Bilbao Strongman Contest
| when: | Aug 2010 (annual) |
|---|---|
| where: | Arenal |
| cost: | Free |
| time: | Daily 12pm |
Herculean Basques shed blood, sweat and tears during the annual Bilbao Strongman Contest at the Arenal open space. For some, the event is the highlight of the city's Aste Nagusia festival (Big Week in English and Semana Grande in Spanish).
The 'games' are not your typical athletic events. The Aizkolaris category sees axe-wielding men race to chop a 45-inch-thick log in two and Trontzalaris consists of two-man teams who have to shave 22 slices off a 70-inch log with a huge two-metre saw.
There are also speed lifting events and ox-drawn stones, but the most eye-catching event is the Barrenadores League on the final day when teams of four men have to burrow a series of holes in a block of granite using nothing but willpower and a steel javelin.
| Venue Information: | Arenal |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | |
| Directions: | Arenal is located in the centre of Bilbao, bordering the old town. Head south along the river from the town hall. |
| Name: | Bilbao Iniciativas Turisticas (Vizcaya Province) |
|---|---|
| Location: | Bilbao |
| Address: | 1 Paseo del Arenal |
| Phone: | +34 94 4795 770 |
| Fax: | +34 94 4795 761 |
| Name: | Spanish National Tourist Office |
| Location: | Spain |
| Address: | José Lazaro Galdiano, 6, Madrid 28036 |
| Fax: | +34 913 43 35 00 |
| Name: | Spanish National Tourist Office (TourSpain) |
| Location: | Spain |
| Address: | José Lazaro Galdiano, 6, Madrid 28036 |
| Phone: | +34 913 43 35 00 or UK: +44 (0) 20 7486 8077 |
| Name: | Spanish Tourist Board (London) |
| Location: | Spain |
| Address: | PO Box 4009, London, W1A 6NB |
| Email: | info.londres@tourspain.es |
| Phone: | +44 (0) 20 7486 8077 |
| Fax: | +44 (0) 20 7486 8034 |
Highlights
Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, England
7 - 21 Nov 2009; Sat only (annual)
Yale Bowl, New Haven, USA
21 Nov 2009 (annual)
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia
21 Nov 2009 (various dates)
