One Pilota: At the Heart of the Basque Pelota
With Ona Pilota, Patxi and Jon Tambourindeguy, two Cesta Punta world champion brothers share their passion for this traditional Basque ball game. They offer you initiations and lessons of Basque Pelota to live unusual experiences by their side. The unique opportunity to tread the cancha and practice this traditional sport in the best conditions and on the most beautiful frontons of the Basque Country.
You will discover the specialties of Pelota Basque:
The Bare Hand (basic specialty), this is the most “natural” practice because no instrument is used and the ball is struck directly with the open hand, protected by bandages.
The Pala (the most practiced), is played with the pala or the "paleta" of different sizes and weights, and balls of hollow/solid/or leather rubber. Each Pala has a different weight, depending on the size of the player.
The Pasaka (ancestral), game derived from the short palm, it is a "direct" game: 2 against 2 and face to face separated by a net.
The Rebot (the oldest, noble and complex), it is a direct game whose unequal camps are delimited by a line.
The Xare (“charé”, Argentinian racket), is a kind of racket-net cord; the South Americans are the inventors
The Frontenis (Mexican national game), it is played with a tennis racket against a pediment; 2/2 on a short left wall (30m)
The Grand Chistera (the most practiced in Bidart), Traditional game on Fronton (summer), which has rigorous requirements in terms of team play, commitment and skill. This is a movement game where players move around covering significant ground. The resulting variety and diversity of strokes constitute a unique range.
The Cesta Punta (the best known, spectacular and fast) similar to the Grand Chistera, is played in covered ground, Jai Alai (wall on the left) in winter.
Converted into a cestero and pelotero, the Tambourindeguy brothers also invite you to their workshop in Bidart in the Basque Country to discover the art of making and repairing chisteras and balls. An immersion in the heart of a rare and artisanal profession that will not leave you indifferent.
More information on the website www.onapilota.com