Yukigassen — “snow battle” in Japanese — originated in Japan and has since spread to other countries. The Anchorage Fur Rendezvous hosted the first ever U.S. champion snowball fight tournament and, from the start, it was a done deal that an Alaskan team would win.
FUR RENDEZVOUS
Rumrunners team wins snowball championship
Anchorage will represent the US at the Yukigassen World Championships next year. That is, if the Rumrunners team, which claimed the U.S. national championship on Sunday, wants to do it and can afford to get there.
Photos: Fur bikini contest | Snowball fight
Photos: Reader photos | Post your pic
FUR RENDEZVOUS
US snow brawl championship on line today
The U.S. Yukigassen Championship will take place today starting at 11 a.m. on the Delaney Park Strip at 10th Avenue and G Street.
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Photos: Fur bikini contest | Snowball fight
Photos: Dog racing | Championship race
Saturday's events
This weekend's events.
Wednesday's events
Rondy's Native arts market honors volunteer
One of Fur Rendezvous' biggest events in terms of the number of people involved and the number of dollars changing hands kicks off today. And it has a new name. Hundreds of vendors from across Alaska are on hand with ivory carvings, sealskin mukluks, fox fur hats, bead jewelry, grass baskets and other crafts.
Photos: Dog racing | Championship race
Photos: Fur bikini contest | Snowball fight
Photos: Reader photos | Post your pic
RENDEZVOUS NOTEBOOK
Top sculptors, Native music, help from icon
Short items from across the Rondy spectrum
Ellis wins world championship in a beautiful run
Egil Ellis reclaimed the Fur Rendezvous World Champion Sled Dog Racing title on Sunday. But the victory will be the subject of controversy for years to come.
Ellis wins after Streeper is disqualifed over encounter
Events and competitions Monday
2011 FUR RENDEZVOUS
Ellis wins after Streeper is disqualifed over encounter
Defending champion Blayne Streeper was disqualified from Sunday's final heat of the Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Race following an incident on Cordova Street hill Saturday.
Events and competitions
RENDEZVOUS NOTEBOOK
Frosty Cupcake wins Frostbite Footrace
Observations and happenings in the 2011 Anchorage Fur Rendezvous
Streeper leaps into lead on day 2 of Rondy race
Defending champion Blayne Streeper took a big step today toward becoming the first musher to win five consecutive Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Races with a solid finish that vaulted him into the overall lead after two heats of the three-day series.
Video: Streeper takes Day 2 lead
Mushin' mission from Russian Mission
Of the eye-popping stories among the competitors in this year's Fur Rondy sled dog races, the wildest may be from Ryan Housler of Russian Mission. He and his team recently encountered a musk ox on the trail.
Frosty Cupcake wins Frostbite Footrace
Day-by-day guide to the 2011 Fur Rendezvous
Salcha musher grabs slim lead in Rondy
Salcha musher grabs slim lead in Rondy
Arleigh Reynolds of Salcha took a slim 13-second lead over defending champion Blayne Streeper of British Columbia in Friday's opening heat of the Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Race.
PDF: Where to watch Rondy sled dog races
Mushers expect fast track for Rondy race
Day-by-day guide to the 2011 Fur Rendezvous
Clear the calendar, Anchorage. The 76th annual edition of the Fur Rendezvous is under way. Alaska's biggest winter festival runs through March 6.
Salcha musher grabs slim lead in Rondy
Some downtown streets closed for Fur Rondy
Now entering its 76th year, the Fur Rendezvous festival aims to heat up Anchorage with sled dogs, running reindeer, melodrama, competitive snowball fights and a traveling TV personality. With events scheduled every day through March 6, it shouldn't be hard to find something fun to do or watch.
Fur Rondy schedule (2/25-2/27)
What's happening this weekend
SLED DOG RACING
Mushers expect fast track for Rondy race
The 25-mile track for the Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog race was in prime condition Thursday, according to mushers and officials. Assuming no fresh snow overnight, or at least no more than a dusting, they expected it to remain that way for today's start.
Some downtown streets closed for Fur Rondy
Street closures in downtown Anchorage are in effect tonight as organizers begin to set up for the 2011 Fur Rendezvous, kicking off Friday with the World Championship Sled Dog races through part of town.
Streeper will go out No. 17 in Fur Rondy
Blayne "Buddy" Streeper, the defending Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Race champion, teased his competitors at Tuesday night's bib draw.
Rondy to introduce new event: team snowball fighting
Fur Rendezvous says it's going to import an event from Japan for Anchorage's 2011 winter festival: a sanctioned, organized snowball fight called Yukigassen.
Rondy trains provide a peek at railroading in miniature
Today's Fur Rendezvous highlights
Arrrgghh! Rondy melodrama offers wacky ride asea
3-D films included in Experience Theatre's Rondy lineup
Native crafts fill Dimond Center during Fur Rendezvous
Rondy poker preliminaries under way
Rondy poker qualifying tournaments set for tonight
Huskies become 'drivers' in publicity sled race
Prizes awarded for snow sculpture
Crowd revels at Running of the Reindeer
Rondy revelers should prepare for chills
Streeper builds Rondy lead during second day of racing
Streeper leads Fur Rondy race after first heat
Patriotic salute a hit at 'Rondy on Ice'
Urban wildlife challenges Rondy race
Record rally gives Streeper Rondy title
Kornmuller's team collides with kids, but he keeps his lead
Kornmuller extends his lead in Day 2 heat
Streeper and family in town for Fur Rondy
Final day of the Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Race in Anchorage on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011.
READER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Dog races, carnivals, running with reindeer and even the fur bikini contest. Nothing says "take a picture" like Fur Rendezvous. Share yours.
Fur Rondy Fur Bikini Contest at Chilkoot Charlie's on Friday February 225, 2011.
The 2011 Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races take place February 25-27, 2011 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Rondy Yukigassen snowball fights
Yukigassen, a new event at Fur Rendezvous this year, is a competitive snowball sport in which teams try to capture each other's flag. The tournament took place on the Delaney Park Strip on Saturday, February 26, 2011.
People took advantage of the mild winter temperatures on Tuesday night, March 2, 2010, to enjoy the Golden Wheel Amusement rides at the Rondy Carinval in downtown Anchorage.
Third annual Running of the Reindeer in downtown Anchorage during Fur Rondy on Sunday, Feb 28, 2010.
Day 3 of the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous World Sled Dog Championship on Sunday, Feb 28, 2010.
Mushers and dogs compete in the 2010 Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship Sled Dog Race.
Hundreds turned out for the second-annual reindeer run, in what's becoming one of the more popular events in Anchorage. [enlarge video].
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