Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Obituary--Angel Ugarte--1926-2019

Angel Ugarte  "Txantxangorri", one of the players who came to the US in the 1950s,  passed away in early February at the age of 93. He was born in Sao Paulo Brazil on November 10, 1926. He played his first Jai Alai in the Canary Islands, then played at Zaragoza, and Mallorca (photos of the frontons, not Ugarte). He played in the States from about 1951-1965 at Miami (fronton from the outside in the 1950s), West Palm Beach, and Daytona Beach. He won two championships at West Palm Beach. He gained notoriety later in life as one of the interviewees in the film Jai Alai Blues (Hollywood Reporter). He lived his final years in the South Basque Country.

Jai Alai News Facebook page via manista.com

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--El Pais Feature Article on Fronton Mexico

El Pais has published a lengthy feature article on the re-opening of Fronton Mexico. The article discusses the history of the fronton, and contains short interviews with ex-pilotaris who played in the "golden age" (about 1930-1960). It also discusses the significance of the re-opening of the fronton. But perhaps the highlight of the piece is the 6 minute 45 second video that accompanies it. The video is built around a "B" match between Aaron-Ituarte and Ochoa-Perez that took place April 1. Google Translate will do a good job for the print story. The video is a case of "a picture being worth a thousand words" and is understandable in any language.

Los guardianes del Frontón México, by Almudena Barragan

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Pablo Ibarren Defense Benefit Match and Vintage Documentary Film

1. January 7, 2017--Zumaia (1)(2)(3) Goikoetxea-Inza defeated Egiguren-Enbil 2-0 (15-10, 15-11).

Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook page--English translation may be available)

This was a benefit match for the defense of Pablo Ibarren.

2. Cesta Punta--Rekalde v Irastorza, a documentary film produced by Arte France and Ethan Productions, directed by Jacques Mitch, 2005, 50 minutes 43 seconds (French). This 11 year old documentary has recently been uploaded to Youtube by the director. It is an excellent account of modern day Jai Alai, which uses a championship partido match (Rekalde-Goitia v Jabi-Irastorza) as the pivot around which it documents biographies of the two title figures. There is much to see here describing US quiniela Jai Alai at the time, along with other aspects of the sport. The language is French, but in Jai Alai pictures are worth a thousand words and the themes of the film are easy to pick up without any language proficiency. Note that in the championship match, selected ball speeds were available for Irastorza. Top speed was 208 km/hour (129 mph). 11 years later, in last summer's Internationaux Cesta Punta SLAM final, father time (40 years old) was catching up with him. The fastest throw I saw clocked for him in that match was a mere 196 km/hr (122mph).

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta comings and goings--Jai Alai Blues Documentary and intervew with Miami's "Duke"

1. Jai Alai Blues (2016, 1 hour, 40 minutes, 22 seconds, Castilian, Basque, and English with Castilian subtitles). Originally broadcast on EITB in early November, 2016, it is available at present via EITB on demand.

Produced by Berde Produkzioak in 2016, "the documentary reviews the history of  Jai Alai/Cesta Punta and its success in countries like China, Cuba, or the United States. There the pelotaris were considered artists and the media covered the activity of the frontons. But success did not last forever." (EITB). The recent history of the sport in the US is extensively covered in the last half of the film (much of which is in English). Even if you don't understand the language or subtitles, the film is well worth watching for the documentary images of Jai Alai/Cesta Punta history.

2. Jai Alai News Facebook page interview with Miami Jai Alai's "Duke." The Jai Alai News Facebook page features an interesting interview with Jonatan Hernandez, "Duke" at Miami Jai Alai. The interview is in Castilian. Auto translation may be available at the site. If not, Google Translate will give you the basics. In it he discusses his recovery from a recent auto accident, changes at Miami Jai Alai with the departure of Goikoetxea and Lopez, and the signing of new players. The interview also touches on other topics such as Quinela v Partido and playing in the US v playing in the Basque Country.

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Recent Happenings North and South

Here are some Jai Alai/Cesta Punta recent comings and goings in the Basque Country. Many of you may have already seen or read about some or all of this. For you this will hopefully be a "one stop" source. For those who haven't, enjoy this compilation.

North Basque:

October 31, 2016

Saint-Jean de Luz (Donibane Lohizune) (1) (2) Trophée d'Automne de Cesta Punta Final:

Olha-Errandonea defeated Laduche-Laborde 2-1 (15-12, 12-15, 5-0).

Full match video. Source: Intnationaux Cesta Punta Youtube site.

