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Auzolan: How a Basque tradition can shape team performance
Long before performance metrics and leadership frameworks, Basque communities had a simple principle that kept them alive and thriving: Auzolan. It was the act of coming together to repair, build, or improve what belonged to everyone, a practice grounded in responsibility, shared effort, and visible contribution. Today, that same principle offers a lens for high-performing…
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Unity over ego: what Arteta, Emery and the Basque Way teach us about high-performance sport
Mikel Arteta and I entered the world in the same year and the same month, our childhoods unfolding along the same streets of San Sebastián. We kicked balls across the same beach, and according to friends, we even played in the same youth league — though, truthfully, I don’t remember ever lining up against him…
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A Comforting Cinnamon, Banana & Apple Porridge for Training Days
Years ago, when I used to travel to the UK, the porridge I tried in hotels was always bland and boring. However, when I moved here, I started experimenting with simple recipes like this one. Now I love a steaming, gentle porridge in the morning — comforting, filling, and perfect to fuel the day ahead.…
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THE CHAMPION’S MINDSET IS OUT!
I’m excited to announce the release of The Champion’s Mindset: The Four Seasons of Mental Preparation — a practical, experience-driven guide to elevating your mental game. This book is the result of more than 20 years spent competing as an elite athlete, coaching at the highest level, and leading performance programmes, combined with the latest scientific research.…
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A sudden realisation connected my family’s story to David Attenborough
More than 80 years ago, a generation of ordinary Britons opened their doors to Basque child refugees. One of them was my grandfather. Standing on the Dorset coast, in front of Old Harry Rocks, where Sir David Attenborough introduced his latest documentary, Ocean, I felt a sudden, deep personal connection to him. During the drive…
EKAITZ SAIES 