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"Ranggeln" in the Val Passiria
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Ranggeln, an ancient custom
"Hou ruck, grangglt wert" – Ranggeln, a kind of wrestling, is well loved South Tyrolean sport, and the men from the Passeier Valley have always been the best. It was introduced to South Tyrol in 1927.
S. Martino is the stronghold of the Passeier wrestlers. About 30 men aged between 6 and 30 train twice a week for both national and international championships. These championships usually take place on a field at the edge of a village, on a football pitch or on mats in a sport hall.
There are four different weight classes. The participants are bare footed, wear white linen trousers with belts and a white linen shirt. The 100 – 150 people, who take part in the competitions, are split into pairs and the winner of each round moves on to the next round. The loser can then just watch the rest of the competition. There are strict rules and the referee watches over the match, which can last up to 6 minutes. Violation of the rules means immediate dismissal.
The fight can be ended early if one of the competitors manages to get both shoulders of his opponent on the floor. The fans encourage their heroes by shouting tips to them. An outsider would find it very difficult to understand what they are saying.
These competitions are usually combined with a small village festival. In the last years, strong opposition has come from clubs in Bavaria, North Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg, and these meetings are a good place to get lots of information from both active and passive wrestlers.
