Icod de los Vinos: San Andrés Board Sliding Adrenaline
Icod de los Vinos in the Canary Islands celebrates its thrilling, pagan San Andrés board sliding tradition, where participants race down steep streets on wooden boards.
It's just past seven in the evening, and eight-year-old Dorian González Socas has already been "sliding" down San Antonio street for over an hour. Despite being only eight, he shows surprising skill as he slides down one of Icod de los Vinos' steepest streets. San Antonio is the westernmost street in the town and was once a key spot for this sliding tradition, though it seems less popular now. But venture deeper into the town center, and you'll catch the distinct smell of it: raw, almost burnt wood from boards scraping down the streets, over and over again, until exhaustion. It's also the scent of chestnuts and wine, all part of the exciting San Andrés celebrations that fill late November each year.
On the eve of Saint Andrew's Day, the "City of the Dragon" is taken over by a thrilling mix of speed, adrenaline, and tradition. However, this San Andrés board sliding is actually a pagan tradition, completely unrelated to religion, even though it takes place on the saint's feast day.
Víctor Jiménez, who grew up in Icod de los Vinos, brings his nephew to slide on San Antonio street. He recalls, "Twenty-five years ago, this street and Hércules were as busy as El Plano," referring to the most popular street where many people gather and dare to slide. He explains, "I bring my nephew because he lives in La Laguna, and I don't want him to lose this tradition." He chooses San Antonio because it's less crowded, making it "good for training."
Children the same age as Jiménez's nephew gather on Los Franceses street, also known as Correos street. It's a cobbled street, barely 100 meters long, but like most streets in Icod de los Vinos, it has a steep incline. An army of boys and even more girls continuously slide down, blowing whistles to warn others of their approach. "I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming!" is the most common shout during these sliding sessions. It's a necessary warning, as being hit by a board moving at such speed can cause serious injury.
A high-pitched, delicate voice, belonging to a little girl, declares, "I prefer El Plano street." This shows the tradition's future is secure. Beyond Los Franceses, any small slope, whether cobbled or not, becomes a playground for children to slide and master their boards.
The ultimate spot for San Andrés board sliding in Icod de los Vinos is El Plano street. Hundreds of people slide down here, aiming to crash into stacked tires at the bottom. Watching is like a tennis match, but without the ball coming back. In a fraction of a second, they race down at full speed, only to then walk back up the hill with their boards on their shoulders. Héctor Ramos Luis and Julio Rodríguez Miranda agree that climbing the hill is "much harder than sliding down, but the excitement makes you forget the tiredness," they laugh. They both have over twenty-five years of sliding experience.
They are members of the Tea Negra club. They explain, "We champion a traditional wooden San Andrés. Our boards are made from 'tea' wood, but any other wood works." However, many sliders actually add pieces of methacrylate or other materials to the bottom of their boards to make them go faster. Ramos and Rodríguez aren't wearing the club's usual red shirts. "Tomorrow – Saturday 29th – we'll be out with the rest of the club, but today..." they exchange knowing glances and admit, "we hadn't planned to slide, but the smell drew us in." The scent of hot boards scraping the asphalt fuels the adrenaline, much like the smell of home cooking sparks hunger.
They recall, "When we were kids, we'd start sliding from September." They suggest that perhaps the lack of mobile phones and internet back then led them to get hooked on the thrilling adrenaline of San Andrés in Icod de los Vinos much earlier. Their words spark curiosity, and they invite you to experience the feeling of sliding down El Plano street. So, off you go!
The steep descent is bordered by the sidewalk on the left. Many riders brush the low wall with a gloved hand. The key rule: don't take your feet off the board to brake halfway down. Hitting the tires at the bottom requires precise skill: you can hit them sideways, head-on, with a big impact, or just barely graze them. A sideways collision is usually the safest. What truly gets the adrenaline pumping is seeing the crowded street, hearing shouts of "Let's go!", and then, halfway down, taking a big jump! The ride pauses, along with the sensation of flying – though it's no magic carpet – and once you're back on the asphalt, the most dangerous part is over.
It's a moment of trusting in the risk. That's what it is. It's speed, adrenaline, and tradition. It's also skill and experience. It's the San Andrés board sliding in Icod de los Vinos. You don't need to understand it; you just need to experience it.