Every winter in Sobetsu, Japan, an epic snow battle takes place. It’s the world championships of Yukigassen (yoo-kee-gah-sen), or competitive snowball fighting.
The sport is like a cross between dodgeball and capture the flag. Before each match, teams use a mold to create hundreds of identical snowballs. Then the two teams face off across a snow-covered court to play three sets. Each team gets 90 snowballs per set.
To win a set, a team must capture the other team’s flag, tag all their opponents out by hitting them with snowballs, or have the most players remaining at the end of three minutes.
Since the first competition in 1989, the sport has spread throughout the world. National tournaments are held in Scandinavia, Australia, and North America. Yukigassen fans hope to eventually make the sport an Olympic event!