I was unable to find any information about any preliminary matches in this tournament. It was youth v experience in this hotly contested final. The player to watch in this match is 22 year old front courter Ludovic Laduche. We will be seeing a lot more of him soon, if this match is any indication. He and 18 year old Theo Laborde gave old pro Christophe Olha and Mathieu Errandonea all they could handle and then some before the veterans took over the tie-breaker.

South Basque

October 31, 2016

1. Gernika (Guernica) (1) (2)

Egiguren-Enbil defeated Hormaetxea-Lopez 2-1 (15-11, 13-15, 5-2).

Video Preview  Source: Vimeo via Jai Alai Facebook Page.

Match article (Castilian, auto-translate may be available, including 5 photos and an audio interview with Lopez). (Source: Jai Alai News Facebook page). This match article, even in translation, is one of the best I've read. It will tell you everything you need to know about the electric atmosphere and great match this was.

2. Two Interviews with Imanol Lopez

A. "Lopez: 'Estoy Feliz de Poder Jugar en Casa'," (Oct. 30, 2016). Source: Jai Alai Facebook page. Auto translate may be available at the site

B. "Imanol Lopez: 'Zestaz gozatzen segitzen dut, baina lehentasunak aldatuta'" (Oct. 29, 2016). Source: baleike.eus. No auto translate available.

3. Interview with Mikel Egiguren  "Egiguren: 'Voy a Salir a Acabar el Partido Adelante" (Oct. 28, 2016). Source: Jai Alai News Facebook page. Auto translate may be available at the site.

4. EITB Documentary: Origen: "Guillermo Amuchastegui" (Castilian, running time: 1 hour, 5 minutes, 9 seconds). "Guillermo Antonio Amuchástegui, 'the monarch', loved and hated at the same time. A character that could be the protagonist of any hollywood movie." Source: Jai Alai News Facebook page.

Main Nue--hand protection demonstrated by Pampi Laduche

If you have ever wondered how Main Nue players protect their hands against the ravages of the game, then this 38 minute 46 second video (source: Esku Pilota Youtube site), with the legendary Pampi Laduche preparing the protection is mandatory viewing.

Pasaka--Oiartsun V. Txapelketa Final

The Oiartsun V. Txapelketa Final was contested at Oiartsun Kontzejupea Arkupe (1--click on video to the left of photo for a more intimate look) (2) on August 3, 2016. The arkupe is in the alcove of a building that dates to the late 17th Century.

Urbieta-Esnal (an ex professional mano player) defeated Nazabal-Zabala (last year's defending champions) 13-1

Note that the back courters are listed first in this modality.

Esnal simply hit the ball too hard, too often for N-Z to handle. Urbieta contributed many excellent rebotes (rebound shots). A very easy victory was the result.

Line score:

8-0; 8-1; 13-1

Full match video (Source: EITB) (Match begins at 12 minutes 7 seconds on the recording). The first twelve minutes are interviews, mostly with a very strong promoter of the sport, Anton Mendizabal.

EITB televised this match because Pasaka has great historical and cultural significance in Basque Pelota. It is one of the ancestor games of all the modalities that exist today. It is a "direct" court game, that is to say, there is no wall. A net separates the two teams. The sport is played with either bare hands or a small glove. This match was played with bare hands. There is no serve. The ball is tossed across the net into play. Tennis is scored the way Pasaka is, and some Basques will tell you that tennis modeled its scoring after Pasaka. 4 points wins a game. Games must be won by 2 points. Service only changes when a team with the 40-30 advantage loses the point and the game reverts to 30-30. The match is played to 13 games. The ball is soft but very heavy (about 235 grams, over 1/2 pound for the game played with the glove--the bare hand modality uses a smaller ball). The evolution of the small glove, begun in the 19th century, has taken Basque Pelota to all the modalities it has today. EITB has a short documentary about early Basque Pelota.

This particular match is difficult to follow because there is no scoreboard for a good deal of it. Another match played as part of  Aste Negusia in Donastia (San Sebastian) in 2013 at Donostiako Trinitate plazako frontoian shows the last few games of a festival match (bare hand, three on each side) with a scoreboard that makes it easy to figure out what is going on. That match can be seen here. (You will recognize the front courter in red. He is Esnal of the final match above, and he hits the ball equally hard in this match).

Watch and enjoy this ancestor game. And enjoy also that it is still taken seriously as part of the culture, though more modern games have the limelight today. Also, that EITB broadcast this match tells us much.

MY ARTICLE:  How these two teams got to this match