Pelote basque

Basque pelota seen through the eyes of Pampi Laduche

Pampi Laduche, a legendary figure in the Basque Country and former barehanded pelota World Champion, rolls out a passionate A-Z for us of this iconic sport.

A for… Angle

Pelota is a very old game which dates back to the Mayas and the Aztecs, then can be found in Europe with the Ancient Greeks. But, it was in the Basque Country that it survived. In the 18th century, Basques had the idea of using a wall and its angles to create an alternative to a game where the ball went back and forward from one team to the other. The aim? To privilege intelligence rather than strength.

E for… Esku (Basque word for “hand”)

The basis of pelota is the bare hand, known as Eskuska in Basque. All the other specializations stem from this; today, there are 18 different pelota games (Pala Corta, Xare, Cesta Punta, etc.). The chistera, for example, was invented in the 19th century by Gantxiki, a player from Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, who had the brainwave of using a fruit basket to play pelota without getting injured.

Pelote basque

F for… Fronton or Frontis

Basque pelota can be played on three different pitches (or courts): the fronton (or frontis), i.e. a “simple” wall, the trinquet, surrounded by two walls, and lastly, the “mur à gauche” (wall on the left), which requires ingenuity.

“I was lucky in that I was able to play at a very high level for both trinquet and mur à gauche. Although the trinquet is really technical, I find it more interesting to build up to score using the mur à gauche”.

I for… Initiation

During the summer, in many Basque Country villages, pelota clubs propose initiation sessions. Feel free to contact the clubs for more information. Summer is also a brilliant time for watching games and tournaments with, for example, the Basque Country free-space, barehanded championship.

Pelote basque à main nue mur à gauche amplitude du geste

Q for… Quality

Intelligence is the most important quality for a pilotari (Basque pelota player). When playing barehanded, your head, hands and legs need to be in synch… You need to be strong, supple, fast, but also have a keen sense of analysis and comprehension of the game.

P for… Pelota

The pelota is a hard ball. It is made with a core of boxwood, covered with rubber, then enveloped with lengths of elastic, wool, cotton thread and, finally, goatskin. The pelota used in the barehanded game weighs between 93 and 98 grams depending on the moisture level. Its hardness is an integral feature of the game.

T for… Taco

The barehanded game is played, of course, without a glove, however the hand needs to be protected. The hand swells as the pelota (ball) impacts it repeatedly, so it has to be protected with a special dressing placed on each hand which is changed with each official round or match.

“When I was a professional player, I learned how to do them myself because my hands were like glass! It’s a really meticulous task which takes up to an hour per hand. Today, I pass on this know-how to young champions.”

Find out more about Basque pelota

Pays Basque 

RELATED
ARTICLES 

All the most prestigious hotels in the Basque Country come with the ultimate luxury of elegant spas where you'll find...

Whether you’re for or against bullfighting, the Feria is so much more! You’ll soon develop a taste for it... In 5...

The Basque Country is a green in its own right. Its boundaries trace a snaking line through pine forests, cities, and...

On his journey to walk across France, Mathieu Mouillet took the GR10 and crossed the Atlantic section of the Pyrenees,...

In the Basque Country, baby squid or "chipirons" are a veritable institution! Deciphering a culinary phenomenon at the...

The nuns from the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Bonne-Espérance ‘Our Lady of Good Hope) have blended together the flavours...

RELATED
ARTICLES 

All the most prestigious hotels in the Basque Country come with the ultimate luxury of elegant spas where you'll find...

Whether you’re for or against bullfighting, the Feria is so much more! You’ll soon develop a taste for it... In 5...

The Basque Country is a green in its own right. Its boundaries trace a snaking line through pine forests, cities, and...

On his journey to walk across France, Mathieu Mouillet took the GR10 and crossed the Atlantic section of the Pyrenees,...

In the Basque Country, baby squid or "chipirons" are a veritable institution! Deciphering a culinary phenomenon at the...

The nuns from the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Bonne-Espérance ‘Our Lady of Good Hope) have blended together the flavours...

My address book 

Oops! No results were found for your search and/or the filters applied. Try broadening your search criteria.

Select background map

IGN MAP

IGN MAP

AERIAL PHOTOS / IGN

AERIAL PHOTOS / IGN

MULTI-SCALE MAPS / IGN

MULTI-SCALE MAPS / IGN

TOP 25 IGN

TOP 25 IGN

SLOPE MAP (IGN PLAN)

SLOPE MAP (IGN PLAN)

CADASTRAL PARCELS

CADASTRAL PARCELS

ICAO AERONAUTICAL CHARTS

ICAO AERONAUTICAL CHARTS

MAP 1950 / IGN

MAP 1950 / IGN

MAP OF THE GENERAL STAFF (1820-1866)

MAP OF THE GENERAL STAFF (1820-1866)

COASTAL MAPS / SHOM/IGN

COASTAL MAPS / SHOM/IGN

SCAN EXPRESS STANDARD / IGN

SCAN EXPRESS STANDARD / IGN

CLASSIC EXPRESS SCAN / IGN

CLASSIC EXPRESS SCAN / IGN

OPEN STREET MAP

OPEN STREET MAP

GOOGLE MAP - SATELLITE

GOOGLE MAP - SATELLITE

GOOGLE MAP - MAP

GOOGLE MAP - MAP

GOOGLE MAP - HYBRID

GOOGLE MAP - HYBRID

IGN BELGIUM

IGN BELGIUM