Aizkolariak, Basque axemen competitions and bets, and more

Zaldibia December 10st 2017. Golden Axe single cup semifinal

27 years old 1,86 meters and 86Kg Ruben Saralegi

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vs 36 years old 1,87 meters and 118Kg Mieltxo Mindegia

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14 logs to cut, 12 beech logs 40cm (15,75in) in diameter and two logs 32,2cm (12,68in) in diameter, the fastest one will go to the next event. As usual stonelifting competition first, axemen start at more or less at 12:30. Enjoy it!

http://test.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri...azurmendi-/-ruben-saralegi--2--finalaurrekoa/
 
Let's talk a bit more about other Basque sports and challenges to learn more about Basque Psychology

Do you know someone who owns a vehicle which is his most loved thing and won't admit anyone has a better one? More or less that's the way oxen tests started. Long time ago someone very proud about his oxen met with an equal person, a discussion started and they ended dragging a stone with their loved animals to test which animals are the best. Or could be someone told to the oxen owner his oxen couldn't drag a given weight, who knows both are a very Basque way to start a sport and as allways common people started it so the origins are lost in history. One way or another a sport which is still in good heath started .

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Oxen tests derived in test made with other animals. In recent times a new sport has derived to a new sport made by biped animals called humans, it's called men test. It has it's federation, some leagues... everything any other sport has.

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I see the actual interpretation as a good new sport for the olympics

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You have the oxen and you have the men, which is the logical outcome? You got it! A challenge between them! Some have been done, here you have one which was done in Usurbil in 2011


Let's talk about another challenge. If you are new in this thread I'm sure when you read about triathons the usual mode will come to your mind. It can be a short one as in any little town, or the hardest on like the Iron man (by the way the iron man is quite popular between Basque sportsmen and women), but Basques compete other types of thriathlons, a traditional type. It can be any type of combination, this time we'll talk about what they two men did in May 2015 in the little and beautiful town of Berroeta.

Smuggler races consist in running usually throug mountains in the same way smugglers did till few decades ago. So Igor Esnaola from Legorreta challenged Gillermo Etxenike from Irurita to a triathlon consisting in a smuggler race throug mountains with a 50Kg (110lbs) weight in their back, then lifting a 100Kg (220lbs) stone 10 times and at last to cut four 40cm (15,75in) beech logs in a row. Quite a respectable competition. Here you have a viedo of the event.


Another challenge which is done from time to time is the butane race or butane challenge. It's simple, it consists in running with a butane cylinder in your back to the top of a mountain. Sometimes some laws have to be obeyed, like you have to wear the butane allways with you, it it touches the floor you lose. Or it can touch the floor a given amount of time, it depends to what do the competitors agreed. Here you have a butane race between three men in the town of Mendaro January 2013. Race starts at 01:00

 
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Donostia December 24st 2017. Axewomen 2nd coup.

This is the same square were we recently view Joxe Aierbe cutting a big log, this square has taken a big part in axeman history.

Five axewomen will compete, it has been a big expectation related to this competition. They are the 45 years old Maika Ariztegi, the winner of the first coup.


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Irune Izkue

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26 years old Irati Astondoa

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30 years old Nerea Sorondo

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And 39 years old Alatzne Etxaburua

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Each of them will have to cut cut 5 beech logs 26,6 cm in diameter (10,5 inches) in a row. The fastes one will win the challenge. Competition starts at 11:00. Enjoy it!

http://test.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri...-desafioa----aizkora--emakumeen-urrezko-kopa/
 
In 2017 we had two homages to two mythical axemen, a book has been written about each of them too. One was to 72 years old Arria 2nd,

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Great axeman part of a good axemen saga, he is the father of Arria 5th

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A homage was organized in the town he born. Big amount of the main actual axemen took part in it.

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And the other was another of the best axeman this world has seen, 67 years old Migel Mindegia.

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He took part with another big axeman, Joxemari Mendizabal, in the hardest, toughtest and longest axemen challenge ever recorded. Each of them cut 52 beech logs 40cm (15.75 inches) and 6 beech logs 82.76cm (32.58 inches) in diameter in a row. Mindegia won the bet cutting his logs in a little more than four hours.

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Actual and historical axemen homaged him at his birthplace

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Both of them continue closely related to the axe world.

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Honor to both
 
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December 30st 2017. The bet between Josean Etxeberria and Xabier Zaldua.

