PICIGIN - ONE OF SPLIT'S SYMBOLS
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| flying circus |
THE ART OF KEEPING THE BALL DRY UP IN THE AIR.
The history of this game dates back in 1920s and was `brought under regulations` in 1950s.
Picigin stands for Split contribution to evolution of homo ludens.
The most valuable competitive element of this original game is keeping the ball dry up in the air by implying the most artistic body movements while launching yourself through the air aiming for the ball – a sensational esthetic experience.
Done with all your tasks/chores, fulfilled all your obligations - what next? Have fun?...As a result of many different lifestyles, one has an array of possibilities; nevertheless I believe many would choose sport. Life is hard, so it's better to take it easy whenever we can. We don't know much what was going on before the written history, but from the available data peoples throughout the history have been using ball as sport equipment. And if we add evolution theory, one could actually say picigin is an evolutionary step forward when it comes to sports utilizing balls. Nevertheless, picigin is not an ordinary sport. The final aim in sport, especially professional one, is the element of victory, either of an individual or a team, bringing defeat to the other side, while picigin is not about winning or losing...
One cannot bet on the result of this game, there are no expenses, there are no terrain or player preparations, no sponsors, sometimes there is no audience as well, it takes place in a natural ambience on sandy beach called Bačvice, located within ten minutes walking distance from the harbour of Split, town of 180.000 inhabitants (according to some research a place offering ideal life quality). Although it would not be hard to contest this research information, if one takes into consideration `urban development` of Split in the past few decades – enlarged number of inhabitants, city being suffocated with concrete. Back in 1923 or 1924, hard-to-tame Split mentality created picigin on the beach Bačvice. Around 1950 number of the players was established – five players per team in a circle. Picigin player Emil Giosento was the first to peel off the felt of tennis ball and use its bald core as picigin – sole equipment of this popular game. It is a real miracle this `non-profit fooling around game` has managed to withstand the wheel of civilization.
Here is a list of secret ingredients for a good game of picigin, and maybe some unnecessary data:
- Origin of name: there are many theories, it is speculated it derives from Italian word `pizzicare` meaning pinch, nip, tweak, tingle, pluck, sting, bite...stands for something fluttery;
- A small ball: the most suiting colour would be black, not available in stores, so either make one or find appropriate one;
- Terrain: apart from more and more crowded Bačvice beach, there is an array of unexplored terrains, and the most attractive one for me would be a sandbank in Kenya surrounded by sea, so during tide as sea level reaches ankle joint one can enjoy picigin in turquoise ocean waters without seeing the land near by;
- Favourable sea conditions; sea level not surpassing your ankle joint, calm sea (bonaca);
- Number of persons per team: five (but the right ones) standing in a circle;
- Circle positions in picigin: first runner, second runner, third runner, `quarterback`, `stopper` ( `Toni`): a1, a2, a3, a4 and Toni - Toni stands for Toni Veršić who always played in this position until he recently retired at the age of 80;
- Encounter with ball: should be soft, though not mushy, active and free; just set relaxed wide-open palm of your hand under the ball and hit it - hit the ball across the circle diagonally, change game direction, full power hit ahead-run-launch-dive, surprise hit;
- Launching/Diving: have the ability to fall into shallow water - slide with your body through water, let go and merge with water;
- Finally, the aim of the game: keep the ball dry up in the air; opened for discussion keeping in mind that nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.
Picigin players cherish different styles. Though, it is a genuine pleasure watching, not to mention playing, with those who can play it by implying both sides of their brain, by using both hands. I remember an interview by the late great mind (not only regarding picigin) Tolja Kudrjavcev, published on two pages of a newspaper (I think it was Nedjeljna Dalmacija) with our sculptress that lived in New York under the title: `Fascinated by picigin`; a perspective of a woman and artist and her experience of watching these athletes running and launching their sculptured bodies above the surface of shallow water, flying and aiming for the ball; giving their best to make the perfect match with the ball. I remember my first game of picigin played with `professionals`: Dado, my ex-partner for picigin-in-two, and I were sneaking around the team of three Suvi, Fantom and Vera...somehow we found courage to ask if we could join them, the world stopped turning – Ok, position yourself in the circle...our hearts were racing, we started playing, we passed – not a penguin class, but heading towards the `professionals`.
The greatest pleasure is to play off summer or winter season, under the clouds, no wind, no audience...or early in the morning enjoy an energizing game before the crowd starts swarming the beach and mistral starts blowing. And then you have the whole day in front of you! Sometimes, we come across aggravated bathers, who actually of all beaches to go for a swim choose Bačvice, `trespassing` through the `magic ring` or trying to go around the `ring` finding themselves inside the `ring of fire`, completely unaware of possible collision (or the war of the two different worlds just like in Avatar) with players. Every player inside this `magic ring` has his own position, during the game these positions can interchange, but with intention of always returning to the original position. The same rule applies if the ball falls into the water. So, if you notice a random number of players in the shallow water running around in a circle in disorderly manner, even though it might be great fun for the players, that kind of game cannot be referred to as picigin. Genuine picigin players apart from having their own style, also experience the game in their own peculiar way. Amazing moments of this game where only sky is the limit when it comes to a wide range of game combinations every player perceives and cherishes differently ...I have no idea if time actually exists or we are just moving through space faster or more slowly, but when you, full speed, run for the ball, with uncertainty in the air, your body turns into intergalactic missile with only one target – the ball, swift as a lightning, you launch your body in the air, fly aiming for the ball, nothing exists anymore, just the palm of your hand and the ball trying to make the perfect match, all your senses are shut out, disconnected...having reached the highest peak of your `flight`, you drop down-dive, merge with water, the only thing left in the air is the palm of your hand, stretching out towards the ball, completely separated from your body and senses – you hit the ball somewhere between heaven and water...
The World Competition in Picigin has been going on for the past ten years, every June on Bačvice. Well, yeah, once in a year picigin turns into competition. Jury of expert picigin players evaluates the 15 minutes performance of teams taking into consideration their artistic impression as well...so they reach a `verdict` which Split team played the best and gained the title of the Champions of the Universe followed by party which goes into superfinals till small hours.
So, when you put it all together, it does not matter if you are young, old, man or a woman; picigin one plays is either `penguin class` picigin or the genuine `professional` one.
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