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Tug-of-War, Hay Bales and more
photo by Toffehoff
Basque sports, often referred to as farm sports, are said to have developed from traditionally difficult farming environments mixed with a touch of Old World machismo. The feats farmers in the Basque country once accomplished out of necessity are now performed in front of cheering audiences and are considered the work of professional athletes.
Twenty-two competitors from Spain will attend Jaialdi 2010 to vie for titles of greatness in weightlifting, wood chopping, hay-pitching and other traditional Basque sports.
Jeremy Malone, Jaialdi board member and sports chair, said Sports Night on Thursday, July 29, at 7 p.m. will be among the biggest attractions at Jaialdi. Spectators can see some of the more commonly performed Basque feats, such as lifters raising more than 600 pounds onto their shoulders with as many repetitions as possible. But there will also be anvil lifting, hay bale tossing with pitchforks and tug-of-war.
Malone said hay bale raising is one not be missed. Men raise and lower hay bails hung on ropes through a pulley system to specific heights by letting the bale pull them into the air and then using their body weight to control the weight.
Tug-of-war is another crowd-friendly event, he said.
“Basque tug-of-war is unlike any tug-of-war you’ve ever seen.” He said the teams make each movement in complete unison, stepping the exact same distances at the same moments in order to maintain maximum pull strength.
Board member Julie Hahn said aside from seeing friends and family, Sports Night is the thing she is looking most forward to at Jaialdi 2010 because so many traditional sports, that are so rare to see anywhere in America, will be performed.
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