Bilbao Leisure

The Basque region of Spain has some unique and interesting sports, which reflect the personalities of the people who live here. Most of the activities revolve around the natural working life of the locals, as if their work has been incorporated into their fun. Stone lifting is one such sport, which involves two stone lifters competing against each other. The goal is to lift and balance a stone on one’s shoulders as many times as possible. The weight of these granite stones range from 100kgs to 300kgs. Only one man in history, Inaki Perurena, has ever successfully lifted a stone weighing 300kgs.

Bilbao Sailing

Being so connected to the sea, it is only natural that sailing is a big part of Bilbao’s sporting scene. Regattas are held in nearly every seaside town along the Basque coastline between July and September, reflecting this region’s ancient connection to fishing. A town receives great pride from being able to win a regatta flag, which has been the source of countless rivalries over the centuries. The most important regatta is held in the Bay of Biscay during the first two Sundays of September. The region’s best rowing boats congregate in La Concha Bay to compete in a race that has been held annually for over 100 years.

Handball

Perhaps the most famous sport to emerge from the Basque region is jai alai, a form of handball that likely originated from the Aztecs of Mexico. The rules of the game are similar to handball, except that the court is much larger. There is always one more player than the number of game points, so that when a player loses a point he is eliminated. The hard rubber ball, thrown by a unique hand-cup, often reaches speeds of 240kph.

Football

The city of Bilbao is also home to one the Spanish Premier League’s better football teams. Athletico Bilbao plays its games at the San Mames stadium, one of the oldest stadiums in Spain. As one of the very first football teams founded in the country, Basque locals take immense pride in their tradition of Basque football and the team remains a powerful symbol of the city and its people.