Asturian rural sport

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In Asturias, everyday rural tasks, repurposed with a healthy dose of rivalry and competitiveness, are considered sports . Victory requires more than just technical skill; it demands brute strength and immense physical endurance. These are challenges only for strong men, hardened by the toughest work in the fields and forests.

Throughout Asturias, it's not uncommon to witness these exhibition matches where different teams representing their municipalities or towns compete. In this way, besides fostering friendly rivalry, this traditional sport builds a sense of community among parishes.

During the games, the Olympic spirit reigns supreme, the joy of effort and the educational value of setting a good example are paramount. The events are fast-paced, requiring intense concentration and precision. Examples include axe chopping and log splitting ; the latter involves splitting eight logs into four pieces and then stacking each piece in a platform as quickly as possible.

There is also the spectacular method of high-altitude cutting , where you climb a vertical log, making small cuts where you place wooden wedges on which the lumberjack stands, until you reach the top, about four or five meters high, where you make the cut in a surprising exercise that combines strength and balance.

Asturian sport competitions

The milkman's race is another event that's almost always included. It simulates the endurance of the farmers who used to carry 35-liter milk cans. Nowadays, in competitions, the milk cans have been replaced by solid iron cylinders with handles, weighing approximately the same. The challenge is to cover the greatest possible distance with them in a set time without putting them down. Sometimes the milk cans weigh more than the participants: an extremely tough test.

Tug of war : Two teams of 6 to 8 players each hold tightly to a rope. Three ribbons are attached to the rope. The middle ribbon marks the midpoint and must align with a mark on the ground at the start. The winning team is the one that pulls the ribbon closest to the other team's through the mark.

Tiru al palu consists of pulling on a stick while the two opponents sit on the ground facing each other with the soles of their feet resting on a board. The puller who manages to pull their opponent to their feet wins.

Anvil lift , which consists of lifting an 18-kilogram anvil by striking it on a platform placed 20 centimeters above the ground and on a metal plate placed 30 centimeters above the head. A set number of lifts can be performed in the shortest possible time, or the maximum number of lifts can be performed within a set time.

Madreñes race : a rural sport that consists of completing a course to reach the finish line by running; with the particularity of the footwear used by the athlete: madreñes, an icon of rural Asturias.

Greasy pole climbing : a game of locomotion that tests climbing skills. The game consists of climbing a pole to the top, which is decorated with festive motifs from which prizes are hung. These prizes vary according to local custom, such as bottles of liquor, hams, sausages, or cash. The climb is made more difficult by slippery substances, such as soap or tallow, applied to the surface of the pole.

These displays of sport also typically include one of Asturias' quintessential agricultural activities, at least the most important of the summer in terms of intensity and number of participants: haymaking . This laborious work involves sharpening the scythe, the actual mowing, and handling the heavy bales.

There are many events where animals play a fundamental role. Horses, for example, are the stars of competitions such as ribbon races, weight pulling, and dressage in the case of Asturcón ponies . Oxen also play a key role in weight pulling events.

Among this review of the most autochthonous sports specialties, you can not miss the bowling, in its different modalities: cuatreada, bateiente, palma (or birle), celta (or Tineo), etc.