Xabier proposed a bet consisting in cutting 30 kanaerdiko (40cm/15,75inches in diameter) beech longs in a row by each contender. Note 40 years old Xabier is used to kanaerdiko logs and he suffers with bigger logs. 20 years old Iker is an excelent overall axeman so he will try to negotiate to cut bigger logs in order to take advantage.
Negotiations start with Iker proposing to cut 14 kanaerdiko and 6 oinbiko (53cm/20,9 inches diameter), the equivalent to cut 30 kanaerdiko. Xabier has had bad experiences with oinbiko logs, he says a contundent no to this proposal. Daniel responds saying a contundent no to all kanaerdiko logs, if you want kanaerdikos in the bet they have to be mixed logs he says.
Xabier responds saying he can admit cutting 6 to 8 logs less than his 30 kanaerdiko proposal. Daniel responds 16 60 ontzako (44,3cm/17,44 inches in diameter) logs, same work as cutting 30 kanaerdiko. He proposes they will provide all the logs, note who provides the logs is in advantage. You can choose easier/more difficult or more or less seasoned or knotty (or not) beech. Daniel is a good negotiator.
They start arguing, each one wants to cut only a type of wood again, Iker bigger ones, Xabier medium ones. Daniel wanted to negotiate more but Iker stops him proposing to do the same work with each type of logs. Xabier accepts 12 beech logs 40cm/15,75inches and 8 beech logs 44.3cm/17,44inches in diameter, same work as cutting 24 kanaerdiko (40cm) beech logs. Iker will provide big logs Xabier medium ones.
They talk about the data and location of the challenge, both agree April 8th in the bullring of Tolosa, the bullring of Azpeitia is choosen as 2nd option in case of any problem with Tolosa. Xabier proposed to bet 5000€, Daniel 8000€, they agree 6000€. Xabier made a lower proposal than his first 6000€, may he be a bit nervous due to the bigger logs?
At this point Arria 2nd enters the negotiation, he tries to achieve each contender providing half the logs of each type. This is uncommon, the normal procedure is each contenderto provide a type of logs or all the logs are provided by only one part. May he be worried about the big logs Iker will provide? The video is cut in several ocasions this is one of them, they agree each contender providing a type of log as they did before. We can't see all the negotiation about this point, it would be interesting to see it, it's a pity whe can't.
They agree a document consisting in this points,
1.- Data and location, we know it.
2.- Work to be done, we know it. As usual they agree to met the day before in the bullring to prepare the logs.
3.- Other considerations. As usual each axeman can have two helpers, one of them can help the axeman proposing were to swing the next blow with a stick. The logs have to be provided with unaltered bark, if the logs have any type of imperfection like knots, crack, branches... those imperfection will have to be grinded when logs are reduced to the given measure.
At this point Arria 2nd points they haven't agreed if the wood has to be green or not. They cut the video here again, it's a big pity. It looks like Xabier's father wants green wood in order to make the work easier, but we don't know it for sure. We don't know what do they agree, but be sure Iker and his team will take advantage of this point and if they can do it and it matches their strategy they will field seasoned wood.
4.- Each contender bets 6000€, tickets income and all outlays will be shared. They agree the owner of the bar they are negotiating in will be the money keeper. Each one will give him 1000€ the same day of the negotiation (you see it in the video), 2500€ two months before the bet, last 2500€ 72 hours before the bet.
5.- If any of the contender has any health problem he can present a medic documment in the local rural sports federation 72 hours before the bet (note the federation is involved, this means both of them will have to do an antidopping test hen they end the bet. This is standard procedure). The bet can be delayed two weeks at most, the one who chooses this option will have to add 300€ more to the bet. If one of the contenders requests a delay in the 72 hours before the event it's up to the other contender to accept it or not. If he accepts the same procedure cited before s applied. If he doesn't accept it the weak contender has to appear to the challenge or he will lose all the money he has already deposited and it will count as a lost challenge.
I know this can be a long and dense read for those of you not interested in it but I wanted to explain this to the detail for the interested ones. These negotiations have been calm and civilized, some of them are not as much. Take this as a model of how do bets take form. Feel free to take this as a base if any of you ever organize any type of simmilar challenge, please make us know about it. If anyone dares to challenge these men don't hesitate to make me know it, I'll contact or try to find a local contender to make him contact you.