the adrenaline, the desire, the safety, the experience of all the other canyoneers that accompanied me,  gave me confidence, and I started taking pictures with my phone.
Looking for a perfect moment, but looking for that moment I dropped the phone into the water and I thought that was the end of capturing memories, and I lost the hope that the phone would ever turn on. That picture was the last one I could take on the day. That’s why I say it was very crazy.

Upon arriving at the hostel, I managed to turn on the phone and I would have more caution to use it because I didn’t have the right equipment to use it in the canyons. And from there I continued the adventure to continue capturing moments to remember.

How do I feel now?
I really feel very lucky for this award, but the most beautiful thing is that the RIC allowed me to make new friends and family that is the most important prize. Thanks RIC2019 Colombia, thanks RIC, thanks Luca Chiarabini for allowing me the ideal moment of the perfect capture of the photograph in memory of the great canyoneer.

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2nd Photo Contest in Memory of Luca Chiarabini
RIC  2019  COLOMBIA   

ANTIOQUÍA 29 SEP | 5 OCT