Aizkolariak, Basque axemen competitions and bets, and more

[Ugaldie]

Some images and videos were lost when the forum renewed, I have fix all I could fix, there have been some irrecoverable archives.

While I was fixing some posts about Enrique Bildarraz I realized I didn't talk about his last news. He continues cutting a log weekly but he has retired from handlemaking. It's a pity but a respectable decission.

Some time ago I posted a video about Jauregi (were you could see Enrique) showing how did axemakers traditionally produce axes. That first video had very bad subtitles, they have been fixed. Here you have the new video, take in account it was the first time in decades Jauregi produced some axes in the traditional way. As you see he hasn't lost his art,

A pair weeks ago somebody shared a video about a Basque policeman trying to cut a tree to move it away from the way. He has a lot to learn but he is the most skilled policeman I have ever seen doing this work in duty.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1520907484595652

 

[Ugaldie]

2017-05-01 Lazkao, urrezko aizkora eighth knockout. Four axemen compete, each axeman will cut 7 logs in 4 modalities.

Jon Irazu did not compete, he was injured. Luis Txapartegi competed in his place.

Points worth to mention, axemen use to like thin axes. The axes used in these competitions are indeed thinner than high end woodworking knifes. They move between 14 and 15 degrees. Each axeman tries the wood and depending their feeling and experience they choose the axes he will use between those he has bring to the competition. But sometimes experience and trials are not enough and an axe can be too thin for the task. Look at how Luis is performing at the log he is cutting at minute 08:03, he didn't choose the right axe and he is clearly noting it.

Mieltxo Mindegia was behind Ugaitz and changes the axe at 15:50. In his will to cut time he makes a bad swing (he bites deeply a central zone were the cut has not been opened), his axe gets stuck, he tries to free it but it looks like the handle breaks or gets loose making him to use another axe to extract the stuck axe and lose plenty of time.

Enjoy the video,

http://www.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri-...26699/aizkora-buruz-buruko-eusko-label-saria/

Stone filters did also have their own competition, here you can see a little part of it. Take in account these are 100Kg (220 pounds) stones.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=624625357733156

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=624625484399810

 

[Ugaldie]

2017-04-30 Burgi, raft day.

Pyreanic wood have been cut for millenia, each river depending to its nature had its way to transport logs. In some of them they waited for the rain season and they throw the logs to the river when it was high. In other rivers they built log dams (several ones sometimes) and when the dam was full of logs and water they opened it or them. If your river was big or the small river logs arrived to bigger rivers they transported them by raft.

They were hard times but the people was hard they the pay was good so this method has been commercially used till 1950's. To not to lose these traditions the town of Burgi started to recover the ancestral rafting proffession, at the beginning it was a little and simple event. Here you have a video of the 70's,

As the years passed locals retook this proffession with big ethusiasm, now the main goal was to not to lose tradition and show it to the world. Former rafters produced a video in the 90's were they show how did they work, it was an excelent idea. Now most of them are not here but their knowlegde continues here,

Nowadays they make a very popular and touristical festival this time of year. They show how did wash the clothes, how cheese is produced... but the main event of the festival continues being rafting.

The town gets full of visitors and there is good festive atmosphere that day, even if it's raining. I have to admit I have been in Burgi several times but I have never been there the festival day, let's see if we can go there next year.

 

[Ugaldie]

2017-05-07 Getaria, the hometown of the first person who circumnavegated the world. Urrezko aizkora last knockout in the anchovy day. Each coastal town makes a festival centered in a fish, Getarians choosed the anchovy

Juanjo Lopez Azpilikueta vs Eneko Otaño and Jon Rekondo Donato Larretxea, it was a big heat taking in account the time o the year.

http://www.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri-...001/126700/aizkora-eusko-label-saria-banaka;/

 

[Ugaldie]

Tomorrow will be an axe and scythe combined bet in Murgizelai, Zegama at 18:00. Joxemari Arakama "Euskitze" from Zegama and Joxetxo Atin will bet each other 500€ in a bet consisting in cutting four beech logs 44 centimeters in diameter and then cutting as much grass as they can, they will have an hour to do all the work.

