Photos by Chechu Arribas. Words by Ice Ice Beta.
Building a legacy of drytooling in Benasque
Chechu Arribas' name is fitting — he likes to go up.
These days, his preferred mode is on tools, if he's climbing, or ascendors, if he's bolting. He's often doing one or the other.
"Creating new lines has always motivated me, and if they are dry, then all the better," he says in an Instagram post. "These past months, I have been climbing little and equipping a lot, still... the motivation is high to keep bolting even when my head asks me to climb more..."
Chechu could best be described as the head honcho of drytooling in the Benasque Valley, located in the heart of the Pyrenees in Spain.
In the past decade-plus, Chechu has helped develop over 100 drytooling routes — opting to invest in bolts and equipment over upgrading his 30-year-old car. Along with contributions from fellow developers, such as Sergio Soto, Iván Muñoz, Ana Palanca and Josiño Melle, the valley has turned into the epicenter of drytooling on the peninsula.
This November, the Asociación española de Drytooling (organized by Chechu, of course, and his wife — and supported by brands like International Climb Technology and Trangoworld) hosted the second-ever Drytooling Festival in the valley for what has become the largest drytooling event in the country.
An adventure photographer by trade, Chechu moved to Benasque from Ciudad Real in 2001, in order to pursue his passions and career.
His photography emphasizes the vibrancy of action, capturing both the facility and struggle of mountain sports. Often, the subject is an up-close portrayal of joy, daring, or humility.
Chechu's tools
In this photo essay, Chechu showcases his well-loved comp boots and tools.
"I wanted to show the wear and tear and the curious shapes of the material in an activity as hard as drytooling," he says.
"The tape protects against the wall — isolating the material often puts into context how challenging the activity is.
The issue of aesthetics is to give them a more fun vision. And why deny it? I like more colorful tools for my adventures..."
Afterall, “si lo que haces no tiene divierte, lo estás haciendo mal”.
You can see more of Chechu's work on his website, https://www.chechuarribas.com/
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