[Ragnarok]

Well, I just wanted to show you some photos from a sport that is practiced here, in the vasque country and navarra: pelota mano.
The literal translation would be hand ball, but this is another sport. It's played in a front�n. I've made a small draw about it so you get the concept:

As you can see it's a big place, bigger than a basket court. There are usually three walls: front one, left one and back one. It's played with a ball which wheights about 180gr and is quite hard. There are sub types of games, but usually two couples play, red ones (favorites) and blue ones.
I've just watched a match between two of the best players of this game: Unanue and Retegui II. It's a variation and it's one on one. Unanue is 25 (I think) and Retegui is 46, the oldest person that plays this game. He is the "grandpa"
They play to 22 points and the match ended 22-20, Unanue won.
Here you have two photos of Retegui:

And here you can see the protections they have on their hands:

And that's and impressive photo of someone trying to hit a ball which goes out of the court:


Hope you like it!

[This message has been edited by Ragnarok (edited November 18, 2000).]

[Freddio]

Yea its a great game ive played it before

[Count Zero]

Hmm, "pelota" is Finnish and means scare.
Interesting.

[egerie]

funny as I always thought I'd be scared to play that game since I'm little.
-ege

[Affected]

So I take it this is related to the game played in ancient South America?

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[Brue]

no rackets? OUCH!

[Ragnarok]

Yep, no rackets, only your naked hands and a really hard ball. I've tried it and in ten minutes my hands were aching, but those guys play and hour and their hands are really big and strong!

Pelota means ball in spanish and I guess there is a vasque name to it...
Oh, it isn't related with the american game at all! Vasque people lived here before roman empire and this is a reallt taditional game. And in the south america game there was only one wall and two teams with several players

[Ian]

I thought ball was bal�n.

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One man's hill is another man's mountain.

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