Yukigassen

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.

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.

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. 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.

• 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

2024

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

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

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:

• 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)

• Snowball fight