Txingas: Basque Farmer's Carry Relay
An event from Basque and Navarrese rural sports (herri kirolak) in which athletes carry two weights, the txingas, one in each hand, as far as they can. The school version uses light sandbags to build grip strength, good posture and persistence.
How to play
- Explain (2 min) that at Basque and Navarrese fairs, txingalaris carry two iron weights with handles without setting them down; we will use 2-pound sandbags.
- Teach the posture (3 min): straight back, shoulders back, straight arms and short steps; bend the knees, not the back, to pick up and set down the bags.
- Make 5 teams of 5, each with a 10 m (33 ft) out-and-back lane between two cones and a scorekeeper with a stopwatch.
- One-minute relay: the first carrier power-walks with a bag in each hand for as many laps as possible; on the signal, the bags go down and the next teammate goes.
- The scorekeeper counts cones rounded and the team totals all 5 carriers. Play 2 rounds (12 min), trying to beat the first score in round two.
Rules
- No running: keep one foot on the ground at all times.
- If a bag drops, pick it up with bent knees and continue from that spot.
- Bags may not rest against the body or switch hands.
- Each student chooses a weight that lets them keep a straight back.
Variations
Easier
Carry one bag, switching hands at each cone, in 30-second legs.
Standard
Carry a 2-pound bag in each hand for a 1-minute leg.
Harder
Carry 4-pound bags or add a zigzag between cones while keeping good posture.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a wheelchair user holds the bags straight out in front for 30 seconds or carries them on the lap.
- Shyness: the student keeps score in round one and carries in round two, after seeing the event.
- Fitness level: each student picks a 1, 2 or 4-pound bag and compares only with their own score.
Learning goals
- Keep safe posture when lifting and carrying loads.
- Build grip strength and endurance in the arms and core.
- Learn about the rural roots of Basque strength events.
Equipment for a class of 25
- sandbags: 12
- cones: 10
- stopwatches: 5
Teacher tip
Posture matters more than distance: stop anyone who rounds their back or drags their feet. No sandbags? Water-filled 1-liter bottles with tight caps work fine.
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