Ona Pilota

It is in Bidart in the Basque Country that the Tambourindeguy brothers created their workshop Ona Pilota, which means “Good Pelota”. Converted into cestero and pelotero, they open the doors of their workshop to you to discover the art of making and repairing chisteras and balls. In France, the cesteros (manufacturer and repairer of chistera) are not numerous and few agree to transmit or share their knowledge.

Thus, Patxi, who has always loved wood and studied wood production, had to learn his skills alone. He learns the cestero job in Miami, sharing with people who repaired their gloves during his pro career, then repairing and making his own gloves. In St-Jean de Luz, a man named Louis taught him how to repair the leather of the balls. What's inside the pelota, from repairing to making, is a Mexican named Clemente “pelotero” for 40 years who taught him in Miami.

All this know-how acquired over several years here and on the other side of the world Patxi brought him together in his workshop Ona Pilota , teaching his brother Jon. The visit to the Ona Pilota workshop is a unique opportunity to discover a rare and artisanal profession with Cesta Punta world champions who are as passionate as they are experienced.