Jon & Patxi Tambourindeguy

A village of champions

• Jon and Patxi are both World Champions of Cesta Punta
• It takes them 30 hours to make a chistera
• There are only two workshops making chisteras left in France

Brothers Jon and Patxi Tambourindeguy are icons of Bidart, their hometown in the Basque Country. Both are World Champions of the game Cesta Punta. They have created their own workshop, Ona Pilota, which means “The Good Pelota ball”. In France, the cesteros (who are the manufacturers and repairers of the wicker scoop known as chisteras) are not numerous and most are not willing to pass on their knowledge. So Patxi, who has always loved wood and studied wood production, studied the work of cesteros in Miami by observing and sharing with the people who repaired his gloves during his professional career, and then repairing and making his own gloves. When he returned to Bidart, he decided to set up a family workshop with his brother Jon. Today, they devote themselves to their passion while sharing and passing on their know-how.

Interview

©Laurent Laporte

©Antton.A Photographie

Where does the name of your workshop come from?

Patxi: Ona Pilota means “The Good Pelota ball” in Basque. It’s an expression we hear since we are little, and it brings back happy memories. Today we are lucky to be living off our passion and sharing it with the public, making happy memories.

Is sharing your savoir-faire with the public very important to you?

Jon: Yes, the Cesta Punta is an integral part of the culture and identity of our region. We are trying to democratise access to Cesta Punta by opening the doors of our workshop. But most of all, we wish to preserve and keep alive an industry as well as the culture on which it depends.

Did you learn your craft in your hometown?

Patxi: While working at Jaï Alaï in Miami, a Mexican pelotero named Clemente taught me how to mend a pelota ball,and a man named Louis in St-Jean de Luz, taught me how to repair the leather of the pelota balls. Then, when I came home, I taught my brother Jon.

Do you find your activity rewarding?

Jon: It requires a lot of patience, and one is never identical to the previous one, however seeing the look of satisfaction of the players who use them is wonderful. When we get out of the workshop we use our own chistera or the ball we have just finished making – that is the greatest reward.

Jon & Patxi Tambourindeguy are expert artisans: they began their career in 2015

Works

©ONA PILOTA

©ONA PILOTA

©ONA PILOTA

©ONA PILOTA

Where

Experiences

Pelota workshop near Biarritz

1 Hour

5 EUR per person

Cesta Punta initiation near Biarritz

1.5 Hours

150 EUR per person