Basques in Boise

It is time for Basque sports today at Jaialdi 2010 as the annual NABO Pilota Tournament semi-finals come to Boise’s Anduiza Fronton. For the first time ever, Sports Night will be held in the Qwest Arena, just steps away from the Basque Block.

Weightlifters from the Basque Country, including Aimar Irigoien, whom many believe to be the true successor of all-time great Iñaki Perurena, will lift cylinders weighing 250-400 pounds and stone balls weighing 250 pounds.

Joseba Ostolaza, ''Ostolaza II'', and Xabier Valenciano, ''Zelailuze'', other famous ''harri jasotzailes'', will try to steal the spotlight from Irigoien.

Aitzol Atutxa, Ugaitz Mugerza and Jose Angel Zubiaga, some of the best wood choppers in the Basque Country, will test their skills against each other. "In past Jaialdis, we tried to get some popular names. This year we are getting the champions. We are now popular enough that we are getting the top," Dave Eiguren, director of the Jaialdi, explains.

Herri Kirolak

And last, but not least, other ''Herri Kirolak'', or sports farm competitions, will take place, including hay bale throwing, wagon lifting and milk can carrying. Mutriku Herri Kirol taldea, who have participated in numerous competitions in the Basque Country throughout Europe and the United States, will be in the Jaialdi for their third time.

These traditional sports and games are closely linked to the everyday work which the locals turned into amusement in their spare time or on which fierce bets were placed between neighbors.

As is the case with most Basque sports, there is not much written information on the subject, though they are closely linked to local traditions and form an integral part of the country''s customs. Many of these activities are rooted in the early origins of the Basque people and the evolution of their rural world, which revolved mainly around the central figure of the family farmhouse.

Pelota

Pelota, probably the most popular Basque sport and the one that attracts most people, will also be present at Jaialdi 2010.

On July 29th and 30th, the Boise Fronton Association will be hosting the NABO Pilota Finals. This will include a full day of action in the Fronton with men’s teams competing in esku (handball) and paleta goma (pala). There will be women’s teams competing in paleta goma (pala) and paleta argentina (baleen).

Boise faces San Francisco on Thursday evening to play for a spot in Fridays semifinal paleta goma against Bakersfield. Finals start on Friday morning and finish in the evening, just in time for the Jaialdi celebrations swap locations for the Morrison Center which will host Festa''ra.