Leap Of Faith

A high-flying generation of bullfighters brings aerobatics to the arenas of Spain.

- Jessica Camille Aguirre

BEFORE EUSEBIO “USE” SACRISTÁN walks onto the yellow sand of the bullring in Ampuero, in northern Spain, he crosses himself twice and whispers a prayer. As he trots out to salute the crowd, enormous black bulls wait installs connected to the ring. The first enters at a run. From behind a low wall that circles the bullring, Sacristán watches the thousand-pound animal closely, studying its staccato sprints and the way it lowers its head and paws at the sand. Then the bull stops, muscles quivering, to survey its new territory. At first, it seems not to notice Sacristán as he steps out from behind the wall. He moves to the middle of the arena, then whistles loudly and spreads his arms. The animal turns. Sacristán, chest out, raises his chin and lifts his arms high. The bull charges. And Sacristán, improbably, does the same.

They rush toward each other. The distance closes. At the last moment, before they collide, Sacristán twists and launches himself into the air, somersaulting over the animal. For a split second, at the midpoint of his flight, Sacristán’s back is turned to the bull and his feet are pointed skyward. It seems doubtful that the bull will keep charging and that Sacristán will clear it. But he lands on his feet behind it; the bull looks around, confused. In the stands, people gasp. “This is what makes me happy,” Sacristán tells me later. “I wouldn’t know how to live without bulls.”