Pelota
The jewel of sports in our region, Basque pelota combines many skills: speed, power and technique.
Many sites are the scene of breathtaking games :
- The left wall : This is a covered place where most of the activities are practiced. Three walls are used: the front wall, the left wall and the back wall. The court (game area) is 36 m long. The jai alai court (the left wall where Cesta Punta is played) measures 54-60 m.
- Free space : The typical pelota court found in most Basque Country towns and villages. Traditionally located next to the church or the town hall, it includes disciplines that cannot be developed in covered areas (the rebound, in particular).
- The smasher : It is a game area that uses all four walls. A drum (a cabin with a sloping roof) runs along the entire length of the court (30-40 m).
[Translate to Anglais:]
Voici un petit récapitulatif de la pelote sous différentes formes :
Pelota can be played with:
- The naked hand : This is the star game. Played between two players or two against two, the pelota players bandage their hands to lessen the pain. The ball consists of a heart of rubber or latex surrounded by wool strings, all covered with goatskin sewn by hand.
- A paddle : These are wooden rackets. There are several types, distinguished by their size, weight and the type of ball used.
- A chistera : A wicker glove, that also varies in size and depth, depending on the pelota game. The joko garbi is played with a short, shallow glove, whilst cesta punta is played with a large chistera, deep enough to receive a ball arriving at a fast pace (up to 250 Km/h).