53 years old Atin likes rural sports, this is the first bet and he says it will also be the last one. He says he thinks he is a bit old for this type of works but the challenge Euskitze throw to him heated his mind and he couldn't let it pass.

Atin says Euskitze is a better axeman but he has more experience with the scythe. But rumors say Euskitze is training hard with the scythe and he is the youngest contender. Here you have him,

Euskitze says Atin is a hard man, he is a very complete sportsman, a good mountaineer, good person and a strong man. He admits he has a bit of fear to him. Let's see what happens, I will inform you if I get some information.

Do you remember the stone, axe and running bet of the 1st of July between an alpinist and an axeman? Rumors say both of them are training hard for the event.

Note at 00:30, that's a racing axe bit geometry . They say one of Txikon's coach is Ernesto Ezpeleta "Bihurri", the man who accompanied him to the Himalayas time ago.

Spectations are high!

 

[garry3]

He pissed the old guy off. Atkin is going to school him....

 

[Square_peg]

2017-04-30 Burgi, raft day.

Love this! This is similar to the style of early log rafting on the Eastern seaboard of America. Forester and farmers would harvest and collect their logs all winter long. In Spring they would build their rafts, then wait for the rivers to rise during the spring runoff to raft their logs down to the mill. Many early American farmers did this as their winter vocation.

 

[Agent_H]

Chopping trees is one thing but riding lashed logs on a river definitely takes it to a whole new level.

Jumping out of the way of a falling tree is pretty much over when it lands. Tons of wood on the water requires some relentless fortitude, skill, and a high level of attention. Not much room for error.

They do make it look like a load of fun but I bet they have done it more than a couple of times to wave at crowds.

You mentioned the axes the rafters use are a little different? Any chance of a picture?
(Internet example)

 

[Ugaldie]

He pissed the old guy off. Atkin is going to school him....

I think the same, let's see what does it happen.

That's logic S Square_peg , this is the logical way to move moderate volume logs.

You are right Agent_H and you have bet correctly, they train before the festival. Thank you for pointing about rafting axes, I thought they were special heavy large eye Biscayne axes. The ones I saw were slightly different but I have realized all the axes of that zone had the slightly drop bit. So my actual information in this regard is they were heavy large eye Biscayne axes, the same type of Biscayne axe this gentelman uses in this video but a heavier one,

2017-05-13 Orozko, first semifinal of the urrezko aizkora.

First axeman will pass directly to the final, the second one will have a second option and the thrid one will leave the competition. Iker in the left, Jon in the middle and Eneko in the right,

They don't show all the event, at the last part they have to cut two beech logs 40 centimeters and two logs 45 centimeters in diameter. 19 years old Iker starts with 20 seconds of difference versus Jon, Eneko is far behind. Passing between the first log and the second one Iker suffers a mucle pull, he endures making a exciting end of the competition. At the end of the video you can see stone lifters.

http://www.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri-...026/aizkora--buruz-buruko-eusko-label-saria-/

 

[Ugaldie]

2017-05-14 Zuhatzu Kuartango,

Sub 23 axemen knockout, they cut 12 logs in three modalities

Oier Kañamares, the axeman on the right won this event.

That day there was different rural sports exibition too, ball lifting,

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=630786827117009

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=630787137116978

25Kg anvil lifting,

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=630787353783623

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=630787620450263

 

[Ugaldie]

Torrid heat in Zegama yesterday.

