I just got home from the Zarautz pro in Spain (the Basque country) and it was sick.  I ended up finishing 3rd place in the contest.  But that was only half the story.  Before we arrived we got in touch with local legend Adur and he told us that his flat was empty and that we could stay there during the contest.  To get there we had to drive from Lisbon across Portugal and Spain to the Basque town of Zarautz.  I was the first heat the next morning so we had to get on the road asap to make sure I made it.  I was in good company for the drive, the 3 Guduaskas brothers were with me and if anyone has been to Europe before you would know that there isn╒t any SUV's or any other big vehicles on the road.  We went with the economy plus car and as Pat pulled up we all realized that the 11-hour drive was going to be tight.  After loading on the 4 huge board bags, suit cases and back packs we crammed ourselves in eager to get the ac going and on the road.  It was 4 o'clock so we had to get moving to make it to my heat in time a 7:30am the next morning.  We were on the road, and the iPod was situated, but we couldn╒t figure out the AC.  All that was coming out of the vent was hot air, which wasn╒t helping cool the 95-degree air with four guys crammed into the car.  As we kept driving we realized that the heat was only getting hotter and there was no way to turn it off.   So for the next 10 hours it was a sauna sweat fest until we finally arrived stuck to our seats and weighing about 10 pounds lighter.

Things changed for the better once we arrived and realized we had the sickest flat in Zarautz thanks to Adur.  I slept for about 3 hours before going down to the beach to check in for my first heat.  I won my first heat and after returning my jersey, Adur said he was planning on taking us out with all the Zarautz boys for a traditional Basque Country dinner that Friday.

The dinner was insane.  We rocked up 40 deep and took over the Cider House restaurant.   The contest was now over and after my 3 rd place finish I was ready to have some fun.  Along with us was the contest winner Gony Zubutszreta, a fellow Spaniard, so everyone was ready to celebrate his win.  The Cider house was an old Basque House turned into a restaurant right along the Zarautz River.  The traditional drink there was the cider, which tasted like Apple cider vinegar.  The best part was pouring the drink into your big mug.  You would hold the bottle as far from your mug as possible and try and make it in.  After everyone filled there mug it was time to cheers, everyone would shout,"chout" and then you drank. They provided endless cider before they brought out the main course. It was a 5-pound mammoth size steak, which was barbequed over red-hot coals for about 2 minutes on each side, so it was barely seared.  Then they put a ton of Salt and other seasonings on it before bringing it out to the table.  There were 10 hungry men at my table and after all the Chouts we were ready to eat. The big man at our table, Pablo was in charge of cutting up the steak and distributing it out. He handed me my slice and I think the steak still had a pulse! But when In Rome, so I cut off a piece and charged it. Oh my gosh, the steak melted in my mouth, it was so good. I don╒t know what I have been doing all these years ordering my steak medium/well.  Rare is insane!

 After the steak came was the desert, which was a basket full of walnuts.  I thought that╒s different, but little did I know these weren╒t for eating.  They were for good luck. You ask, how are Walnuts good luck?  They are good luck after you smash them with your forehead on the table.  I╒m not sure if you have ever picked up a walnut shell before, but these things are rocks. Adur was up first, he titled his head back, held the walnut on the table and smashed down with precision and destroyed the walnut into a million pieces. I couldn╒t believe it.  Next up was Dane; everyone surrounded the table to watch his attempt.  He grabbed a walnut starred it down and put it on the table.  Tilted his head back and smashed his head into the table. Only problem was he missed the walnut and everyone erupted into laughter. Round 2, now you could tell he was concentrated and he wasn╒t going to miss this time. He tilted his head back again. This time his aim was on and he came down and nailed the walnut straight on.  When he brought his head up he had a smile from ear to ear, the walnut was shattered.  Everyone one started yelling, and soon after a giant chout followed with every ones mugs getting filled with more cider. That was just the beginning of the night and chouts followed deep into the night as we stormed through the town of Zarautz with the crew. Thanks to Adur and all the boys for taking such good care of us. I can╒t wait to go back next year!!!!!!!