GENERAL INFORMATION

DEFINITION


Is to cut a certain amount of trunks of a given diameter with a hatchet or an axe. The trunks are usually available on the floor in a horizontal position, so that the attacking aizkolari stands up over them.

  

ORIGIN

This sport has its origins in the farmers work. From the activity of cutting trunks for firewood, comes up on the sport of aizkolaris or cutting of trunks.

Inland, wood-cutting (the wood-cutter is called "aizkolari" in the Basque language because "aizkora" is axe in Basque) is a very popular sport. Its origin is found in the wood-cutter's and charcoal burner's daily activity, while working in the many forest up in the mountains.

TYPES OR VARIATIONS

Normally the aizkolaris, who compete individually or in pairs, stand on the trunk sections but there are variations where they have to chop a vertical tree from the top called zutiko enborra or "upright trunk". This is achieved by chopping notches into the trunk into which the aizkolari inserts a plank. He then stands on the plank to reach higher up, working his way around the trunk in a spiral until he can chop the top section. The trunks are up to 6m tall and usually no safety equipment is used up to that height.
There is another variation combining the chopping competition with a race.

TYPES OF MATERIALS

TRUNKS

The sections of trunk are usually beech without visible knots from the forests of Navarre. For competitions, the trunk sections closest to the roots or branches are used as they are of less value to the wood industry. The trunks are categorised according to their circumference using an old Basque measure called ontza, equivalent to 0.0254m. They commonly are used in the following sizes:
The oinbetekoa, 80 ontza, kanakoa and bigger ones are often used in wagers; the kanaerdikoa, 60 ontza and oinbikoa most commonly in bigger competitions and arranged in a row, each nailed to planks for stability.

AXES

The axes are between 2.4 and 2.8 kg heavy with a rounded blade and each aizkolari uses a number of them in a competition. The logs are between 0.5-0.8m long for competitions where one aizkolari stands on the log and between 0.8-1.2m long for competitions where two stand on it.

WELL KNOWN WOOD-CUTTERS

Donato Larretxea, Floren Nazabal, Angel Arrospide, Joxe Mari Olazagasti, Mindegia…

WOODCUTTING AND WOMEN

Traditionally a male dominated sport, women have begun to take part in aizkolari competitions in recent years as they have in other traditional Basque sports, for example Itziar Goenaga, Kristina Saralegi and Maika Ariztegi

LEARNING HOW TO PLAY

The competitions are usually an individual race for the finish but occasionally they are done txandetan, in relays, where two aizkolaris form a team and relieve the other once a trunk has been cut. The focus is more on stamina than speed compared to other wood-chopping events outside the Basque Country and most competitions last half an hour at the very least but normally more than an hour.

They can be held with each aizkolari having two helpers. The botilero holds the towel and brings new axes. The prestatzaile checks the two halves are fully separated, dictates the rhythm and indicates where best to hit next.

The trunks that a woodcutter must cut are placed in line. Once he has finished cutting the first trunk he has to go for the second one and in this way he has to continue until all the trunks have been cut. Depending on the type of competition he has to finish earlier than his opponent or in the least amount of time.

MATERIALS-EQUIPMENT

The only materials needed for woodcutting are easy but not simple. You only need trunks and axes. However, the trunks have to be set on top of two wooden locks so the woodcutter can find stability on top of the trunk.

Besides the axes must be sharpened and the hit of the axe has to be very exact.


CHAMPIONSHIPS

The most important modern day competition is probably the Urrezko Aizkora, the "golden axe" competition where the best aizkolaris from all over the Basque Country compete against each other individually or in pairs. There are several categories, including two junior competitions for people under the age of 23 and 18. The competitions are held in different places in the Basque Country over a period of two months to establish a winner. Other important competitions are the Donostiako Urrezko Kopako ("gold cup of San Sebastián"), the Euskal Herriko Lehen Maila ("premier league of the Basque Country") and the provincial competitions.