Soap-Covered Pine in Pollenca: 17-Year-Old Climbs to Victory

Soap-Covered Pine in Pollenca: 17-Year-Old Climbs to Victory

As night fell over Pollenca and the lanterns on the Plaça Major cast warm light on the expectant faces, the air smelled of roasted almonds and smoky wood. Young people and older residents pressed to the edges of the square; someone was playing guitar somewhere, a scooter chirped in the distance. In the middle of this commotion stood a compact but steep opponent: a roughly ten to twelve meter pine trunk, previously carried here from the harbor.

The tree did not have the easiest start. During transport the tip broke off, and when carried again the trunk almost split in the middle — what remained was the piece that provided the actual spectacle. This is typical of the Sant Antoni festival in this part of Mallorca: improvised, loud, full of little mishaps and exactly for that reason so genuine. After the trunk was rubbed with soap, the contest began. Young people from the community took turns facing the slippery challenge.

The evening ultimately belonged to Joan Rebassa, 17 years old. Shortly before 10:00 p.m. he managed, with a mix of courage, strength and a surprising amount of technique, to reach the top of the soaped trunk. The crowd cheered, children clapped, older spectators shook their heads smiling — one can hardly imagine how something as simple as soap can set an entire square in an uproar.

The memory of last year's winner hung in the air: 16-year-old Jaume Coll had caused a stir the year before by climbing the tree in less than twenty minutes. Such numbers are gladly passed on here, from conversations at the kiosk to neighborhoods where people discuss technique, speed and balance. These are stories that shape local identity: who climbed, who cheered, who helped with the organization.

For Pollenca the festival is more than an athletic contest. It's a piece of everyday life that bubbles over once a year: families from the Carrer lanes bring blankets and thermos flasks, market stalls fight for the last portions, and the older men dryly debate the right amount of soap. The event shows how custom and youth come together; here younger generations learn old rituals without great showmanship, but with dedication.

Anyone who wants to watch in the coming years should arrive early and wear good shoes: cobblestones and crowds are not a good mix with flip-flops. Up close the danger does not only come from the slippery bark but also from the many arms that move while cheering. A small practical tip: on the Plaça Major there are shady corners from which one can get a good overview of the action and at the same time remain part of the community.

The visible gain on such an evening is more than the applause for the best climber. It is the short conversations between strangers, the laugh of a child, the first time a younger person takes on an age-old task. In a time when much is organized and planned on social media, such a spontaneous competition remains a privilege: a local story that retells itself every year. Joan Rebassa conquered the top yesterday. The town once again confirmed its tradition — with some soap, a lot of courage and a piece of pine that now provides new anecdotes.

Outlook: Anyone who experiences the next Sant Antoni festival should bring warm clothing for the evening, watch respectfully from a distance and let the youth climb. For Pollenca this is a reminder that community often emerges in simple, loud moments.