CAMAGÜEY.- He says that at the age of fourteen he climbed for the first time to a palm hidden from his parents with the harness that an acquaintance of the family left at home.

Since then, Yadier has been climbing in search of palm trees to feed pigs in this kind of traditional extreme sport in the fields of Cuba.

The price varies depending on the client but between 5 and 10 pesos each palm, which requires a morning to climb up to 50 palms to later distribute with the assistant or veteran who waits for the shipments downstairs and ensures the safety of the mountaineer.

High, between 25 and 40 meters high, the dry cut of the machette is heard and then the long and dry purr of the bunch of palmiche sliding on the rope to the ground.

Just over two months ago he had the worst fall from a height of 10 meters. Overconfidence left two fractures in his spine.

Almost abseiling with a smile on his face, he confirms that there is no one who will take Yadier Emiliano Ramos away from the topping, convinced of the belief that in this profession whoever does not fall is not topping.

Photos: Leandro Pérez Pérez / Adelante

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez