Yukigassen Explained

is a snowball fighting-competition from Japan. Today there are annual tournaments in Sōbetsu in Japan, Kemijärvi in Finland, Vardø in Norway, Murmansk in Russia, Mount Buller in Australia, Luleå in Sweden, Anchorage in Alaska, Aparan in Armenia, Jasper and Saskatoon in Canada.

Etymology

In Japanese, is a compound of the words and . Hence it literally translates to 'snow battle', but is a common term for 'snowball fight' in Japanese.

Gameplay

Yukigassen is a game between two teams with seven players each. The game is played on a court with certain measurements, and the winner is determined through rules made by the Japan Yukigassen Federation.^[1] It is similar to capture the flag; players are eliminated when hit with snowballs. Players wear special yukigassen helmets with face shields, and a set number of snowballs (90) are made in advance.^[2]

Tournaments

• World Championship in Sōbetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan
• European Championship in Kemijärvi, Eastern Lapland, Finland
• Swedish Championship in Luleå, Norrbotten, Sweden (Luleå University of Technology)
• Nordic Championship in Vardø, Finnmark, Norway
• Australian Championship in Mount Baw Baw, Victoria, Australia (from 2019)
• Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Jasper, Alberta, Canada
• Russian Championship in Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast, Russia
• Champions League of Yukigassen in Aparan, Armenia
• Austrian Yukigassen Championship in Filzmoos, Austria

2024

Medalists in the Swedish championship, held in Luleå in 2024:

• GoldTeam NorrlandsSilver
• SilverTeam The Expendables
• BronzeTeam Dampvalpar

Medalists in the first Austrian championship, held in Filzmoos in 2024

• Gold - PDC Borg Radstadt
• Silver - Team "Schnitzelslingers"
• Bronze - unknown

2017

Medalists in the Swedish championship, held in Luleå in 2017:

• GoldTeam Minttu
• Silverunknown
• Bronzeunknown

2013

Medalists in the Canadian National championship, held in Jasper in 2013:

• Goldunknown
• Silverunknown
• BronzeTeam Goliath Snubbing

2012

Medalists in the third Swedish championship, held in Luleå in 2012:^[3]

• GoldI & Co
• SilverKREwasion Invasion
• BronzeTeam LTU/Backyard Porsön

2011

Medalists in the second Swedish championship, held in Luleå in 2011:

• GoldBackyard Porsön
• SilverCockroaches
• BronzeI & Co

2010

Medalists in the first Swedish Championship, held in Luleå in 2010:

• GoldTeam LTU/Backyard Porsön
• SilverI & Co
• BronzeGefle Snow Warriors

2007

Medalists in the European Nordic Tournament, held in Vardø in 2007:

• GoldHiawatha (Norway)
• SilverIl Tempo Gigante (Norway)
• BronzeKP 55 (Finland)

2006

Medalists in the Nordic Tournament, held in Vardø in 2006:

• GoldLapin Peurat (Finland)
• SilverKP 55 (Finland)
• BronzeSmå Rasmus etterkommere (Norway)

2005

Medalists in the Nordic Tournament, held in Vardø in 2005:

• GoldSmå Rasmus etterkommere (Norway)
• SilverHiawatha (Norway)
• BronzeKP 55 (Finland)

See also

• Snowball fight

External links

• Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen (Japan)
• Yukigassen Nordic Championship (Norway)
• Swedish Yukigassen Official Association
• Yukigassen Canadian Championship

Notes and References

1. Web site: Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen . April 23, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060221220654/http://www.yukigassen.jp/english/index.html . February 21, 2006 .
2. Web site: Yukigassen Finland in English: Rules of Yukigassen.
3. Web site: New LTU team won the Swedish Championship in Yukigassen - Luleå University of Technology . www.ltu.se . en . 26 February 2012.