Theshepherd's leap (Spanish:salto del pastor) is a folksport practised throughout theCanary Islands.
The origins of the shepherd's leap may date back to theGuanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the islands prior to theCastilian conquest period of the early 15th century. Canarianshepherds required a specialised means oftransporting themselves safely across ravines and down steep embankments, and settled on the use of long wooden poles known aslanza orgarrote. These poles are fitted with sharp metal points calledregatón.[citation needed]
Salto del pastor practitioners have developed a wide range of techniques to facilitate quick and agile movement across extremely difficult and dangerous terrain. These techniques range frompole-vaulting across crevices to the "dead drop" in which the practitioner leaps into space from heights of up to eight metres (26 ft), jamming the pole into the ground below and then sliding down the pole. There are many other types of leaps, depending on the nature of the obstacle to be cleared. Some of these are sufficiently dangerous to have given rise to legends such as thesalto del enamorado (lover's leap) and thesalto de media luna (half moon leap).[citation needed]
As the shepherd's leap has now developed into a folk-sport, the pole is also used in competitive events, which include climbing up and jumping over walls, speedy descents down steep rocks, precision leaps, andacrobatic feats.[citation needed]
The lance of the shepherd is part of the iconographic attributes ofSaint Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur, who is the first saint of the Canary Islands. This is because said Saint was a pastor or peasant before becoming a missionary inGuatemala.[1]
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