53 years old Joxetxo Atin (the oldest competitor) won the bet. Joxe Mari Arakama did not cut the logs, Joxetxo cut the logs plus a parcel and a half of grass. Joxetxo demonstrated he really is a hard and strong man. After the competition Joxetxo and Joxe Mari had a dinner together accompanied by ther friends. Here you have the video of the competition,

 

[Ugaldie]

An article about Basque rural sports came to my hands. The writer seems not no know this world as well as he looks like, for example hundreds of competitions take place throughout the year not only dozens. Or he says you won't find bull fightings in the Basque Country, they are bullrings which are mostly used for rural sports or for concerts but they also are used for bullfighting. You will find very few of them during the year but you will find some.

Anyways, I find it interesting. Here you can see how does it start,

"Inhar Urruzuno leads a double life. Or, rather, two parallel lives. During the day he earns a living in what, as a humble man, he calls a “taller”, the Spanish term for “mechanical workshop”."

“We make parts for Airbus aeroplanes and for missiles,” he explains. His is one of the many advanced manufacturing plants that make the Basque Country, in northern Spain, one of Western Europe’s top hi-tech centres."

"But when his day’s work is done, he drives into the mountains, along a narrow, winding road, to the outskirts of the small town of Mallabia, and Jose Antonio Gisasola’s house. Here, overlooking lush green valleys and factories, he changes out of his clothes and becomes a harrijasotzaile, a “stone lifter” in Basque, one of the oldest living languages."

Here you have the main article,

http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-...-pursuits-basque-olympics-where-stone-lifters

 

[Ugaldie]

2017-05-20 Zegama, second semifinal of the urrezko aizkora.

Arria 5th couldn't compete due to waist pain, Xabier Zaldua (the man in the left) competed in his place.

Some works have been finished, Iñaki Azurmendi performed badly in them. He retires in the middle of the competition due to bad body feelings.

http://www.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri-...33027/aizkora-buruz-buruko-eusko-label-saria/

2017-05-21 Galdakao, third semifinal of the urrezko aizkora.

The best actual axeman (Aitzol Atutxa) vs two top axemen, a pleasure to see them.

Two works have been already completed, it's a pity local TV uses so few resources for this sport. Aitzol is not as his best three weeks ago a bactery from a intestinal infection he was suffering passed to his blood and he passed a week in the hospital. Nevertheless look at how does he perform.

http://www.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri-...028/aizkora--buruz-buruko-eusko-label-saria-/

2017-05-28 Amurrio, fourth and last urrezko aizkora semi final.

Those who classified as second on the other semifinal competed here for the place in the final. As in all the other semi finals they cut 27 logs in 5 modalities.

There isn't any public video of this event. Rekondo won it.

There are some videos of the stone lifters who made an exibition that day.

Joseba Ostolaza lifting a 100Kg (220lbs) cubic stone with a hand.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=637315913130767

Joseba and Udane Ostolaza (the father and the daughter) lifting and saluting with round stones.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=637316716464020

They rule

 

[Ugaldie]

To make an idea about the woods were the axemen competitions started Irati forest is a good place. It's the second largest and best preserved beech and fir forest in Europe, a good example of highly exploited forest for half millenia but well preserved one too.

2017-05-28 Elburgo, Iñaki Kintana cut 25 beech logs 40 centimeters (15,8 inches) in diameter in a row.

His intention was to cut them in less than an hour and a half in order to establish a mark for his province, Araba.

I have to say he is not a top notch axeman, but he has shown he is a tough one. He was well helped, here we can see the axeman Arkaitz Jauregi helping him.

I don't have any information other than photos and videos, if I get something more I'll inform you.

It was not the only challenge of that day, some other rural sport competitions or exibitions were that day. Like log cutting with adzes,

As you see it's not too eficcient.

Anvil lifting,

 

[Ugaldie]

Stone lifting,

Or bale lifting,

 

[Ugaldie]

Yesterday was the presentation of the bet between Alex Txikon and Mikel Larrañaraga.

As you know it will be a tough challenge, they will have to lift a 100kg stone 20 times, cut 10 (Txikon) and 12 (Larrañaga) beech logs 40 centimetimeters in diameter and then run 7,5 Km circularly in the bullring.

