It is impossible to walk through Icod de los Vinos on November 29, the eve of San Andrés, and not smell like burning wood. The same thing happened on Tuesday and will be repeated tomorrow. It is the mark left by the dragging of boards and that mixes with that of the roasted chestnut and skewer stalls.
Tea is a stronger wood and, therefore, its smell is more intense and unmistakable, although it is becoming less present. It is the preferred material for people over 30 years old, since younger people prefer methacrylate, which allows them to add colored lights and stickers to their boards.
Vertigo does not exist these days either. Otherwise, it would be impossible to crawl on a wooden board that can reach up to 30 kilometers per hour, braked at the end of the road by a large mountain of tires, the most anticipated but also the most dangerous party, which attracts every year thousands of people to the City of Drago. A risk that is overcome by the cry of “Long live San Andrés!” Immediately afterwards, he picks up the board again without hesitation and goes uphill to crawl again. And so on until the strength runs out.
Óscar, Hidaya, Aquexara and David could not confirm exactly how many times they repeated it. “20 at least,” the last three assured. They started on Tuesday, they continued yesterday to “warm up the engines,” but today “is the best day,” they stressed. They have been jumping since they were a year old on Correo Street, which is where the children jump, and, except for David, who learned with his brother, the girls did it alone, almost by instinct, like many neighbors. .
It was seven in the afternoon and Óscar, 24 years old and a native of the San Antonio neighborhood – where the origin of this tradition is located – was still hoping to fuck a few more times, “at least 40” until the end of the day. “Now I’m going to another street,” he added as he picked up his board. He started in the afternoon and the objective was not to lose a second of a day that, like most Icodenses, he looked forward to and, therefore, that must be “lived to the fullest.”
The four were on Antonio González González Street, popularly known as El Plano, and which yesterday was once again the favorite of young people, for being the steepest and, therefore, the most dangerous. Also by the tourists, who exclaimed in astonishment every time one of them crashed against the tires while they were juggling to avoid dropping the glass of beer they had in their hands.
The most reckless ignored the protective elements, mainly long pants to avoid scratches. Helmets and knee pads were conspicuous by their absence. The only thing that no one ignored were the gloves and whistles that for some years have replaced the traditional shout of “I’m going, I’m going,” because it is more effective in front of the crowd.
After six in the afternoon, the procession took the patron saint of winemakers along this road and, immediately afterwards, the fireworks gave way and the lights were turned on. An hour before and another after, the street witnessed three incidents to which emergency and Civil Protection personnel immediately responded, two of them by the participants and another, by a lady who was among the public and who was hit. with a table.
Festive atmosphere
On San Sebastián Street, the terraces of the bars, cafes and restaurants were full of people and a few meters away, on French Street, fathers, mothers and grandparents immortalized the little ones with their cell phones and encouraged them to crawl, especially to those who were doing it for the first time.
Today, San Andrés Day, the people of Icodense will take advantage of the entire day to jump on their boards, and starting at 7:30 p.m., the great wine festival will take place in the Lorenzo Cáceres square, with the participation of wineries and restaurants in the municipality. and the Designations of Origin of Tenerife.
A pinch of speed, some risk, wine and chestnuts are the four essential ingredients to directly enjoy the San Andrés tables, one of the most spectacular traditions of the Canary Islands.
