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Fronton Salas International Fall Festival Review

 By Loren Harris

 Fronton Salas of Cancun, Mexico held its first International Fall Festival last Labor Day weekend. Due to inclement weather, we had to work around the elements, however we got thru it and a good time was had by all. Youth Players Leo Soto, Gael Arellano, Fabricio Navarrete and Julio Ortega from Baja California were on hand and participated. These Young Pelotaris also are at summer training camp at Fronton Salas thru September 21 under the guidance of Maestro Alejo Diaz Perez resident teaching pro at Fronton Salas.

Also attending from Mexico City was 11 year old prodigy Bruno Carvahal and the Brothers Borgo from Mexico City as well. These 7 young Mexican Prospects all had good showings and progressed and demonstrated their Play very well. The Local Pelotaris of Cancun joined them as well as Fronton Mexico Star Players Daniel Inclan and Ekhi Martinez. All types of systems of play were used including Round Robin quinelas, Partidos, and Magic City Style H2H Sets.

Friendly but spirited competitions were held as well as youth clinics which Inclan, Ekhi gave some of their time to show the finer points of the game.  Fronton Salas Patriarch Javier Guero Salas and his Sons Arturo and Javier were in attendance as well. Some other highlights of the event was a visit of the Sports Director of the Collegio Boston in Cancun, which is a school of over 1500 students.

As a result of this visit an agreement is being concluded to have a working arrangement to begin training and introducing new young pelotaris to the sport. Collegio Boston is a Prestigious prepatory school in Cancun and will be a starting point  for the newly Formed Fronton Salas Jai Alai Academy.   The Next Youth Event planned at Fronton Salas is scheduled for April 15 2022 the 2ns Annual International Youth Training Camp.We are expecting a large contingent from The Basque Country as well as from Mexico. Hopefully we will attract a few American Youth Players from the South Florida Area.

Cesta Punta Delegate United States Federation of Pelota

By Loren Harris


The inaugural International Youth training camp was held recently at Fronton Salas April 3rd thru 9th in Cancun Mexico.  We had 20 young pelotais from the Basque country and from Puebla and Tijuana.  In addition we had Fronton Maexico pelotaris Julen Del Rio and Daniel Inclan in attendance and played some exhibition matches as well.

Current pro Julen Bastera from The Basque Country also attended and participated. The clubs Involved were Berriozar from Pamplona, Hondaribbia from the Basque Country, Gazteiz from Vitoria,   Brittania from Puebla Mexico and Club Baja California from Tijuana Mexico.  Morning sessions 

were spent with teaching and clinics offered to participants on all aspects of the game.  Leading our group was Maestro Alonso from Club Gazteiz.   Eneko Gammara from Club Berriozar taught right side play and Loren Harris worked with the participants on Rebote and Costado Drills and techniques. We also had some mixed quinella play with the adults and kids to make it enjoyable.

On the second day was our main Function with Music, Food and some excellent Partido action involving Daniel Inclan, Julen Del Rio Eneko Gammara and Alejandro Diaz.  The kids had their friendly competitions as well. The spirit of this event was friendly but spirited competitions.  The best of the week included cultural exchanges and a boat tour to Isla Mujeres, an afternoon at a beach club, and days full of quiniela and H2H Magic City format sets that were quick moving and well received.  Many things came out of this Event.

A new Maestro was appointed to teach the new Salas Jai Alai Academy.  Alejando Dia was offered the position and accepted.  He will undergo an intensive 30 day training course under the tutelage of the attending clubs to prepare him for the new position.

In addition Fronton Salas Has appointed Club Berriozar as the contact point for European clubs and future coordination of Player and Cultural Exchanges.  The next Training camp is scheduled for April 15 to the 22nd of 2022.  Loren Harris will be taking care of Coordination of Mexican and American Clubs and players wishing to visit Fronton Salas.  We will be developing Hotel and Restaraunt Packages for any and all visitors. 

Lastly, in the spirit of Fronton Salas, proceeds from any revenue generated will be re invested into the Academy to provide all the tools needed to Develop Youth Jai Alai worldwide.

Loren Harris’s debut in Barcelona 1984

By Loren Harris

In the spring of 1984 I was working and practicing at Dania Jai Alai, and also playing in the World Jai Alai school in North Miami. It was a busy schedule but something that was a joy to live. It was a quest to try to make it to play at the Professional Level.

That spring after a practice at Dania, I had a short discussion with Dania Players manager Fernando Orbea, and the Dania sponsored Barcelona Fronton was going to need players as many off their roster were coming to Dania to play the summer season to augment the roster as many of the established pelotaris travelled to play in Milford in the summer.

I was offered a spot on the Barcelona Roster to debut and get much needed experience and Partido play to try to improve my game. I liked to travel and this adventure to go to Europe was very interesting and exciting. My good friend, Dania star player Jandro, was kind enough to help me get settled as he is from Barcelona and give me some insight on living out of the USA for the first time. The first time going to the Fronton Principal Palacio on the famed Las Ramblas was a big thrill. I was welcomed by many of the Dania players I knew that were playing in Barcelona prior to leaving back for the Dania Summer season.

This was also my first time trying to really speak and learn Spanish . The mix of Catalan that many of the locals speak as their primary language was a little challenging. After 2 days of practicing I played my first Partido. The interesting thing that occurred was the players manager Urqiaga came out with a piece of chalk and drew a line at the 12 line to serve. I had never seen this before so I was shocked when he drew an A on the 12 line meaning the Azul team served from there. Luckily we got thru it without that much diificulty. Luckily we won the Partido then I remember coming to my locker and after showering to get dressed the pranksters filled my shoes with with shaving cream to welcome me to the roster.

What a great day in May, 1984 that was and an honor and privilege to live out a dream!

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