The championship began last Sunday, with the final scheduled for May 24th. It is a single-round men's league featuring six pairs. Elimination matches will be held weekly at Zizurkil's Zimiterio until May 10th.
Pasaka is a special modality that remains alive in only a few places today. Iñaki Lizaso, president of the Gipuzkoa Pelota Federation, stated that «it is currently only played in Oiartzun and Zizurkil, which makes it even more special. Maintaining the game of pasaka is preserving the heritage of our sport, and we encourage citizens to learn about this modality».
“"For the second consecutive year, it will be held in Zizurkil's Zimiterio, and we are very grateful for the generosity of the town council."
Izarne Zelaia Arratibel, councillor for Culture, Basque Language, and Youth, expressed her satisfaction with pasaka being played in Zizurkil: «Zizurkil is a pelota-loving town, and we find it wonderful to bring the Gipuzkoa Championship of this ancient modality to our town for another year. Furthermore, Zizurkil's Zimiterio has the appropriate characteristics for playing pasaka».
Participating pairs include Karrera-Chiapuso (Behar Zana Pilota Elkartea and E.P.L.E.), Zufiria-Oñate (Behar Zana Pilota Elkartea), X. Urbieta-A. Urbieta (Behar Zana Pilota Elkartea-Txost Oiartzungo Pilota Kirol Kluba), J. Urbieta-I. Urbieta (Behar Zana Pilota Elkartea-Txost Oiartzungo Pilota Kirol Kluba), Alberdi-Aizpuru (Tolosa Aurrera Pilota Elkartea), and Lizaso-Urruzola (Behar Zana Pilota Elkartea). Notably, the junior pair Zufiria-Oñate is also participating, which Lizaso considers essential for the modality's survival.
Matches will be played to eleven games. The first-place qualifier will advance directly to the final, while the second and third-place qualifiers will play in the semi-final. Matches will typically be held on Saturday mornings, but there will also be games during the week. Information about the matches will be published on the Zizurkil Town Council's website.
Pasaka is the only direct game not played in an open court. It is practiced in enclosed spaces, such as arcades (zimitorios or town hall arcades), trinquetes, and short frontons. The match unfolds in two areas separated by a net, with the serving area being longer than the rest. In the serve, the ball must pass over the net and hit the opposing frontis, above the line or plate. Subsequently, the player from the other team responds, and the contest begins on both sides of the net. Although the ball hitting the frontis is respected in the serve, in play, players can respond in the air. Known as a winter game, it can be played with the hand or with a short glove. The scoring is done by games: fifteen, thirty, forty, and then the game is won.
