Palëpisave

Palëpisave refers to a type of shot or shot form in the traditional Albanian sports of kaba and gjuetalia, both variations of archery. This particular shot or style is now almost extinct.

The standard kaba technique consists of shooting at a yardstick with a bow and string, however in palëpisave, the shot would be made at movable targets, specifically a moving goat skin. The goatskin, typically from a larger animal such as a sheep or goat, would be inflated and swung back and forth between two stout wooden poles. The target is made to move randomly, with an unpredictable trajectory, which would require great skill and concentration from the archer.

In both kaba and gjuetalia, the male population would hold competitions in previous to and during the winter months. These competitions, often with multiple teams participating, would last for hours on end with each archer taking their turn. In these competitions the shot hit with minimal to no variance in the range of more than few dozens if centimeters was often the expected minimum for that particular shot. The purpose of this shot, aside from its skill demanding nature, was primarily for entertainment.

Palëpisave, among other shots and techniques, have played an essential part in both traditional sports, helping to establish a reputable bowman. These techniques eventually culminated into the foundation for modern competitive archery sport prevalent today, particularly in Europe.