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It talked about it here. When they negotiated the bet Etxeberria 2nd looked as a lower grade sportsman and axeman, so Zaldua admited his contrincant to run a shorter distance. When the bet day reached all were surprised as Etxeberria 2nd showed he was clearly underrated, he showed he was a better axeman indeed.

If you don't know how does the story end or if you want to see the bet from another prespective a new video appeared and here you have it. I like Etxeberria's technique. Enjoy it!

 
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Asteasu January 1st 2018. Golden Axe single cup final

36 years old 1,87 meters and 118Kg Mieltxo Mindegia

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vs 29 years old 1,87 meters and 100Kg Mikel larrañaga

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and 33 years old 1,83 meters and 85Kg Jon rekondo

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This is a uncommon Final, due to problems with the organizatio the best axeman of the moment Aitzol Atutxa didn't take part in this competition. Iker Vicente was focused in Timbersports and he isn't here. Nevertheless this is a interesting final which deserves to be seen.

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They competed the stonelifting final too

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In the same event Ousmane Drame tried to break one Txinga mark with 100Kg (220lbs) weight in each hand. He didn't achieve it by one lap

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Stonelifters and txingak first, axemen start more or less at 22:30. Rekondo won vs Larrañaga last time, take it in account. Enjoy it!

http://test.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri...ra-eta-harri-jasotzea--banakako-kopa--finala/
 
To continue with the timeline I have to add here what I have already explained before.

January 3th 2018 Xabier Orbegozo Arria 5th

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challenged Iker Vicente

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to a 6000€ bet consisting in cutting 30 beech logs 40cm (15.75 inches) in diameter in a row. I talk about it here.

Days later they met for negotiations, I talk deeply in two posts in a row here
 
Luxia was one of the best axemen of the second quarter of the 20th century. You may know him due the big beech log he tried to cut in less than two hours.

As any other mithycal axeman he continued cutting logs long after his best period passed. As usual there is little information of that period and I only have found the year and the location of the next photos. It looks like it was in Donostia in 1958.

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It looks like an exibition in an axemen challenge. The beech log he is cutting looks more or less a kana log (Basque measure, more or less 80cm in diameter, 31,5 inches).

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Note the axes in these photos, they are the traditional Basque racing axes. These axed are very difficult to find. More efficient Connecticut/Tasmanian pattern based racing axes Aussie axemen brought here in the end of the 70's made these axes obsolete for competition. A lot of years have passed since then and most of these axes have disappeared.

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The main reason of the lower efficiency was the geometry and the handle. If you take a close look to the axes they are thinner (!) than the actual racing axes, the two samples I own have 12 and 13 degrees bit in 2,2 and 2,4kg axes. But they are not faster axes. Take this as an example thinner doesn't mean allways better cutter.

Source of the images,
https://kutxateka.eus/Detail/objects/7887
 
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Ugaldie said:
Luxia was one of the best axemen of the second quarter of the 20th century. You may know him due the big beech log he tried to cut in less than two hours.

As any other mithycal axeman he continued cutting logs long after his best period passed. As usual there is little information of that period and I only have found the year and the location of the next photos. It looks like it was in Donostia in 1958.

View attachment 917389

It looks like an exibition in an axemen challenge. The beech log he is cutting looks more or less a kana log (Basque measure, more or less 80cm in diameter, 31,5 inches).

View attachment 917390

Note the axes in these photos, they are the traditional Basque racing axes. These axed are very difficult to find. More efficient Connecticut/Tasmanian pattern based racing axes Aussie axemen brought here in the end of the 70's made these axes obsolete for competition. A lot of years have passed since then and most of these axes have disappeared.

View attachment 917391

The main reason of the lower efficiency was the geometry and the handle. If you take a close look to the axes they are thinner (!) than the actual racing axes, the two samples I own have 12 and 13 degrees bit in 2,2 and 2,4kg axes. But they are not faster axes. Take this as an example thinner doesn't mean allways better cutter.

Source of the images,
https://kutxateka.eus/Detail/objects/7887
Click to expand...

As always thank you for this thread. I have found myself discussing with a few other guys my new found knowledge and interest in the Basque Axeman and history...all thanks to what I have picked up here.

I am grateful that you have been able to find and acquire the 2 traditional Basque racing axes.
True treasure.

Excellent heritage that continues today!
Thank you.
 
Thank you Miller '72 Miller '72 ! I'm glad you like this thread and it has been useful for you. The best part of all is both traditional racing axes have been a present of two friends. I'll continue with this thread as much as I can!

