Hundreds of spectators cheer up the athletes in an Olympiad in which sweat and slyness reign. With a "prepau, listu ... YA", the incombustible speaker grants the go-ahead for an individual test: that of load with "el sábanu". You have to "destroy" the grass with the meadows, press it on a previously stretched cloth, knot, tighten so that the "part" does not fall, and run with the weight "at the cost." Gestures of athletic rage to give a whole return to the huertona, about 150 meters.
In addition to this test, one of the most showy of the tournament, they also happen collective races of sacks and madreñes. Do not abuse the Nike, or the Adidas. In the Olympic equivalent of the marathon, the climb to Cuetu Grande, a hard hill, with “caleyes” conquered by the vegetation and steep, the contestants put on their “chirucas” practices. Ahead a narrow route of 6 kilometers. The start is given and the participants start measuring their forces before the small peak that rises before their eyes. And while the mountainous marathon runs, the bodies of those who are going to be part of one of the teams are weighed at the Olympic stadium. the rope shot. The total sum can not exceed 520 kilos. The weighing is meticulous and patient. Meanwhile, cheerleaders and animators jump to the court to make the breaks more enjoyable. They are not majorets, no, they are folk groups, castanet in hand and traditional pirouettes. The long distance runners are already starting to descend from the Cuetu and the central stage for the pulsu championship. Always wins the one that shows more skill, tense biceps and gold dolls, and that, previously, is holding the title of favorite in the qualifying rounds. Soon the marathon arrives. José Manuel Martínez, from Ixena, has entered more than once highlighted and has already made history in the Olympiad. The "supersonic pawn", a nickname that he receives from his working condition and his excessive dedication, usually employs a record time. All the runners arrive exhausted, and "esbardiaos", legs and arms. A hell in the Asturian jungle.
The rope shot It already starts. The judges give the go-ahead to the total weight of the teams. Several qualifying tests are required to reach the grand final. The legs act as a brake and the executing arms pull the rope to beat other strong arms. The result of so much tug of war is a deep channel that is inscribed in the field as a product of a plow of feet.
It's the turn of the test of "cabruñu", the most Asturian of all, competition that serves as an extra shot to a long day of mowing. A good number of veteran contestants, hammer in hand, with impassive gesture and eyes lost in the edge of the scythes, usually use half an hour, maximum time foreseen by the organization to make a perfect finish. The edge quality is the basic criterion for the judges. The hammer gets wet in the water to polish the metal with subtlety. The rhythmic hits resound with ancestral rhythm in the Olympic stadium.
The world continues with horse races to catch the tiny hoop and ribbon. In the previous days, part of the games program had already been developed: children's championship of traditional games, bowling tournament, parade of decorated country cars and election of the "zagala" and the "zagala" of the festivities. The finishing touch with a pilgrimage and festival.
Ateltas and the public thus live a memorable appointment for the Olympic annals of the region. The bar is getting higher and higher.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
