Yukigassen

Court for the Japanese snow game Yukigassen

Kemijärvi Yukigassen 2011 Final

Yukigassen (雪合戦, IPA: [jɯkiɡaꜜsseɴ]) 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, yukigassen is a compound of the words yuki (雪, 'snow') and kassen (合戦, 'battle', with rendaku to gassen). 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

2024

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

  • Gold – Team NorrlandsSilver
  • Silver – Team The Expendables
  • Bronze – Team 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:

  • Gold – Team Minttu
  • Silver – unknown
  • Bronze – unknown

2013

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

  • Gold – unknown
  • Silver – unknown
  • Bronze – Team Goliath Snubbing

2012

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

  • Gold – I & Co
  • Silver – KREwasion Invasion
  • Bronze – Team LTU/Backyard Porsön

2011

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

  • Gold – Backyard Porsön
  • Silver – Cockroaches
  • Bronze – I & Co

2010

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

  • Gold – Team LTU/Backyard Porsön
  • Silver – I & Co
  • Bronze – Gefle Snow Warriors

2007

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

  • Gold – Hiawatha (Norway)
  • Silver – Il Tempo Gigante (Norway)
  • Bronze – KP 55 (Finland)

2006

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

  • Gold – Lapin Peurat (Finland)
  • Silver – KP 55 (Finland)
  • Bronze – Små Rasmus etterkommere (Norway)

2005

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

  • Gold – Små Rasmus etterkommere (Norway)
  • Silver – Hiawatha (Norway)
  • Bronze – KP 55 (Finland)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen". Archived from the original on February 21, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
  2. ^ "Yukigassen Finland in English: Rules of Yukigassen".
  3. ^ "New LTU team won the Swedish Championship in Yukigassen - Luleå University of Technology". www.ltu.se. 26 February 2012.