Deba January 7 2018. Golden Axe competition by pairs has started. For the first time women competition single mode will be played too. As allways stonelifters will compete too in these events, women and men. All the major axemen take part in this competition.

Men competition, from left to right, Ugaitz Mugertza and Joseba Otaegi vs Eneko Otaño and Juanjo Lopez Azpilikueta

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Women competition Maika Ariztegi vs Irune Izkue

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Here you have the video, enjoy it!

http://test.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri-kirolak-herri-kirolak-2018/6013/143693/aizkolariak-binakako-eusko-label-saria-mugertza-ii-otaegi-/-lazpilikueta-otano;-||-aizkolariak-emakumeen-liga-izkue-/-ariztegi/

Do you remember the challenge between Basques vs Segovian woodchopping and scything? Due to some problems it has been suspended, what a pity :(
 
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Iraeta January 21 2018. Golden Axe competition by pairs, fourth competition.

Men competition, Aitzol Atutxa and Julen Alberdi "Txikia 4." (The small one 4th)

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vs Eneko Otaño and Juanjo Lopez Azpilikueta

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There is not any video about this competition. Atutxa and Txikia 4th won it easily. I like this team a lot, the best axeman with a young, promising and strong axeman.

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Abadiño February 3 2018. Golden Axe competition by pairs, sixth competition.

The winner of this competition will go to the final.

Men competition Aitzol Atutxa and Julen Alberdi "Txikia 4." (The small one 4th) vs Ugaitz Mugertza and Joseba Otaegi. Women competition Irati Astondoa vs Nerea Sorondo.

Here you have the video, enjoy it!

http://www.eitb.tv/es/video/herri-k...a--atutxa-ii-txikia-iv-/-mugertza-ii-otaegi-/


Arantza February 4 2018. Golden Axe competition by pairs, seventh competition.

Men competition Donato Larretxea and Mikel Larrañaga vs Jon Rekondo and Iñaki Azurmendi. Women competition Nerea Sorondo vs Maika Ariztegi.

There is no video, Rekondo and Azurmendi won it. There was a draw between women.


Beasain February 11 2018. Golden Axe competition by pairs, eighth competition.

The winner of this competition will go to the final.

Men competition Jon Rekondo and Iñaki Azurmendi vs the cousins Iker Vicente and Ruben Saralegi. Women competition Nerea Sorondo vs Maika Ariztegi vs Irati Astondoa.

Here you have the video, enjoy it!

http://www.eitb.tv/es/video/herri-k...-saria--vicente-saralegi-/-rekondo-azurmendi/


Oñati February 18 2018. Golden Axe competition by pairs, eighth competition.

The winner of this competition will go to the final.

Men competition Ugaitz Mugertza and Joseba Otaegi vs Jon Rekondo and Iñaki Azurmendi. Women competition Nerea Sorondo vs Maika Ariztegi vs Irati Astondoa.

Here you have the video, enjoy it!

http://www.eitb.tv/es/video/herri-k...i-otaegi-/-azurmendi-rekondo--finalaurrekoa-/

Next time the final!
 
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When 2nd division Basque axemen competition ended 47 years old Luis Txapartegi challenged to any 2nd division axeman, except Ruben Saralegi, to a bet. 37 years old Mieltxo Mindegia accepted the challenge.

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They agreed to cut eight 40cm (15,75in), four 44,3cm (17,44in) and two 53,1cm (20,9in) diamater beech logs. Originally Txapartegi wanted to cut more bigger logs but Mieltxo negotiated well and agreed what we have seen here.

They competed March 11th 2018 at the Ezkurra fronton of Doneztebe. Here you have the video, axemen start at 01:30


They competed hard and it was very tigh nobody could know who would win till the last swing.
 
Ugaldie said:
When 2nd division Basque axemen competition ended 47 years old Luis Txapartegi challenged to any 2nd division axeman, except Ruben Saralegi, to a bet. 37 years old Mieltxo Mindegia accepted the challenge.

Mindegia-Txapartegi%20apustua%20Doneztebe.jpg


They agreed to cut eight 40cm (15,75in), four 44,3cm (17,44in) and two 53,1cm (20,9in) diamater beech logs. Originally Txapartegi wanted to cut more bigger logs but Mieltxo negotiated well and agreed what we have seen here.

They competed March 11th 2018 at the Ezkurra fronton of Doneztebe. Here you have the video, axemen start at 01:30


They competed hard and it was very tigh nobody could know who would win till the last swing.
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This was great! My man pulled it off probably only by one or two swings!
 
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