Txikon is an alpinist, Larrañaga is an axeman, nevertheless it will be a hard job for both.

Both have train hardly, they say there will not be big time difference in stone lifting. But that is a explosive work and it can weaken the strength of the weakest, in axework Larrañaga is better by far but he has to cut two more logs. Running is the best part for Txikon, but it's the last work and he should be more worn out than Larrañaga. The challenge looks tight.

Who do you think will win? Make your bets gentelmen

 

[Ugaldie]

2017-06-04 Azpeitia, the great final of the urrezko aizkolariak.

We have four axemen finals and and stone lifters exibition here. Sub 19 and Sub 23 compete the first, seniors start at minute 42. Axemanship at its finest, close times and knots in the wood mantain the emotion till the last moment. Enjoy it!

http://www.eitb.tv/eu/bideoa/herri-...izkora-buruz-buruko-eusko-label-saria-finala/

Note the age of Iker Vicente, the "senior" axeman in purple T-shirt. He is 19 years old and he should compete in the Sub 23 category, but he competes in the senior one and shines as one of the best.

All four axemen were a pleasure to see, but the great Aitzol won the txapela (beret).

I would love to see a Basque type axemen bet between this man and any other international axeman, but I see it improbable. Axemen of lesser category have challenged any other axemen and I have pass that information to a lot of axemen and axemen assoc¡ations several times and nobody got interested. I think this level of Basque axeman would admit a 20 logs bet even versus two international contenders. If you are one of them take it in account, that could give glory, fame and money to any couple of axemen who dares to face these masters.

 

[Ugaldie]

Less than two weeks for San Fermin.

This is a nine days long festival in Iruñea internationally known for the bullrunning.

But this festival has much more events to enjoy. A lot of international people comes to this festival, an estimated of a million and a half visitors came last year. I'm sure more than one fellows of the forum will come, so in order to give them bladed alternatives I'll address you axemen and related events.

These events will be played at the Foruen enparantza, it's a bit out of the main festival zone but easily reachable by foot and near to a beautifull fort. There is little shade so remember to wear sun protection.

8th of July at 12:00 you will have crosscut and stone lifter competitions.
9th of July at 12:00 you will have Navarrean axemen championship by couples, cart lifting championship and stone lifter competitions.
11th of July at 12:00 you will have 3rd category single Navarrean axemen championship, crosscut saw competitions and young combined sports.
12th of July at 12:00 you will have tug of war 4vs4, femenine axemen exibition and old saw work and azde cutting exibition.
13th of July at 12:00 you will have Navarrean anvil lifting competition, chainsaw and bale grass lifting exibitions.
14th of July at 12:00 you will have the Navarrean stone lifting competition, two axemen will cut a beech log 80cm (31,5 inches) in diameter and there will be a chainsaw exibition.

Enjoy all you can those of you who will visit us, I'll post something about San Fermin for those who will not come and if you know somebody who will come share this information with him/her. Have a good day!

For more information,

http://www.sanfermin.com/en/

 

[garry3]

Some images and videos were lost when the forum renewed, I have fix all I could fix, there have been some irrecoverable archives.

While I was fixing some posts about Enrique Bildarraz I realized I didn't talk about his last news. He continues cutting a log weekly but he has retired from handlemaking. It's a pity but a respectable decission.

Some time ago I posted a video about Jauregi (were you could see Enrique) showing how did axemakers traditionally produce axes. That first video had very bad subtitles, they have been fixed. Here you have the new video, take in account it was the first time in decades Jauregi produced some axes in the traditional way. As you see he hasn't lost his art,

A pair weeks ago somebody shared a video about a Basque policeman trying to cut a tree to move it away from the way. He has a lot to learn but he is the most skilled policeman I have ever seen doing this work in duty.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1520907484595652

Did you know there are no subtitles at all now in Enrique's video?

 

[Square_peg]

Log cutting with adzes doesn't look like much fun. I bet it's hard and the hands and wrists. You have very long adzes.